Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 June 1909 — The Round Up [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Round Up

A ‘Romance of Arizona Novelised Prom Edmund Day** Melodrama

By JOHN MURRAY and MILLS MILLER

SYNOPSIS. Chapter I—Returning with gold from the mines to an Arizona ranch to claim Echo Allen, his promised bride, Dick Lane is attacked by Apaches led by Buck McKee, a renegade. After spending six months in a hospital Lane- writes to his friend Jack Payson, owner of the Sweetwater ranch, to tell Echo he is coming home. He tells Payson he has $3,000 to pay a mortgage placed by Jack on his ranch to help him. ll—Colonel Jim Allen, owner of the Bar One ranch, is father of Echo and father by adoption of Polly Hope, Dick and Bud Lane. Polly and Bud are sweethearts. In Dick’s absence Echo falls in love with Jack, realizing that her love for Dick was merely friendship. Dick is believed to be dead, owing to the return of McKee with a lying story. Bud “chums” with McKee despite the warnings of Slim Hoover, the fat and popular Eheriff. Echo and Jack become engaged. 111. Echo declares to Jack after the latter suppresses Dick’s letter, fearing to lose her, that she will be true to her promise to Dick if he returns. Bud quarrels with Jack About Echo, the boy championing his absent brother’s cause. IV—Aided by Bud, McKee murders Terrill, the station agent, stealing from him $3,000 of county money. McKee suggests to Bud that Dick may still be living. V—The boys gather at the Allen ranch for the wedding of Echo and Jack. VI and VII —McKee plans to to throw suspicion of Terrill’s murder on Jack, and he and Bud go to tjhe Allens’ for the wedding. Mckee /aises a disturbance and is put out. VIII— All ready for the wedding. IX— Dick turns up at the Allens’ Just as his sweetheart is married to Jack. Only Allen and Jack see him. Jack Is tempted to shoot his friend, who pays the $3,000 to him and returns to the desert. X—The cowpunchers send for a piano as a surprise lor Echo, now married to Jack. XI Jack keeps his business affairs secret from his wife, not daring to tell her where he got the $3,000 to pay the mortgage. Polly flirts with Slim, although she loves bud The hoys give the piano to Echo. Buck McKee comes to Payson’s at the head of his followers, the Lazy K outfit, to accuse Payson of killing Terrill. XII —Buck accuses Jack, and the young man refuses to clear himself by telling where he got the money. Slim puts McKee and his men off the Payson place. Jack confesses to his wife his deception to her regarding Dick, and she sends him to the desert to find Dick and bring him back to hear from her own lips that she believed him dead when she promised to marry Jack. Forgetting he is under suspicion of killing Terrill, Jack goes. Echo tries to call him back, but is prevented by Bud. Slim, as sheriff, pursues Jack. XIII—In the desert are Dick, sought by Jack, the latter pursued by Slim and a posse, and a band of Apaches hunted by a troop of soldiers. XIV-— Jack finds Dick to send him back to Echo with his own supply of water and food, he himself staying in the desert to expiate his unfaithfulness to his frieijd. The two are attacked by the Apaches. Dick is killed and Jack is wounded. He is rescued by Slim and the troops. XV— McKee and his men start trouble with the Sweetwater outfit, Peruna, one of McKee's men, falsely branding some of the Sweetwater calves and shooting one of the Sweetwater boys. XVl—Echo regrets her haste in sending away her husband, whom she dearly loves. Buck McKee and his gang gather at the Sweetwater ranch to defend Peruna. The latter insults Echo and is knocked, down by McKee as a pretence to virtue. Peruna thereupon determines to “get even" with McKee.

CHAPTER XVIII. BUD LANE, returning to camp, saw the returned sheriff sup--1 porting the dying murderer of Terrill and listening to what was undoubtedly his confession. He stole away before he was observed. “It’s all up with me.” he thought “Buck has told him. Slim hates me ak>ng with l'olly. I’ll get away from her* tonight.” He met Polly by the mess wagon. At once she saw that something had happened. Bud was deathly pale. lie trembled when she spoke to him. “Why, what on earth is the matter?” Bhe asked. "Nothing. I” answered Bud, glancing about him as If seeking some way to escape. “You’re lookin’ mighty pule. Are you sick?” persisted the girl. “Slim Hoover—he’s hack”— Bud could scarcely speak. His throat was parched. Bends of perspiration stood on his forehead. “What!” cried Polly Joyfully. “Is Jack with him?” ‘♦listen here," exclaimed the young Wooer. “Slim’s heard about our going Jo get married, and he’s sworn to Jboot me at sight" It was a lame* halting explanation, but the best Bud -yrald Invent on the Hpur of the moment He wanted to get away to have time to think. "I don’t believe itr replied Polly indignantly. “Why, S!lm"— In his excitement Bud would not let her continue her defense of the sheriff. “It's so. He’s phnnh locoed. The sun must have touched his brains out

fit rbe~3«ierx7 r he'vxpiamea, wit.n rapid Invention. “I don’t want qny run-in with a crazy man. I might have to 'shoot, and Slim’s been a good friend of mine, so I’m going to keep out of his way for awhile. I’ll ride over to the railroad.” “Say, look here, are you scared of Slim Hoover? Just let me handle him," said Polly. “No. no!” expostulated Bud. “Can’t you understand? We’ve been such good friends, and—and—l can’t pull a gun on him.” Polly was speechless with surprise. “Here he comes now!” shouted Bud. “I’ll hide in the wagon here!” “Don’t hide!” counseled Polly. “Why?” Bud gave her no answer, for he had already disappeared under the cover of the mess wagon. “I don’t like that a little bit. Silrn never acted locoed before. I’ll have to be mighty careful, I s’pose, for I think a heap of ln>th Slim an’ Bud.” Slim came up to the wagon with his face wreathed in smiles. “If It ain’t Miss Polly!” he yelled. Polly, having heard that crazy people had to be humored, ran to meet him and threw her arms about his neck. “You dear, sweet, old red headed thing!” she cried. “When did you get back? Where have you been? Where’s Jack? Have you seen Echo?” One question was piled upon the other by the enthusiastic girl. Slim had tried to stop her talking that he might give answer, but he might as well have tried to check a sand storm. Out of breath and pulling, he finally gasped: “Whoa! Whoa! Yes’m. I’ve heard of them Kansas cyclones, but I ain’t never got hit with one afore.” Polly started all over again. “An’ Jack-rlld you find him? Tell me all about It” “See here,” answered Slim. “I ain’t goin’ to say nothin’ to nobody till I see HJrs. Payson." “Oh, pshaw!” pouted Polly. “Not even to me?” “Not even. W’hat I’ve got to say she must hear first I’m kinder stiff. If you don’t mind, I’ll set down a spell.” Slim’s face was drawn and worn. Although he had lost none of his weight, he showed the effects of the siege of hard riding and fighting through which he had passed. The mental strain under which he had labored bad also worn him down. Polly was more than solicitous for his comfort. Not only did she like the sheriff, but she was now fencing with him to protect her sweetheart from his wrath. “You look tuckered out,” she said. “Well, 1 Tow as maybe I am. Been iu the saddle for two weeks. Kin I have a cup of coffee?” Polly began to mother him. This appeal for bodily comforts uroused all her womanly instincts. She made him sit down and poured the coffee for him, saying: “You sure can. With or without?" “I’ll play It straight,” grinned Slim. “I reckon you’ll have to anyway. Here you are.” Slim took the cup with a "Thankee.” He drank long and deeply. Then he paused, made, a wry lace and danced his feet up and down, as a child does In anger or excitement. “What’s the matter?" asked the girl, with a laugh. “If this here’s coffee give me tea, un’ if it’s tea give me coffee,” The sheriff put down his cup, with a shrug of the shoulders. “It’s the best we’ve got,” replied Polly. “Sagebrush got It.” “Oh, that’s it. I thought it tasted like sagebrush. How’s Bud?” he suddenly demanded.

Polly glanced nervously at the speaker. “All right, I s’pose.” She tried to be noncommittal. Her nervousuess almost betrayed her. “Ain’t yon seen him lately?” Slim insisted. Polly peeped into the wagon before she answered the question. “Yes—l see him every once In awhile.” In an effort to change the subject of conversation and get him away from all thoughts of Bud she asked, “Say, Slim, what’t a boudoir?” “A wh it whar?” stuttered Slim. “A boudoir,” Tolly repeated. Slim was puzzled and looked It. 'Then a new thought lighted up his face. "You don’t mean a Budwelser?” Polly, deeply serious, replied, “No, that ain’t it—boudoir.” 811 m ransacked his memory for the word. “Boudoir,” he continued reflectively. “One of them ‘fo’ de wuh’ things we ust to have down In Kentucky?” Au explanation was demanded of him, and he proceeded to invent one. “Well, first you get a—get a”— Polly had fooled him so many times that he became suspicious In the midst of his creation and asked: , “Look n-here. You’re sure you don’t know what a boudoir Is?” “Why, of course not,” answered Polly simply. Slim was relieved by her reply. "All right," be resumed, crossing bis legs, as If the position would help him

better~to think. rr k T>ou3olr Ts & teegar.” “A seegar?” echoed Polly, distinctly disappointed. Bud’s offer to duplicate

the boudoir was now reduced to the proportions of “two fer a nickel.” “Yep,” assured the sheriff. “They are named after a Roosian, one of them diplomat fellers.” “What’s a diplomat?” Polly asked. Slim chuckled and witli a twinkle In his eye drawled: “A diplomat la a man that steals your hat an’ coat an’ then explains it so well that you give him your watch an’ chain. Sabe?” Polly did not understand. She felt that Slim was laughing at her, but she could not see any fun In his remark. To end the discussion, however, she said, “I sabe.” Polly sauntered away from the wagon. As she passed Slim he tried to put bis arm about her waist. She skillfully evaded him. The sheriff joined her In the shade of a cottonwood. “You know, I’ve been thinkln’ a lot of you lately. Miss Polly?” “Only lately?” she asked mischievously. “Well, yes-that ls”This conversation was becoming too personal for Bud, who In an effort to hear all Slim had to say moved incautiously in the wagon. Slim heard him. "“Who’s In that wagon?” he cried, moving toward it “Show Low asleep?” “No—Buddy.” said Polly, thinking she might as well confess the deception first as last and using the childish nickname of her lover in order to soften Slim’s anger against him. “Nobody,” repeated Slim, not fully convinced that he was mistaken, but stopping in deference to Polly’s apparent denial. “Who do you s’pose?” asked Polly pertly, taking courage when she found that Slim did not continue his investigation. “You ain’t after any Buddy, are you?” “No, but I’ll just take a look in here, ’cause I got somethin’ partic’lar to say to you, Miss Polly, an’ I don’t want no listeners.” And he moved forward again. At this juncture Polly began to ply her arts as a coquette. Looking shyly at Slim, she murmured, “Are you sure you are not after anybody?” The emphasis ou the last word was so plain that a shrewder lovemaker than Slim would have been deceived. “Eh? What’s that?’ Polly turned her back to him with assumed bashfulness. Slim’s courage arose at the sight “Well, I reckon this is a pat hand fer me, an’ that’s the way I’m a-goin’ to play It, if I’ve got the nerve.”

Slim smoothed down his tangled hair and brushed off some of the dust which whitened his shoulders. “Look here, Miss Polly” Then his courage failed him, and he stopped. Polly glanced at him to help him over the hard places. Slim was greatly embarrassed. “My heart Is right up lu my throat. Well, I might as well spit it out,” he thought aloud. Again Slim started toward the girl to tell her of his love, and again his courage failed him, although Polly was doing her best to help him. “Look here, Miss Polly, I’ve been after somebody fer a long time now.” “Horse thief?” asked Polly coquettlsbly. “No, heart thief,” blurted Slim. “Stealin’ hearts ain’t no harm.” “Well, just the same, I’m goin’ to issue a writ of replevin an’ try fer to git mine back,” laughed Slim. He was about to slip his arm about her waist when she turned and faced him. The action so disconcerted him that he Jumped backward as if the girl was about to attack him.

“Where Is It?” asked Polly. Slim, deeply In earnest, replied: “You know where it’s hid. You know Just as well as I kin tell you.” Polly became remorseful. She realized how much Slim was suffering, and sha'was sorry that her answer to him would be a disappointment. “Please don’t say any more. Slim,” she said as she stepped away. Slim followed her up and. speaking over her shoulder, said: ”1 can’t help it. You’ve got my feelln’s stampeded now, an’ they sure has to run. I’ve had an ltchln’ In my heart fer you ever since I first knowed you. You come from Kentucky. Well, I was kinder borned up that way myself, In Boone county, an’ that sorter makes—well. If It did, what I want to know la”— Slim hesitated and nervously hauled at his chaps. “Will you be my”— Frightened at his boldness, he clapped his hand over his mouth. “Can I be your”— he began again. Angry at himself, he said under his breath, “I’ll never get this thing out of my system.” In his earnestness be doubled up his fist and shook It behind the girl’s bnck. Suddenly she turned and found his clinched hand directly under her nose. She started back In, dismay. r “Excuse me.” humbly apologized Slim. “I didn’t mean fer to do that, ma’am—’’deedy, I didn’t. I was only—that’s—well, I reckon I’m a little bit’’— Slim looked directly at the girl for the first time. She was trying to restrain her hearty laughter; Slim’s face broadened in a grin. “You're a mighty fine piece of work, you are, an’ I’ve got an awful yearnin’ to butt Into your family.”

Polly was greatly moved by Slim’* sincerity. “Don’t please don’t J” she pleaded. “Why, I’ve known all'along that you love me, but”— “But what?” he asked when she hesitated. “I’ve always liked yon real well, an’ I’ve been glad that you liked me. I don’t want to lose your friendship, though—an’, oh, please forgive me, please do!" Polly was very repentant, showing It by the tones of her voice and In her eyes. Slim was puzzled at| first. Then It came to him that the girl had refused to marry him. “Oh, I Tow you-all ain’t a-goln’ to say you love me, then!” “I don’t believe I am.” Polly smiled through her tears. Slim pansed, as if steadying himself to meet the full force of the blow. “Mebbe it’s along of my red hair?” “It is red, Isn’t it?” Polly smiled kindly. Slim ran his fingers through his locks and then looked at his fingers, as If expecting the color would come off on his hands. “ ’Taln’t blue,” he said. Another thought came to him. “Freckles?” he .asked laconically. Polly only shook her head. “There’s only one cure for freckles —sandpaper,” grinned Slim. “But It Isn’t freckles,” replied the girl. Slim looked at his hands and feet. “Maybe It’s fat?” he hazarded. “Oh, I know I’m too fat! It beats all how I do keep fat" Slim looked into his hat and sighed. “Well, I suppose we don’t get married this year, do we?” “No, Slim,” said Polly gently. “Nor any other year*to come?” Slim was still hopeful. “That’s the way it looks now." (To be Continued)

“A boudoir is a seeqar.”