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Page 34
Polly laughingly replied: "You're feelin' pretty spry now, but
you'll be as meek as a baby calf in a little while. In this
section a bridegroom is treated worse than a tenderfoot."
Payson smiled. He knew he was in for a thorough hazing by the
boys. "That's all right. I'll get back at you some day--when
you and Bud--"
Polly interrupted him with a remark about minding his own
business.
Bud avoided entering into the conversation. He had walked toward
the door and was standing on the steps when he answered for
Polly.
"Looks as if you're chances of gettin' even with us is a long way
off," he said. Turning, he entered the house, to join the other
guests who, by the noise, were enjoying Allen's importations from
Tucson to the bottom of every glass.
Polly looked after Bud, smiling quizzically. "Bud's mighty
hopeful, ain't he? Ain't you happy?"
"You bet! Don't I look it?" cried Jack, rubbing his hands.
"Never thought I could be so happy. A fellow doesn't get married
every day in the week."
"Not unless he lives in Chicago; I hear it's the habit there,"
answered Polly.
"The sweetest girl in the Territory--" began Jack.
"You bet she is," Polly broke in. "If you just want to keep her
lovin' and lovin' you--all you've got to do is to treat her white
and play square with her."
"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.
CHAPTER VII
Josephine Opens the Sluices
Entering the living-room, Bud found Echo surrounded by several
girls from Florence and the neighboring ranches, who were driving
her almost distracted with their admiring attentions, for she
was greatly disturbed about her lover's inexplicable absence. Had
she been free from the duties of hospitality, she would have
leaped on her horse and gone in search of him.
Echo's wedding-attire would seem as incongruous as Jack's to the
eyes of an Easterner, yet it was entirely suited to the
circumstances, for the couple intended, as soon as they were
married, to ride to a little hunting-cabin of Jack's in the
Tortilla Mountains, where they would spend their honeymoon.
She was dressed in an olive-green riding-habit, which she had
brought from the East. The skirt was divided, and reached just
below the knee; her blouse, of lighter material, and brown in
color, was loose, allowing free play for her arms and shoulders.
High riding-boots were laced to the knee. A sombrero and
riding-gloves lay on the table ready to complete her costume.
Bud coldly acknowledged Echo's affectionate and happy greeting,
and curtly informed her that Jack had arrived.
She rushed out of doors with a cry of joy.
Running across the courtyard toward her lover, who awaited her
with outstretched arms, she began:
"Well, this is a nice time, you outrageous--" when Polly stopped
her with a mock-serious look. "Wait a minute--wait a minute" (the
girl drawled as if reining in a too eager horse) "don't commence
calling love-names before you get the hitch--time enough after.
He has been actin' up something scandalous with me."
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