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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 1920)
RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF t- III COMRADES "SOME SCHEME." Bynopili.-Tom Shelby, a rancher, rides Into the frontier town of Pone looking for a srood time after a long spell of hard work and loneliness on tho ranch. In stead, ho runs Into a funoral-that of Dad Calkins, a retired army man of whom llttto In known. A girl, still In her tcena, survives Calkins. McCarthy, a saloon keep er and Ponca's leading citizen, do cldcn that the girl, now alone In the world, should marry. CHAPTER II Continued. 2 "If you go nt It right yes. This Is a sporting proposition. That's whero ft will mnlto n hit. Say wo limit tho chances to n dozen, or maybe fifteen; those fello.vs will bite at It ltko hun gry fish. Evcryono of them duffers will think he's a Indy's mnn. I know them, nnd there never was n young fellow In punts who didn't secretly be lieve ho wns n rcgulnr lady-killer. That's what's going to round them up in a bunch; we'll give tho girl a chance to take her pick. That's fair enough, isn't it?" Shelby Inughed, tho situation as thus swiftly outlined appealing sud denly to his sense of humor. "That's sure somo scheme," he ad mitted cheerily, "nnd I'd rather like eeln' it pulled off. nut It's my no tion that the girl Is liable to create somo disturbance. She didn't noways That Girl Ain't Even Halter Broke Yet." look to mo like the sort who could bo driven. It's my Idea that girl nln't oven halter broko yet, let nlono wlllln' to trot In double harness. Ain't that tho truth, Mac?" Shelby lit 'n clgnr, waiting for tho saloonkeeper to deliver his decision. "She's a bit odd, an sorter bull bended, yer might say," tho lntter said flnnlly. "That's truo enough, Tom. I had a time gcttln' her to go through them ceremonies this nfternoon. She Just wanted Old Dad planted qulet Ilke. She's mighty liable to bo offish when tho preacher first puts this pro position up to her. Likely ns not she'll throw a fit, but we'll fetch her up to the trough Just tho snme. You ain't pot nny better scheme, hnvo yer? Tho only way ter savo a girl out In this country Is tor marry her ain't thnt BO?" "I reckon It Is. Got yer gnng lined np yet?" "Not yet ; there's a plenty to chooso from nn' I aim ter wrlto out tho list over nt tho saloon, now about you?" "Me7 Not on your life, Mac; this Is not my funeral." "You'll hPlp us out, though?" "Sure; Til talk It over with tho boys nnd get 'em interested. I'll even throw fifty dollnrs Into tho Juck pot to give tho happy couple n start. There's nothln' that will put more 'pep' Into a prospective bridegroom than n Tmnch o money In sight. You two fellows figure It out nn' I'll go over to the saloon and, sorter quite-like, feel tho boys out a bit Whero'll you lie In an hour?" "In my office. Who wob you aiming to talk with?" "Oh, Cndy, Jim Mack, 'Howdy' Egnn n that bunch. They are tho boys yer nlmln' to Interest, I reckon, now much of a jack pot do you aim to raise?" McCarthy pondered a moment, his , chin cupped in his hand. "Well, I'll blow In two-fifty an' I reckon j there are those who would raise It to a right smart figure. You Kin talk a couple o' thousand, Tom. b yer say, that'll be quUe a feature, en' there ain't no reason why we Bhouldn't pull the affair off ternlght" The delicious and delicate humor of tho situation was what particularly an- pealed to Shelby the affair promised ww.temwrt a good lamb. Be vaa By RANDALL even convinced that tho scheme might work nnd thus really prove n benefit to the girl, If she only chose wisely; hut at present his main Interest cen tered on tho fun he expected to ex tract from tho preliminaries. He had already decided on a gen eral course of action; he would ap proach those whom he considered worthy, n n Btrlctly diplomatic way, Judiciously hinting nt tho possibility of Old Dad Calkins' girl being nn heir ess nnd suggesting tho advantnge of her being sought In early marriage. It was merely an Idea ho proposed to advance, to ho Implanted In their minds, thnt Bho should not bo allowed to es- capo from the community with all that money, nor nnppcd up by some mer cenary stranger. During the next hnlf hour Shelby mnnnged to Interview nt lenst n half dozen whom ho considered cllglblo bachelors or lonely widowers, artfully selecting thoso known to be of a some what sportive disposition, to whom such a proposition as ho had to offer might nnturnlly appeal. A few of theso treated the suggestion profanely; others were rather evasive, but tho majority thus diplomatically approach ed evinced sufficient Interest to yield much encouragement His wares had been brought to n good market nnd Old Dnd's girl, rendered particularly at tractive by n "dot" running up Into tho thousnnds, would find plenty of cnger suitors. Now that the rumor of her eligibility wns being privately circulated from mouth to mouth, any unnecessary delay would only render tho nffalr moro complicated. Ho would report at once tho suc cess of his mission and urgo his co consnlrntors to Immediate action. It would sure be n fine sight to seo theso fellows lined up while that girl looked them over, deliberately making a choice. Suddenly his guzo rested on a young mnn, dejectedly hanging over tho end of tho bar, arguing with a bartender, who only shook his head Impassively. Shelby moved along un til ho ranged up beside the fellow. "What's your naiuo?" "Joe Mncklln." "They call you 'Kid,' don't they, 'round here7" "Suro; mostly. What are yer drlvln' at, anyhow?" "Why, this. I got a ranch over on tho Cottonwood, nn' come In here to pick up n cow-hnnd. I got n hnlf brced, but I need another. That's whero I Btnnd." "Whut'll It pay?" "Forty dollars. You got a horse?" "Well, tho critter looks llko one; turned out in Powell's corral, but I nln't got no money to pay for his feed. Ycr'U have ter blow mo some coin." "All right; here's ten nnd I'll pny Powell for the h'orso keep. You show up hero sober at ten tomorrow, or else I'll leave you here; thntfte straight." Ho strodo away across tho big crowded room and opened n door nt tho further end. Stepping ncross the threshold he closed tho door behind him and faced McCarthy nnd tho ex preacher from Iluffalo Gap, both of whom glanced up expectantly. Shelby leaned back against tho wall nnd con templated tho two, chewing on the butt of n clgnr. "Well," ho said bluntly, "the cards nro stacked, gents; now, nil you got to do Is to play your hands." "What do you mean? Tho boys nre for It?" "Hungry nnd snapping. I talked to quite n bunch. Tho ono thtng I'm nfrald of Is that some galoot may take a notion to hunt tho girl up before we can get things Into shape. That's why I hurried In here. Wo got to pull tho affair tonight." Tho prencher spread his hands, wav ing the suggestion nsldo. "No, no; that really wouldn't bo decent, so soon nfter the funeral. Tho poor girl must be given opportunity to mourn In pence." "Shucks I It will give her something elso to think nhout. Anyhow, thnt wholo bunch will bo nfter her by morning. What do you sny, Mac?" "I don't seo no objections. Tho 3ooner It's cleaned up the better nnd thero won't bo no hnrd feelln's among the boys If wo don't glvo 'em nny time to mill around." "You nlm to run tho bunch In on her with no notloe?" "No; that's up to tho prencher. Ho Invented this game nnd hns got to tnko care of that end of It I don't know nothln' 'bout females and don't nlm to lenrn. We'll leave tho girl to this gent from Huffnlo Gap. Let him mosey right over and talk It out with her straight, no can put it sorter rellglous-llke. Say wo give him an hour an' then shoot the hunch over to tho shack; that oughuto bo long enough for him to get tho girl into the right frame of mind, If she's ever goln' to be. Mnybo she'll tnke It all right and maybe she won't You ready to try your luck, Dominie?" "Thero Is no question In my mind," be answered solemnly, "but that this Is the proper method of procedure. I am therefore resigned to do my part I I shall undertake the m'BSlon In the I high spirit of my calling." J "Well," said McCarthy who had OF PERIL PARRISH been writing Industriously, "he.'e's the list of gazabos I've mnde out. There ain't no nngels among 'em, but she sure ought to pull a prize out o' that bunch, If she looks 'em over." The prencher got to his feet. "TIs as tho Lord wills," ho snld gravely. "I go humbly forth to do my part" . CHAPTER III. The Choice of the Lady. Shelby, accompanied by "Red" Kelly, who had been unceremoniously routed out of bed nfter a hard day's work, were the last to Join tho com pany of selects crowded Into Dnn Mc Carthy's office. Tho mnjorlty were un shaven and roughly dressed, Inclined to look on the whole nffalr as a lark, but thero wcro serious faces among them and altogether, In Shelby's Judg ment ns ho looked them over, they were not n bad lot. Ho pushed his way through the throng and Joined Mac, who stood with his back to the desk. "That's nil of them," he said quiet ly. "Now give 'em your spiel an we'll seo what comes of It." McCarthy cleared his throat nnd re moved the stump of cigar from be tween his teeth. "Is tho door shut tight? All right. What I've got to say Is Just fer you, boys, an' nln't ter be told 'round pro mlscuse. Wo started In ter give 01' Dad Calkins a proper kind of n funeral an' sure pulled It off In some style, If I sny it myself. Then we decided It was up to us to give tho gurl n decent send-off an' this town chucked In about flvo hundred bucks an' never batted an eye. When thnt wns over with, I sorter considered thnt Ponca had about done its share, but the preacher what como down from Buf falo Gap didn't think the same. He sed hero was a poor girl left with no homo un' no protection nnd that un less she wns taken care of she'd uiavhe "What I'vo Got to Say Is Just for You Boys." drift ter h 1 nn back, an' ho argued thnt It was Poncn's business to see that she got started off right. His Idee wns that she ought ter be tnnrrled nforo she hnd any chance ter drift nnd git reckless like a lot o' them femnlcs." There was nn uneasy movement nmong tho crowd nnd Shelby was nmused nt tho varied expression upon the fuces heforo him. McCarthy paused as though gathering himself together for his main -iffort "All I got ter Bny Is 'when I thought It nil over I concluded the preacher rtre hnd It sized up abo it right. That Rirl Is decent an' has, been brouctit up decent, even If 01' Dnd wns n rounder, no kept her straight nn' Rlv her n good education. Now what's goln' ter become of her when sho's left alone? I told the preacher I'd do my share nn' see to It that Ponca came up to tho scratch. I naturally can't marry her myself, Boeing ns how I've got a wife nnd flvo kids already, but I'll do tho next best thing I'll cough up enough coin to give tho fallow who will glvo her a chance ter make good. She's goln' ter have cash ter back her." "How much?" "What's tho figure, Dan?" "Two thousand, besides the five hundred already subscribed. That's moro'n somo o' you ducks ever saw." "Say, Mac, what was the plan? Cut tho cards for furst chanco?" "No; this Is a sportln' proposition, with everyone havln a fair show." explained the Bnloonkecper. 'We sorter picked you, boys out as the most likely runts 'round town and Intend ter line you np an' then let her pick out the one she takes a fancy to. It's only fair she has a chance to take the duffer she'd rather have." II IN jk ) CV "aiv aLLLLV ji- J gj Copyltht A. C MoClnrr A Co. There wns a confused murmur of voices, some reckless, others mutter ing opposition, but It was evident the proposition rather appealed to the mn jorlty, who saw In It n chancu for some unusual fun und excitement, with only u vnguo probability of being caught. Shelby slipped In u word. "I'll bet five to one.'Ulie said quietly, 'thnt she turns down the whole gang." "Ter h I she will ! Not nfter she gets one gllmpMo o' Co .van, She'll think he owns the town." "That's It, boys! Come on, you fellers; the bunch o' us don't run no risk. She'll copper on Cowan nn' If she misses him them sideburns o' Ar chibald's will sure get her goat." "Is this ycre two thousand a sure thing?" It wns Cowan who nsked somewhat anxiously. "It uln't got no string tied to It?" A yell greeted the question, punctu ated with various remnrks. "Takln' It seriously, old mnn?" "Goln' to stnrt an opposition store?" "I guurontee tho sum," said Mc Carthy, "every last cent of It. Who ever tho girl chooses, when he marries her, I'll pay him the money. Thnt's flat nn' you boys know whose tnlklng." There was n surging forward Indi cative of readiness. Evidently the proposition had cnught on, and tho bunch wns eager to learn tho result. "Lead us to It, Mne," someone cried gavly, "glttln' married Is my long suit." "All right, boys," and McCarthy glanced at his watch. "I reckon tho prencher ought ter have her rendy for tho delegation by this time. How about It, Tom?" They moved slowly out, Jostling each other, nnd Indulging In horse play nnd rude Jokes, none taking the nffalr seriously, but eager to leurn how It would terminate. McCarthy led tho way, directly across the mnln street, nnd down the pnth pnst the dnnco hall, which by this time wns In full blnze. Iieyond they were plunged Into darkness, but could see nhcad of them tho faint gleam of a light through the window of Calkins' shack. One or two sought to drop out, but Shelby collared them promptly, so that the entire bunch finally lined up behind McCarthy ns he rapped on the closed door. The preach er opened It, his round face beaming bcnlgnantly In the glare of the slnglu oil-lamp within, his bulk absolutely blocking the entrance. Beyond, thoso close nt hand had n vague glimpse of the girl, who stood back against tho wall, staring toward them with wide- open eyes. The iiurnuo uap man smiled blandly In welcome, Impressed by the number of faces ho- snw, nnd stepped heavily aside. "Come right In, gentlemen." he ex claimed, gesturing Impressively with ono hand, "our accommodations nro not extensive, ns you will perceive, yet ample, I trust. Just circle nhout the wall there to tho left, please. You hnvo explnlned the circumstances, Mr. McCnrthy?" "Sure." "Very well, then," his voice assum ing n soothing tone. "We need waste no unnecessary time In preliminaries. I have very frankly Inld the entire matter before the young lady nnd hnvo flnnlly convinced her of the righteous ness of our purpose. Do I fitly express your stnto of mind, my child?" She lifted her eyes slightly, a red flush burning on either cheek. "I suppose so; that's what you told me to say." Shelby, slipping In through the door Inst of nil, hnd found n precarious seat on the sill of the window, where he hnd a full view of the room. Ills glance wandered appreclatlngly along that solemn line of men backed up rigidly ngalnst the wull. They wero an odd-looking bunch, crowded to gether under tho glare of the oil-lamp, the most of them roughly dressed nnd unshaven nnd nil of them visibly em barrassed and n little ashamed. Tho girl Btood alone Just before them nnd to Shelby she appeared younger and far better looking thnn In the nfter noon. She would hnvo been almost pretty but for tho pnthetlc droop at tho corners of her mouth nnd the re bellious, sullen look In her eyes. The prencher spread his hands In disap probation of her remark. "Oh, no, my dear," he protested. "I merely labored with you and urged this upon you ns the better course. 1 even made It tho subject of prayer that wo might be divinely guided. It Is now a mutter entirely for your own decision." She looked from him to the row of breathless men facing her, Impatient ly, her bosom rising nnd falling tu multously. "And I'vo got to chooso which one Pd rather marry?" "Well, yes, that Is tho Idea crudely expressed. Not thnt you are com pelled In nny way; only wo feel It highly desirable; that well, perhaps I may say, It Is the will of God thut you make somo such choice," Her eyes wandered up end down the shrinking line, resting calmly on to v after face. If she fell nny humor In the situation, there wan no epres slon of It visible. She rem .m.i hh np- jienrnnee of sullen Indllluti'tice, whicit wns almost Insolunt. "Thore nln't no more of 'cm?" "No; this In nil." "And I Kt to pick from these?" The preacher nodded Ids heml, ns she glanced Inquiringly In his dlrcc Hon. The pent-up hrenth ennic In u slKh from hetween her lips. "Well, If I'vo ot to, I have, I sup pose, nnd, so fur us I can sec, It don't make no difference. I'll tnke the fel "i'll Take the Fellow There." Slttln' Over low slttln' over there on the window: tho one with the pink shirt." Shelby was upon his feet Instantly, so thoroughly startled by this sudden denouement ns to scarcely find words. "But say, hold on I" he exclaimed excitedly. "I don't belong to this bunch; I don't even live In Ponca. 1 Just enme along to help out." The girl looked from face to face In bewilderment, which, Judging from the expression of her eyes, was al ready verging on anger. "What does tho man mean?" she asked hurriedly of the preacher, who stood nearest. "You said I was to choose and now lie refuses. Did this one not come pledged?" "I nm nfrnld not, my dear. I did not know, but ho claims otherwise. He Is not a Ponca man." She fronted Shelby, standing straight, Indlgnnut, her eyes Hashing coldly. "And you won't mnrry me?" "I I can't thnt's nil," he stam mered. "Oh, h 1 1 What did you wain to pick mo out for?" The girl's eyes rested hard on Ids fnce, then wandered slowly down the line of tho others nnd her lips set firmly. "Well, then, this play hns gone far enough," she snld shortly. "I've beer, square with you all, but I nln't golnp to bo made a fool of no longer. Now If Is time for you gents to get out o' here. I pointed out the fellow I'd take an thero ain't nnnther one o' tho bunch I'll even look nt. I nln't so crazy 'bout gcttln' married; It's emly because he said It was the will o' God that I bnve. Now I'm done. I picked my man nn' there ain't nuthln' else here I'd touch with n pair of tongs, so you might as well save your breath and get out. I don't want to talk any moro to nny of you." "But, my dear child" "Stop that! I'm no dear child; I'm a woman; nn' this place Is mine, even If It Is a shack. You get right out o' here, the whole kit an' caboodle of you." Shelby was tho first to slide forth through the half-open door, glad enough to escape Into the cool night air, his face burning ns though on lire, his mind In n tumult of emotion. He hnd no sense of humor left. Just nn Ill-defined feeling of mortification and regret. She had beep Justly Indlg nnnt and lie felt profoundly sorry for the part he had played. By heavens! She was some girl; no mere wishy washy creature to bo laughed nt and Ignored. He'd like to tell her so. Per haps he would ; there would be reac tion after awhile, when those fellows wero all gone. Her burst of anger would die away and she would shed tears of mortification. It would bo a nice thing then If he could go bnck thero all nlono and comfort her; ex plain how It happened and show her how impossible It was for him to marry. He could seo the men plainly enough, outlined In the light, ns they descended tho Htepj ono by ono and then faded away In tho darkness. They were a disconsolate, discomfited bunch, wllh downcast tfnees and silent lips. The preacher and McCnrthy came last, the former still tnlklng, his voice Imploring, but evidently to no purpose, for something behind, kept Impelling him forwnrd and even whllo ho clung to the step for ono final effort the door Blammed In his face and Shelby heard tho sharp snap of a lock. "Well, I'll bo d d!" ejaculated Mac, bis tempor utterly giving way, "If she ain't n wildcat! Lord, but I'd suro pity tho feller who did mnrry her. Come on, old buck, there Is no uso Btnyln here. 1 wonder 'vherb Shelby went?" "You an' her are in cahoot for that money." (TO UK CONTINUED.) Millions for a New Stomach! 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