Part 10 (1/2)

”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 circ.u.mstances, 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.”

Jack threw up his hands in protest, hastily denying any probable charge that the tease might make. ”Why, I haven't been saying a word!” he cried.

Polly laughed as she ran to the door.

”No, you haven't,” she answered mockingly, as one agrees with a child whose feelings have been hurt. ”He's only been tellin' me he loved--”

Pausing an instant, she pointed at Echo, ending her sentence with a shouted ”you.”

With her hand on Jack's shoulder, Echo said: ”Polly, you are a flirt.

You've too many strings to your bow.”

”You mean I've too many beaux to my string!” laughingly answered the girl.

”You'll have Slim Hoover and Bud Lane shooting each other up all on your account,” chided Echo.

”Nothing of the kind,” pouted Polly. ”Can't a girl have friends? But I know what you two are waiting for?”

”What?” asked Jack.

”You want me to vamose. I'm hep. I'll vam.”