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Page 64
"You ain't goin' to let him--" Buck did not finish the sentence,
for Slim, thoroughly aroused, shouted: "Buck McKee, if you say
another word, I'm goin' to kill you. Gents, there's the door--
your hosses are in the corral--get."
Preceded by some of the Sweetwater boys, the Lazy K outfit filed
out, Sage-brush taking their guns as they passed him. Fresno and
Parenthesis brought up the rear.
"He needn't think he'll escape. We're bound to have him,"
declared Buck.
"Are you goin'?" demanded Slim, his voice full of menace.
"Can't you see me?" sneered Buck.
Sage-brush relieved him of his gun as he passed, handing it to
Fresno. Buck paused in the doorway long enough to lament: "Talk
of hospitality. I never get in but what I am put out."
Slim watched McKee from the window until he disappeared through
the gate of the corral. Then walking down to Jack, he took him
by the hand.
"It'll be all right in an hour--thank you, boys," Payson assured
them.
"We all know you are the whitest man on the Sweetwater," assured
Sage-brush, speaking for the punchers, as they left Jack a
prisoner with Slim.
Speaking in a low tone, Jim asked Jack: "Where did you get that
money?"
"Don't you know?" he asked, in surprise.
"From--"
Jack nodded his head.
"I'll wait for you in the other room," said Slim.
"Maw, Polly, we all better leave 'em alone."
As the woman and the girl left the room, the old ranchman paused
at the doorway, leading to the kitchen, to advise his son-in-law
earnestly: "I 'low you better tell her; it's best."
The two young people were left alone in the room in which they
had passed so many happy hours to face a crisis in their lives.
The day which had begun sunnily was to end in darkest clouds. The
awful accusation was incredible to Echo. Her faith in her
husband was not shaken. Jack, she felt, could explain. But, no
matter what the outcome might be, she would be loyal to the man
she loved. On this point she was wholly confident. Had she not
pledged her faith at the marriage altar?
"Jack?" a volume of questions was in the word. Taking her hands
in his and looking searchingly in her eyes, he said:
"Before I tell you what's been on my mind these many weeks--I
want to hold you in my arms and hear you say: 'Jack, I believe
in you.'"
Echo put her arms about his neck and, nestling close to his
breast, declared: "I do believe in you--no matter what
circumstances may be against you. No matter if all the world
calls you guilty--I believe in you, and love you."
Jack seated himself at the table, and drew his wife down beside
him. Putting his arms about her as she knelt before him, he
murmured: "You're a wife--a wife of the West, as fair as its
skies and as steadfast as its hills--and I--I'm not worthy--"
"Not worthy--you haven't--it isn't--" gasped Echo, starting back
from him, thinking that Jack was about to confess that under some
strange stress of circumstances he had slain the express-agent.
"No, it isn't that," hastily answered Jack, with a shudder at the
idea. "I've lied to you," he simply confessed.
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