d McKee, who
rode in advance of Bud, distinguished the voice of the Sheriff in
expostulation against the general raillery concentrated upon him.

The half-breed grinned wolfishly. It was evident that the bloodhound
of the law had tracked the supposed murderer just as the real criminal
had conjectured and desired.

Polly ran out on the piazza. She saw the man whom she regarded as her
lover's evil genius. As he greeted her ingratiatingly: "Howdy, Miss
Polly," she replied sharply:

"You ain't got no invite to this weddin'."

"I come with my friend Bud," he explained, with an elaborate bow.

"I didn't see you, Bud," answered Polly slightly mollified, as she
crossed the door-yard to shake hands with her sweetheart. Buck offered
her his hand, but she ignored him. McKee shrugged his shoulders, and
started for the house.

"Bud, he's some cast down because it's not his weddin'," was McKee's
parting shot at the young couple. "I 'low I'll go in and join the
boys. Excuse me."

"With pleasure," coldly replied the girl.

The half-breed ignored the sarcasm and, answering innocently, "Much
obliged," he entered the house.

Polly turned on Bud, displaying her resentment. "You an' him always
kick up the devil when you're together. What did you bring him along
fer?" she demanded.

"It's his last chance to see any fun around here; he's leavin' for
Texas," explained Bud.

"Fer how long?"

"Fer good."

"Fer our good, you mean. There's too many of his kind comin' into this
country. Did you hear about 'Ole Man' Terrill?"

Bud did not wait for her to explain, but nervously answered: "They told
us about it in Florence when we were coming through, We've been at the
Lazy K."

"Wasn't it dreadful?" rattled on Polly. "Slim's here--the boys are
goin' to turn out with him after the weddin' to see if they can ketch
the feller who did the killin'."

Bud paled as he heard the news. To conceal his distress he moved
toward the door. Anywhere to get away from the girl to whom he feared
he would betray himself. "I'll join 'em," he huskily answered.

Polly, however, could see no reason for his evident haste to leave her.

She felt hurt, but thought his actions were due to her scolding him for
being with McKee.

"You ain't ever ast me how I look," she inquired, seeking to detain him.

"You look fine," complimented Bud perfunctorily.

"W'en a feller ain't seen a feller in a week, seems like a feller ought
to brace up an