Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1920)

54 Photoplay Magazine Jack swiftly determined that Bud's friendship with the halfbreed should be broken off at once. He called Bud to h.m. "I tell you now for fair you've got to shake Buck McKee I've got it straight that he's been with Geronimo, torturing and robbing lone prospectors." "That's a damn lie! " Bud blazed back. "It was Buck McKee that stood fighting off the Apaches trying to save Dick. Vou were glad enough to take his story when it left you a full swing to court Dick's girl." Jack llared with anger at this. "Either you give up Buck McKee or you leave Sweetwater ranch — now." "To hell with your job — I'm through with you." And with that Bud left. Soon after, Bud, with Buck McKee, was telling and drowning his troubles over the bar at Florence. Jack Payson felt many misgivings. He sought out Echo in the garden at the Bar-i. "Echo, tell me that you love me — that you will always love me — no matter what happens — and that you never loved until you loved me."' The girl stared at him. puzzled, sympathetic, then smiled. "Just what do you mean. Jack?" "I mean Dick Lane — I am jealous ot him — even of his memory." A look of hurt flashed into Echo's eyes. She was perilously near to anger, but her new love triumphed. "I know now I only loved poor Dick as a brother. I really love only you. Jack." "If Dick had come back would you ha\'e kept your promise to him? " "Yes." Jack stood in crestfallen silence at her answer. Echo came quickly to the rescue of his mood. "Don't be a silly goose. Dick is dead. There is no need of this argument.'' "Then why wait until June to be married?" Jack urged, speaking with a renewed fervor and cheer in his voice. "Let's be married right away." "No — there's my trousseau. Jack — but I'll hurry. I'll marry you in a month." 'T'HE day of the wedding arrived with magic ■■• speed and mighty were the preparations out at the Bar-i, and many were the comings and goings at Florence. Sheriff Slim Hoover met both the daily trains at the depot seeking the arrival of a "store-built" suit to wear to the wedding, and at last snatched his parcel without at ail waiting for the routine attentions of Old Man Terrill, the express agent. Buck McKee and Bud. now inseparable comrades, sat idling on a baggage truck as Terrill busied himself about the station. McKee observed with narrowing eyes that a money box had been deposited from the train. He watched Terrill carry the heavy package into the station. Ensconced in the back room of the village saloon, Buck began warily to unfold a plan to Bud. "What do you say to picking up & little extra change? It's easy. 'Member that box Terrill took off the train? Everybody will be busy getting leady for the wedding. 'We can stick him up and get away with that money easy as pie." Bud shook his head. Buck replied by pouring the lad another drink. "All you need to do is hold the horses and keep an eye peeled, so I can make a clean getaway — and I'll give you half." The half-breed's voice was low and persuasive. Bud. nerved with another drink, nodded assent. Out at the Sweetwater ranch the cowboys, including the picturesque Sage Brush Charlie, Fresno and Parenthesis, were groomed in the best and most flashy attire, mounted and waiting to ride to the wedding with their employer. Jack Payson. Jack emerged, much preoccupied. "You boys go ahead. I have to stop at the express office. I'll see you pretty soon at the Bar-i." When Buck McKee stealthily approached the depot, with The Round Up NARRATED, by permission, from the photoplay produced by Paramount Artcraft. Scenario by Tom Forman from the play by Edmund Day. Directed by George Melford, with the following cast : Slim Hoover, the Sheriff . Roscoe Arbuckle Echo Allen Mabel Julienne Scott Jack Payson Tom Forman Dick Lane Irving Cummings Bud Lane -Edward Sutherland Polly Hope Jane Acker Uncle Jim Guy Oliver Aunt Josephine Jane Wolfe Parenthesis, a cowboy .hucKn Littlefield "Nobody loves a fat man IJud waiting with the horses in the ravine below, he saw Jack Payson inquiring of Terrill. As Buck watched through the window, Payson opened the package and proudly displayed a locket to Terrill. It was Jack's wedding present to Echo. As Jack rode away Buck slipped into the depot, unseen from without. He sauntered to the express window and engaged Terrill m conversation. Then suddenly covered the express agent with his gun. "I'll trouble you to open that express box, pronto!" Terrill swung and clinched with McKee across the window counter. There was a shot and Terrill fell, done for. A hundred yards away at his shack Sheriff Slim was fighting his way into the store clothes that he was to wear to the wedding. He paused with an expression of mild interest at the sound of the shot, leisurely finished dressing, emerged to look about, then headed for the depot. When Slim entered the depot he found Terrill's body on the floor and the express safe rifled. Buck and Bud rode pell me'.l down the ravine and into the shallows of the river, covering their tracks. Well up the river they paused. Buck took his roll of looted money from h's shirt and divided it into two parcels, handing a half to Bud. "I won't take it. You promised there'd be no killin'." Bud was plainly stricken with remorse and terror. "It was him or me.'' Buck was sneering and cold. "You take your share or I'll blow it into you." The half-breed touched his six-shooter significantly. Bud pocketed the money. "That's better."' The half-breed grinned. "Now we'll double back on our trail and go to the wedding. That's our best alibi." .At the depot Sheriff Slim stood puzzling over the situation. Robbery and murder. Outside he followed tracks to the river, then decided to return for a posse. Affairs at the Bar-i with its merry preparation for the wedding were in gala swing when Slim arrived. "Sorry I must break up your fun, boys, but I've come for a posse. Somebody has killed and robbed 01' Man Terrill." "Now sheriff — we kin have killin's any time, but weddin's is scarce here — let"s wait," Sagebrush pleaded as spokesman. "After the wedding we'll all go with you," spoke up Uncle Jim Allen. So Slim had to assent. Also the day was fading. Bud and Buck McKee, heavy with drink, rode in. Jack Payson intercepted McKee at the door. "You were not invited to this wedding and you're not wanted." There was a clash and Jack 'threw the half-breed into the yard. He re-entered the house and Sagebrush took up watch at the door to keep the uninvited guest outside. The minister arrived and the ranch-house was made bright with lights. RIDING out of the sunset hills of Sweetwater valley came Dick Lane, homebound at last, to claim his own. There was a great joy in his face as he rode up the familiar lane to the Bar-i ranch-house. Here was to be his reward for all his suffering, perils and privation. Dick took note of the many horses in the ranch yard as he dismounted and stood looking at the brightly lighted house. "Must be some sort of party going on." he decided. "Won't do to take Echo too much by surprise. I'd better see Jack first." Dick approached the door and was not recognized by Sagebrush, on guard. "I'm a friend of Mr. Payson's," Dick explained. But Dick declined Sagebrush's cordial invitation to enter. "No, please tell him an old friend from Mexico wants to see him." (Continued on page 114) I