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Payson of the landlord. "There are nine of them: the rest are out hunting, I suppose," was the reply. "And do all these chaps manage to sleep in this little hut?" asked a settler. "A nice time they must have of it on the ground, especially when it rains," added another, pointing up through the roof, which was open, to let out the smoke.
Payson, "I shall have to fix an easy place for you to ride, as you've been sick," he laid the hard beds in the empty space which he had left for that purpose in the cart, with the feather beds above, saying, "There, you won't feel the motion much now;" and assisting her to mount, she was enthroned on her downy seat on the top of the load, with the children in high glee by her side.
"And Jack, did you find him? tell me all about it." "See yeah," answered Slim, "I ain't goin' to say nuthin' to nobody till I see Mrs. Payson." "Oh, pshaw!" pouted Polly; "not even me?" "Not even what I've got to say she must heah first. I'm kinder stiff if you don't mind, I'll set down a spell." Slim's face was drawn and worn.
Now, I've settled Buck McKee's hash by putting Slim Hoover wise to that tongue-slittin'. Oh, I'll bring Bud around, all right, all right, even if men that ought to be his friends go back on him." "But, Pollykins " "Don't you girlie me, Jack Payson. I'm a woman, and I'm goin' to be a married one, too, in spite of all you do to Bud. Yes, sirree, bob.
"Yes," ordered Slim quietly but emphatically. "Payson you'll give me your word you won't try to escape?" "Yes," agreed Jack. "His word don't go with us," shouted Buck. Slim laid his hand on the butt of his revolver, ready to draw, if necessary, to enforce his command. Buck saw the movement, and shouted to him: "Keep your hand away from that gun, Sheriff. You know I am quick on the draw."
"Play square with her," thought Payson. Was he playing square with her? He knew that he was not, but the chance of losing her was too great for him to risk. "For if you ain't on the level with Echo Allen, well you might as well crawl out of camp, that's the kind of girl she is," Polly exclaimed loyally. Josephine Opens the Sluices
She was of a type noble but severe, naturally hard, correct, exact and exacting, with intense natural and moral ideality. Had it not been that Doctor Payson had set up and kept before her a tender, human, loving Christ, she would have been only a conscientious bigot.
It 'u'd be easy to steer her into refusin' to let Echo go into a mortgiged home." Simple-minded Bud readily accepted the wily half-breed's explanations and surmises, and fell into the trap he was preparing. This was to hold up the express-agent and rob him of the money Payson was expecting, on securing which it was McKee's intention to flee the country before Dick Lane returned to denounce him.
That afternoon Payson rode to Allen Hacienda to see Echo, and to sound her upon her feelings to Dick Lane. He wished thoroughly to convince himself that he, Jack Payson, held complete sway over her heart. Perhaps he might dare to put her love to the test, and fulfil the trust his friend had imposed on him, by giving her Dick's letter.
Payson extended his hand with a show of cordiality, as I entered his store between two and three o'clock on the next day. "Sit down and look over the papers for a little while," he added. "I'll be with you in a moment. Just finishing up my bank business." "Business first," was my answer, as I took the proffered newspaper. "Stand upon no ceremony with me."
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