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Page 51
Jack entered the room at this moment. Absent-mindedly he hung
his hat and spurs on a rack and leaned his rifle against the
wall, sighing deeply as he did so. So engrossed was he in his
thoughts that he did not notice Polly until he reached the table.
He started in surprise when he saw her. "Hello, Polly!" was his
greeting. "Where is Echo?"
Polly rose hastily at the sound of his voice.
"Didn't you meet her?" she asked. "We got her to ride over
toward Tucson this morning to get her out of the way so's to
snake the pianny in without her seein' it." Polly glided over to
the instrument and touched the keys softly.
With admiration Jack gazed at the instrument.
"I came around by Florence," answered Jack, with a smile.
Eagerly Polly turned toward him. "See anything of Bud Lane?" she
queried.
"No." Again Jack smiled--this time at the girl's impetuosity.
"He'll lose his job with me if he don't call more regular," she
said.
"Say, Jack, you ain't fergettin' what you promised--to help Bud
with the money that you said was comin' in soon, as Dick's share
of a speculation you and him was pardners in? I'm powerful
anxious to get him away from McKee."
Jack had not forgotten the promise, but, alas, under the goading
of Mrs. Allen that he should clear off the mortgage on his home,
he had used Dick Lane's money for this purpose. In what a mesh
of lies and broken promises he was entangling himself! Now he
was forced further to deceive trusting little Polly in the matter
that was dearest to her heart.
"No, Polly, but the fact is--that speculation isn't turning out
so well, after all."
The disappointed girl turned sadly away, and went out to Mrs.
Allen in the kitchen.
Jack removed his belt and gun and hung them on the rack by the
door. Spying his father at the corral, he called to him to come
into the house.
"Hello, Jack!" was Allen's greeting as he entered, shaking the
younger man's hand.
"When did you come over?"
"This morning," Allen told him. "Echo's birthday, you know, and
the old lady allowed we'd have to be here. Ain't seen you since
the weddin'--got things lookin' fine here." Allen slowly
surveyed the room.
Jack agreed with him with a gesture of assent. A more important
topic to him than the furnishing of a room was what had become of
Dick Lane. After the wedding ceremony no chance had come to him
to speak privately to Allen.
The festivities of the wedding had been shortened. Slim had
gathered a posse and taken up the trail of the slayers. Jim
Allen had joined them. The hazing of Jack, and the hasty
departure of the bridal pair on horseback in a shower of corn,
shelled and on cob, prevented the two men from meeting.
The older man had volunteered no explanation. Jack knew that in
his heart Allen did not approve of his actions, but was keeping
silent because of his daughter.
Jack could restrain himself no longer. "Jim--what happened that
night?" he asked brokenly.
Allen showed his embarrassment. "Meanin'--" Then he hesitated.
"Dick," was all Jack could say.
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