Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1909 — The Round Up [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Round Up

A "Romance of Arizona Novelised From Edmund Day's Melodrama

By JOHN MURRAY and MILLS MILLER

SYNOPSIS.* 1 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 be Is coming home. He tells Payson be has $3,000 to pay a mortgage {laced by Jack on his ranch to help lm. ll—Colonel Jim Allen, owner of the Bar One ranch, Is father of Bcho 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 sheriff. 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 VIIr-McKee plans to to throw suspicion of Terrill’s murder on Jack, and he and Bud go to ijhe Allens’ for the wedding. Mckee raises a disturbance and is put out. VIII —All ready for the wedding. IX —Dick turns up at the Aliens’ Just as his rweetheart is married to Jack. Only Allen and Jack see him. Jack Is tempted to shoot his friend, who pays the $3,00,0 to him and returns to the desert. X—The cowpunchers send for a piano as a surprise for 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 boys 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, qnd 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 hlmyback to bear 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 friend. 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 baste 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. XVll—Polly and Bud come to an understanding. Peruna stabs McKee fatally and is arrested by Slim, w'ho returns just in time. McKee then confesses to Slim, exonerating Jack. XVIII—The last CHAPTER XVlli.—Concluded. Slim put on his hat and tried to walk Jauntily to the fire, whistling a bit of a tone. The effort was a sad failure. “Here’s where I get off. I’m In sure bad luck. Somebody must have put a copper on me when I was born. I Tow I gotter be movin’.” “You won’t hate me, will you. Slim?" The sheriff took the girl’s hands In his and kissed them. “Hate you?" he almost shouted. “Why, I couldn’t learn to do that—no, strec—not in a thousand years.” Polly slapped Slim on the back. “I’m glad of that,” she cried. “Brace up. You'D get a good wife some day. There’s lot of good fish In the sea." 811 m glanced at her ruefully. “I don’t feel much like goin’ flshln’ Jest now. Would you mind tellln’ me If I lose out on this deal along of somebody else a-holdln’ all the cards?" 811 m waited for Polly’s answer. “Why, don’t you know?*’ “No,” he said simply. “But be told me”— “Who is itr be Insisted. “No; If you don’t know his name I Won’t tell you,” decided Polly. “Mebbe it's Jest as well, too," assented SUm. “I don’t think I'd feel too frtendly toward him.” 811 m moved toward the wagon. The action was purely Involuntary, but It Polly so much that she ■Bm grasped at once the reason for fcerjhar. “Is the feller in that wag-

“You wouldn’t do him any barm, would you?” cried Polly. “Is he In that wagon?” 811 m repeated angrily. Polly caught hold of his arm. “What's he hidin’ for?* he demanded. SUm pulled his gun and covered the opening. “Come out, you coward!” he shouted. Polly caught Slim by the right wrist so he could not fire. Bud leaped from the wagon, drawing his gun as he did so. “You shan’t call me a coward!” he shouted to Slim. Polly ran behind Bud and, reaching her arms about his waist, held down his hands, depressing the muzzle of his revolver. SUm danced up and down In the excitement with his revolver in his band. Polly kept calling on both of the men not to shoot “Let him alone!” shonted SUm excitedly. “Let him alone, Miss Polly. He’s only four flushln’, an* 1 ain’t gun shy.”

“Let him alone I” shouted Slim excitedly. “Now, look here, sonny,” he cried to Bud, “if that squirt gun of yours goes off an’ bits me an’ I find It outwell, I reckon I’ll have to spank you.” Bud tried to break away from Polly, begging her to “let go.” The girl laid her hands on his shoulder, gaziug pleadingly Into his flushed face. “Don’t, don’t!" she cried. “It’s all right. Slim knows all about it He knows I love you, an’ he wouldn’t hurt any one that I love. Would you Slim?” Polly smiled at the sheriff, completely disarming him. Shoving his gun back Into the holster, Slim grinned and said, “I reckon I wouldn’t.” “We’ve been engaged fer ever so long now, waitin’ fer Bud to get rich, an’ now—an’ now It’s tome.” Her face radiated her happiness. Bud showed his alarm, motioning her to be silent, but Polly rattled on, “Bud’s been savin’ an’ savin’ till he’s got over a thousand dollars, an’ Slim could not contain his indignation at the deception practiced %n the girl by the boy. “You derned thief!" he shouted. Then he stopped, plainly showing his annoyance at bis lack of self repression. Bud’s hand dropped to his gun. "You”— he began, but Polly stopped him' with a gesture, looking from one to the other of the men, dazed and frightened. “A thief? Bud a thief? What does It mean? Tell me!" she gasped. Turning to Bud, she demanded, “Bud, you beard what he said?” Dropping his head, fearing to look at either of them, he muttered Bullenly. “He lied.” Slim checked hla first betrayal of his anger and kept himself well In hand. “Oh, Slim,” pleaded Polly, “say you didn’t mean It" Simply and sadly Slim answered: “I didn’t. I reckon as bow I’m some Jealous, an’— lied." His voice dropped, and he turned aside, stepping away from the young couple. Polly was still In doubt. Slim’s actions were so strange. It was not like this big hearted, brave sheriff to accuse a man of stealing without being sure of his''charges. Then Slim’s accusing himself of lying was entirely at variance with his character. “I’m sorry,” she said. "Please forgive me. It was all my fault I didn’t know that you’’— Slim held up his hand to silence her. “Wouldn’t you mind leavin’ us together a bit?” he requested. In answer to Polly’s frightened glance he continued: “There ain’t goln’ to he no trouble, only—me an’ hlm’s got a little business to talk over. Ain’t we. Bud, ehr , BUm led Polly toward the corral, glancing at Bud over his shoulder with a reassuring smile. “Just you step out yonder a bit an’ wait” he said to Pollv.

-trow, you won't"— “Can’t you trust me any moril" be ggksd sincerely. Grasping him by the band, she looked him fairly and fearlessly in the eyes, saying: “1 do trust you. I trust yon both.” As the girl strode out of earshot Slim absentmindedly kept shaking the band sbe bad held. Awakening suddenly to the fact that bit band was empty, lm looked at It curiously and sighed. Turning quickly, be slapped bis bat on his bead, hitched up bis chaps and stepped up to Bud, who stood with a sneer on his Ups. “So you’re the man that PoUy loves,” be said. "She’s a good girl, an* she loves a thief,” Bud turned on him fiercely, drawing his gun. “Take carer he warned.' “Yon won’t shoot If you meant to shoot you’d ’a' done It long ago, when you pulled your gun!” exclaimed Slim coolly. “I might do it now.” Bud held his gun against Slim’s breast SUm threw up tils hands to show be was not afraid of the boy. “Go ahead. Squeeze your hardware. I reckon I'm big enough to kill,” he said. Then be took Bud’s hand and gently slid the revolver back Into the holster. The action broke down Bud’s bravado. All barriers fell before the simple action. “It’s all up with me,” he said brokenly. Slim sympathized with the boy in his trouble. “Buck he told me. Buck he Towed you had your share of that money,” he explained. The boy drew the money from his pocket and handed It to SUm, remarking: “Here it Is—all of It I never touched It I was going”— Bud was about to lie again, but he realized the futility of more falsehoods. “Take it,” he added. Slim counted the money and slipped tt Into his pocket. “Bud,” he said to that young man, “me an’ yon have been pretty good friends, we have. I learned you how to ride, to throw a rope, an’ Bad— Bud —what did you take it fer? I know you didn’t murder Terrill fer !t, but what did you keep the money fer?” He asked the question with anger and annoyance. SUm had seated himself by the fire. He spoke to the boy as he would to a comrade. “Can’t you see?’ the boy asked. “Polly. I wanted to make a home for her, and now she’ll know me for what I am, a thief—a thief.” Bud burled his face in bis hands, the tears trickling through his fingers, although he fought strongly against showing his weakness. SUm rose and stepped to his side, laying his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Mebbe she won’t have to know. Buck he’s dead, an’ only you an’ me know.” Bud looked at the speaker In amazement. A lovable smile crept over SUm’s face. “I’m goln’,” he said, “to slip you a new deck an’ give you a fresh deal. That was part my money that was stole. I never come back at the county fer 1L Buck he’s paid back his half. I’ll let ’em all think It was the whole. I’ll put in a thousan’ I

“Go ahead. Squeeze your hardware.” have at home that I was savin’ to buy in with the Triangle B In case I don’t git elected nex’ time. So, Bud, I’m goln' to lend a thousan’ of this to you Just to give a chance at that little home.” “You’re the whitest man I ever knew!” cried Bud. “I reckon I ain’t colored, ’cept a little red mite on top,” laughed Slim. He disliked any show of feeling by the boy over the offer he had made. “But I can’t take your money,” Bud protested. “Yes, you can,” assured Slim. “You pay it back when you get on your feet agin. I’m goln’ to take your word.” Slim’s generosity ovegghelmed the boy. “Take my word!” {(pried. Slim laid his hands on the boy’s shoulders. "Yes,” be declared. “You’ve made your first had break, but you’ve had your first lesson. An’ you ain’t goln’ to forget it,” he added emphatically. “And Polly ?’ be faltered. “There ain’t nobody goin’ to teU her.” Speaking sternly to Bud, he added, “You make her a good husband.” Bud seised the sheriff’s hand, wringing it warmly. “I will. Slim; I will" he promised. The wait had been too long for Polly. She returned before SUm called her, saying; “I’m tired waitin’ on yop all.

Haven’t you finished up that business j yet?” “Yes, ma’axh; it’s finished,” replied ' BUm. “Did Bud tell you about It?" inquired ' Polly. “He told me. Beems like you two are goln’ to get married.” “Uh-huh,” laughed Polly happily. “An’, oh, say, will you stand up fer Bud?” “I reckon Bud csn stand up fer himself now with you to help him,” answered SUm emphatically. Two’ll run over and teU the boys you’re beck!” shouted Bud. Slim took the hands of the young people In his own big ones. “I’m right glad you two are goln’ to hitch up,” he said. “I am dead sure you’ll make a even ruunln’ team.” Polly glanced shyly at Slim. “Bud won't mind if you kiss me,” sbe hinted. SUm grinned’sheepishly. In his embarrassment he rubbed one foot on his other leg. “Well, I ain’t—never—that Is”— he stammered. “Bnd. If you all don’t mind," he boldly asserted after his bashfulness had waned, “I reckon I will play one little bet on thSTed.” The sheriff never did anything In a small way. The kiss he gave her full on the Ups was a resounding one. Bud took PoUy by the hand and silently led her to the house. Slim sat down on a keg behind the fire. Taking some loose tobacco and a film of rice paper from his pocket, he deftly rolled a cigarette and lighted it with a brand from the blaze. With a sigh' he removed his hat. He was the picture of dejection. For several moments he sat In deep thought. Then, with a deep Indrawing of his breath tnd a shrug of the shoulders, he cried:l ‘Shucks! Nobody loves a fat man!” • • • * * * • When PoUy told the boys In the corral that Slim had returned and was waiting for them at the mess wagon they dropped their work and made fori him with wild whoops and yells. Slim! smiled as he heard them coming. Bhow Low taade a running Jump, throwing his arms about the sheriff's neck. Parenthesis and Sagebrush each grabbed a hand, pumping npand down emphatically. The others slapped him on the back. All talked at once, asking him the news and whether Jack had returned. “Did you nip It up with the ’Paches,” asked Parenthesis. “Talk, dura ye, talk,” shouted Show Low, “or we’ll hang out your hide.” Slim shook the hands of his comrades in turn affectionately. For each he had his own particular form of greeting. “No, boys,” he said when the group became more orderly, “I ain’t a-goin’ to say a word till I see Mrs. Payson first” Polly had ridden at once to the house to tell the Joyful news of Slim's return to Echo, who hurried at once to the boys about the wagon. - Parentheses, spied her riding down

! the trail. “She’s covin' now,” be cited. ! “Boys," requested Slim, “would yon i mind herdin' off yonder a bit?” I The cowpunchers strolled over to the , cottonwood, leaving Echo to meet 1 to tin alone. ‘ “Where Is her was Echo’s tearful greeting. “Well, ma’am, there's a man out yonder that’s been through fire an' brimstone fer you!” Echo stared over the prairies. Then Jack was still searching for Dick. Slim had failed to dad him “Out yonder,” she moaned, wringing her hands “Wait a minute,” said Slim. “He says to me, says he, 'Break it to her. Slim; tell her gentle—an’ If she wants me call, an’ I’ll come.’ Ma’am, Dick Lane is dead.” Echo shuddered. “Dead,” rite repeated, “by his”— “No, no,” interrupted SUm; “not that way. Indians. Jack found Dick, an* the Indians found ’em both. When I come up with the soldiers from Fort Grant they was barin’ the derndest mlxup with the Indiana you ever did see. Both men were bad hurted, an’ Dick—well, ma’am, I leaned over him Jest in time to hear him say, •TeU her I know she was true an’ not to mind.’ Then he gave a little ketch of his I breath an’ dropped back Into my arms.”

Echo sighed. The tragedy of the desert was very real to her. In the many months that the two men had been away she had lived through it with them in poignant imagination. “Great hearted Dfckr she said. “I was not worthy of his lore. And Jack —where la baJ”

“Walt a. minute. He wants to know if you can forgive him—if you will take him back.** “Slim!" was the only word Bcho uttered, but the volume of lqve it contained told him everything. “You needn't say nothin’ more. I see tt shinin' in your eyes,” cried Slim. “Jack! Jack!” lm shouted. “You derned idiot, come a-rniinin’!" Payson hurried up from the arroyo within which he bad been waiting. “Echo. I have not altogether failed in my mission. I hare not brought Dick Lane back, but I hope I come from him bearing something of his loyalty and si mole faith. If von aver can learn to trust me again—if you ever can learn to love me”— he said to Bcho humbly. “Don’t be a derned fool. Jack,” blurted Slim. “Can’t you eee she ain’t never loved no one else?’ “Echo, Is it so?” asked Jack eagerly. Slim grinned. Going over to Echo’s side, he gave her a slight push, saying, “Go teD him.” “Jack!” was her only cry as her hue band Infolded her in his arms.

Watch for the opening chapters of “The Man From Home.” Try The Democrat for Job work.

“Jack!” was her only cry.