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Page 105
"Did you nip it up with the 'Paches," asked Parenthesis.
"Talk, durn 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.
Parenthesis spied her riding down the trail. "She's comin' now,"
he cried.
"Boys," requested Slim, "would you mind herdin' off yonder a
bit?"
The cow-punchers strolled over to the cottonwood, leaving Echo to
meet Slim alone.
"Where is he?" was Echo's tearful greeting.
"Well, ma'am, there's a man out yonder that's been through fire
and brimstone for you!"
Echo stared over the prairies. Then Jack was still searching for
Dick. Slim had failed to find him. "Out yonder," she moaned,
wringing her hands.
"Wait a minute," says Slim. "He says to me, says he: 'Break
it to her, Slim; tell her gentle--an' if she wants me--call, and
I'll come.' Ma'am, Dick Lane is dead."
Echo shuddered. "Dead," she repeated. "By his--"
"No, no," interrupted Slim; "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 havin' the derndest mixup with
Indians 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: 'Tell her I know she was true--and not to mind.' Then he
gave a little ketch of his breath, and 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 Dick," she said. "I was not worthy of his love.
And Jack, where is he?"
"Wait a minute--he wants to know if you can forgive him--if you
will take him back."
"Slim!" was the only word Echo uttered, but the volume of love it
contained told him everything.
"You needn't say nothin' more--I see it shinin' in your eyes,"
cried Slim.
"Jack! Jack!" he shouted, "you derned idiot, come a-runnin--"
Payson hurried up from the arroyo within which he had been
waiting.
"Echo, I have not altogether failed in my mission. I have not
brought Dick Lane back, but I hope I come from him bearing
something of his loyalty and simple faith. If you ever can learn
to trust me again--if you ever can learn to love me--" he said to
Echo humbly.
"Don't be a derned fool, Jack," blurted Slim; "can't you see she
ain't never loved no one else?"
"Echo, is it so?" asked Jack eagerly.
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