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.)
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