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Page 104
"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 again. I'm going to take your word."
Slim's generosity overwhelmed the boy. "Take my word!" he cried.
Slim laid his hands on the boy's shoulders. "Yes," he declared,
"You've made your first bad break, but you've had your first
lesson. An' you ain't going to forget it," he added
emphatically.
"And Polly?" he faltered.
"There ain't nobody going to tell her." Speaking sternly to Bud,
he added: "You make her a good husband."
Bud seized 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 Slim
called her, saying: "I'm tired of waiting on you-all. Haven't
you finished up that business yet?"
"Yes, ma'am, it's finished," replied Slim.
"Did Bud tell you about it?" inquired Polly.
"He told me. Seems like you two are going to get married."
"Uh-huh," laughed Polly happily. "And, oh, say, will you stand
up for Bud?"
"I reckon Bud can stand up for himself now, with you to help
him," answered Slim emphatically.
"We'll run over and tell the boys you're back," shouted Bud.
Slim took the hands of the young people in his own big ones.
"I'm right glad you two are going to hitch up," he said. "I am
dead sure you'll make a even runnin' team."
Polly glanced shyly at Slim. "Bud won't mind if you kiss me,"
she hinted. Slim grinned sheepishly. In his embarrassment he
rubbed one foot on his other leg. "Well--I ain't--never--that
is--" he stammered, "Bud, if you-all don't mind," he boldly
asserted, after his bashfulness had waned, "I reckon I will play
one little bet on the red."
The Sheriff never did anything in a small way. The kiss he gave
her full on the lips was a resounding one.
Bud took Polly 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
in-drawing of his breath, and a shrug of the shoulders, he cried:
"Hell! nobody loves a fat man."
CHAPTER XVIII
Jack!
When Polly 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 for him with wild whoops and yells. Slim smiled as he
heard the coming.
Show Low made a running jump, throwing his arms about the
Sheriff's neck. Parenthesis and Sage-brush each grabbed a hand,
pumping up and down emphatically. The others slapped him on the
back. All talked at once, asking him the news, and whether Jack
had returned.
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