Jh sim- e j RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF I ir . r PU' 1 7 ie a COMRADES PERIL KANDALJU cvpy3cr5r a..c.mcc.(gg & coh "OLGA CARLYN." Synopsls.Tnm Shelby, a rancher, rldoa into tho frontlur town of I'onca look I MB for a stood tlmo after a long spell of lianl work and loncllncRH on tho ranch. In Htoad, ho rtin.i Into a funeral that of Dud Calklnx, u retired army man of whom little In known. A Blrl. ntlll In her teena, survives Calklnn. McCarthy, a naloon keep cr and Ponca'n leading citizen, do cldea that tho Klrl, now alone In the wttrld, nhould marry. Shelby starts a hunt for cIIkI)1o IiUsIhuhIh and tho mlnlnter Roes to confer with the girl. She uBreos to pick a husbnnd from tho score of mon lined up In her home. To Ills con atornatlon, alio nctoctn Shelby, who had gone alonK merely or a opec tator. He declines the honor. In dlfrnant, thn f-lrl dismisses tho as semblage Letter Shelby goes back to make an explanation. She ro celvon him good-naturedly. Leav ing her, Shelby .runs Into two of the rejected suitors, and In a right worst them both. Angered at thotr remarks, he returns to the Klrl, determined to marry nor, If she will have him. Aftor his ex planation sho agrees to marry him. 1 ,, CHAPTER V. The Wedding. It was nn exceedingly busy after noon, so filled with details of prepara tion as to leave Shelby slight oppor tunity for reflection. He had never contemplated marriage, or Imagined "himself a benedict He knew practi cally nothing as to tho disposition nnd character of the girl or what she might require of himself. He had no con ception that ho loved her or that she felt any especial affection for him. His sudden action had been very large ly Influenced by his controversy with Cowan nnd she hnd quite frankly con fessed that her cholco of him rested entirely on the fact that he was not resident of Ponca. There had been no mention of love between them, merely a business-like airangemcnt, unmarked by the slightest sentiment. Be was dimly aware that this made a poor foundation on which to build for future happiness. 1 This peculiar situation was driven Jaomo to him by a vivid recollection of what he was going to tako her to that desolate ranch out there on the Cottonwood. Could sho he satisfied? Could she even bear with such condi tions? He saw McCarthy nnd the preacher from Buffalo Gap, first telling them frankly the wholo story nnd gravely pledging both to secrecy. Refusing' firmly to receive a cent of the money which Mnc promptly offered, ho left these two to nrrnngo nil details for tho wedding, confident of their discre tion nnd good Judgment. Thcro was no necessity for his seeing the girl gain, nnd, Indeed, he felt no Inclina tion to do so. no even shrank from the thought of seeing her, nnd wns profoundly thankful that everything was so completely understood be tween them as to make another con ference entirely unnecessary. Satisfied upon this point, he devoted the time remaining nt his disposal to purchas ing the variety of articles mode nec essary by this sudden change In life. The buckbonrd wns loaded until noth ing remained unoccupied but the nnr row sent, a hugo box, packed full, oc cupying the rear portion, wlth bun dles tied securely hero nnd 'there bout tho vehicle, wherever they would ride safely. Over nil these he stretch ed a tarpaulin to keep out tho dust, trapping the latter firmly Into place. Tho solemn Injunction to Hecrecy had prevented Ponca from limiting this occasion one of special celebra tion, hut, nevertheless, rumor had been sufficiently busy so as to prevent ny strictly prlvnte ceremony. Tho parlor of the holel wns already crowd ed with uninvited guests when he fin ally arrived nnd thcro wns also an overflow meeting In the adjoining din ing room. Shelby Bworo under his fcrcath, but It was too late to protest outwardly, as tho urtdc-to-be was al ready waiting his arrival at the foot of the stairs. In spite of the doubts which hnd assailed him during tho past few Eours, tho sight of her thus awaiting Is coming, her eyes meeting his own frankly, sent a sudden thrill through his veins. Sho was chnperoned by the wife of the principal storekeeper nnd doubtless others among the few re pcctable women of Ponca had com bined their tnste and possessions tq properly fit her out for tho occasion. Just how the transformation had been ccompllshed Shelby, being a man woe fully lacking In experience, did not know, but he was vividly aware of 'the change In her appearance nnd manner. Sho was dressed In gray, (the outer garment plainly fashioned nut fitting well, while a most becoming hat, rather coquettish In Kb shape, rested on soft, shining hair, fluffed out attractively, forming a most agree able frame for tho young face, the cheeks flushed with excitement. Shel by stood before her tongue-tied, unable to find words of greeting, painfully conscious of his own nwkwurdness. The embarrassment, however, was hut for the Instant, for the preacher had been waiting his entrance, cnger to begin the ceremony. What occurred during the next few moments was never wholly clear In Shelby's mind. He did mechanically whntever ho was told, but without comprehension. Ho remembered walk ing between rows of curious faces, oc casionally recognizing n familiar countenance, clenr across that crowded parlor to the further wall, which seemed to he decorated profusely with sprays of evergreen. Ho seemed to recall that the girl Joined him, stand ing nt his left, nnd that she hnd ad vanced to his side guided by Dan Mc Carthy. It was all vague, misty, un certain, and the next moment nil ho snw wns the fleshy figure of tho Buf falo Gap prenchcr standing there Im mediately before him, his hands up lifted nnd his sonorous voice uttering words thnt sounded like n prnyer. Then Dnn came forward ngnln nnd he felt her hnnd resting In his, real izing how soft nnd small It was. Ho remembered a question was asked him and ho answered "yes" and x then ho seemed to hear her whisper a similar response. Tho preacher said some thing, using some strange words, and turning once to face the silent crowd pressing close In upon them; then he lifted his hands solemnly nnd Shelby caught tho sentenco, "I pronounce you husbnnd and wife and whom God hnth joined together, let no man put asunder." There was an explosion of breath, a fulnt clapping of hands, an Instant buzz of tongues. He felt that he must hnve shaken hands with a thousand people; wns pushed 'here nnd there by the efforts made to reach him nnd finally, bewildered, his mind In a whirl, found himself once more out In the hall, obsessed with n desire to escape. He possessed no Idea as to what had become of the girl ; no doubt sho wus somewhere back there In the crush, but he, at least, was free, nnd would wait for her to Join him out sldo. He stood there alone, staring down at the team of broncos and the heavily laden buckboard uncomprehendlngly. Yet slowly It all enmo back and his mind begnn to arouse from blnnk stupor. Ills attention was attracted by the nppronch of a horseman trot lng steadily up tho deserted street to ward the hotel. The rider was n cav alry soldier In uniform, powdered with dust, his horso showing evidences of hard travel. Shelby watched his coming curious ly, his memory still lingering upon the scene within. Tho man drew up at tho hotel, dropped his rein over tho horse's head, swung stiffly to tho ground and advanced up tho steps. Ho glanced asldo at Shelby's motion less figure, took a step toward tho door and then wheeled suddenly. "Suy, ain't your nnme Shelby?" Tho dazed bridegroom turned nnd looked Into the fnco confronting him, his mind snapping back Into quick recognition. "Sure. Well, thunder, you're Shnu nessy of tho Sixth. What'ro you do ing here?" The two clasped hands firmly. "Thought I knew you, Tom, when I first came up tho steps, but wasn't quite sure till I got a sldo view. Must be six years slncp you left us, ain't It 7 What am I doing? Oh, they've shoved us up here from'Arlzonn nnd I've been up nt the Reservation wntchln' 'em ghost-dance an' am hcadin' now for Collins to tell tho old mnn tho news. Soma fun goln' to be pulled off pres ently." "You mean tho Sioux are goln' on rampage ng'ln?" "Sure thing, unless I miss my guess, an' I reckon I ought to know Injuns by this time. It'll either come this full or next spring. I figure they'll never hold In over winter. 01' Sittln' Bull hns got tho game In his hands an' you know that ol' devil, 1 reckon." "I hnve reason to. Any troops up there?" "No; the Injun agent don't believe there's goln' to be nny trouble; says It's Just a few young bucks who nro raisin' h I. He don't know what Is goln' on. But I bnen nmong 'em an' the whole outfit Is Mood-mad. I seen two of their ghost-dnnces myself back In the hills an' I tell you they mean business. You llvln' here now?" "No, out on the Cottonwood." "What north? Sny, old mnn, that ain't goln' to bo no healthy plnce fer a white, If those devils brenk looso; they'll make thnt country sure. Got much of an outfit?" "A bunch of cattle an' two herders." "Not enough to put up a fight. Well, If I was you, Tom, I'd run those cows over Into the Bnd I.nnds'nn' lie out there nwhlle. We'll get the Injuns, of course : but there Is bound to be some klllln flpst, unless I'm crazy. I've got to go In and get something to cat." He started to turn nvay, but Shelby halted him with a question. "How long you been In tho army, Pete?" "Twenty-two years." "And with tho Sixth cavalry?" "Fifteen." "Did you ever know a sergeant named Calkins?" "Jeff Cnlklns; he wns my first 'lop' nftcr I Joined; ho left tho service bout ten years ago. There wus u shootln scrnpo or somethlri' down nt Hnrker. Sorter ugly story, though I've forgotten Just what It was alt about now. Calkins got out o' thnt all right, hut when his enlistment wus up he quit; he didn't get on good with the men. Do you know whatever become of tho ol' duffer?" "Ho was hurled here yesterday killed himself; left n daughter 'bout nineteen" "The h 1 he did I Jeff Cnlklns nev cr wns married ; not before ho left the army, anyhow. I know because I bunked with him nearly two years on' he told me n lot about himself. He wasn't no lady's man at all. Say, whot tho devil Is goln on here?" "There's been a wedding." Shelby started to explain, hut the outflowing throng cut his sentence In two, nnd tho ntnrtlcd soldlet, stepping back to get out of the way, was Instantly swept nslde, while the gang poured forth between, separating the two completely. Tho bridegroom found himself once more the center of fer vent congratulations nnd only escaped by pushing n passage down the steps to where his outfit waited for depar ture. Some moments later sho joined him, nccompnnled by her bodyguard, weorlng n long duster which nlmnst reached the ground nnd a close-fitting enp pulled down over her smooth hair. He silently helped her Into the sent of tho buckboard, Joining her grimly and gathering up the reins In his fin gers. "Now, then," he called, "a couple of you untie those brutes and jump. They're bnd starters." The broncos nmply Justified his pre diction and the party went tearing down the main street, pursued by yells of enjoyment and cat-howls of deri sion, Shelby struggling with the reins in nn endeavor to keep the maddened brutes off the sidewalks. However, tho Btcep ascent of the bluff brought the plunging animals to their senses and by the time they had surmounted the ridge and stmck the prnlrlo trail leading across the upland they were willing enough to slow down to the swift trot they were accustomed to take on long Journeys. Shelby loosened his grasp on the leath er and rested back In the seat, ven turing a side glance at his companion. She was still gripping the Iron rail for snfety, but evidently felt no fear. "Mean devil, that bronco," said Shel by, feeling the necessity of speech nnd flecttlng his whip lash at the buck skin, whose evil eye was peering mali ciously backward, "worst horse I ever owned. The Kid back there seems to be some bronco ouster and I'll let him try his luck when we get out to the ranch. I got some outlaws there." She turned her head and glanced behind through tho cloud of dust. . "Who Is ho? One of your men?" "Well, I Just hired him down at Ponca1. Seems to bo a mighty Rood rider. Ills nnme Is Mncklln, but ev erybody colls him 'Kid.' " "Somehow I don't Just like him." "Oh, he's harmless enough." "Perhaps so, but I have that feeling about hlra Just the same." Shelby made no answer and they rode on In silence through the circling dust. He felt awkward and embar rassed, unnblo to think of anything to sny to keep up conversation nnd In tensely conscious of tho peculiar situa tion In which they found themselves. Occnslonnlly he stole a surreptitious glance nslde nt her, but her eyes were averted as though In nvoldnure, gaz ing out over the dull vista. To Shelby this quietness on her pnrt, this half turning from him seemed particularly ominous. She wns doubtless sorry al ready at her choice; this drear exjinnse which they rodo was more than she expected to encounter she wns dread ing already an approach to the Cot tonwood. He hnd been a fool to even drenm that he could over satisfy her In such surroundings. Well, It was not too late to turn back. He would talk with her and learn the truth. He drove steadily forward, en dcnvorlng to formulnte some pleasant opening sentence, his mind Inevitably drifting bnck to that late conversa tion with Shnunessy nnd the doubts It hnd awakened. Ought he to permit her to becotno exposed to a possible Indian nttack? Was It not plainly his duty to explain fully the exact situation? And then that other mat ter rclatlvo to Old Calkins? Surely It wns her place to moke that clear? He straightened up, clenrlng bis voice, nnd she glnnced about, dis turbed from revery by his action. "How dismal It nil Is," she snld, ns he failed to speak, "and yet the very silence nnd loneliness has n charm. Is It like this out on the Cot tonwood?" "No, not exnctly. It'8 lonely enough, hut that Is broken country, with something to rest the e.ves on. I mil ufrnld, though, you're goln' to be awfully sorry." "Heully, I don't," honestly. "I don't mind helng nlono at all. I've always been alone, so thut won't hurt." "But this Is different," he Insisted stubbornly, "Besides, I henrd some thing back there In Ponca that makes me think I hnd no business brfnglug you along nt nil." "What was that?" ""Why, Just before we come away I ran Into on old friend o mine In the army, named Shnunossy. He'd Ijceii up In the Hloux reservation, wntcliln' 'em ghost-dance, nntl lie coys the bucks up there? are go In' to raise Ned before long, an' there ain't no troops anywhere around sufficient to hold 'cm. It's 01' Sittln' Dull who Ifl stlrrln 'cm up." But surely they could never KCt down here?" "Not to Ponca no; they wouldn't go In that direction. Ittit they'd bo mighty liable to come ruldln' down the Cottonwood. That's what Sliuuti essy .sulci ; he told me I'd better run my stock over Into the Had Lands, and He out for awhile, till the soldiers "Somehow I Don't Just Like Him." got the devils rounded up ngoln. I been thtnkln' ever since I ought to tell you about It, so. If you thought best we could turn around an' take you back to Ponta." "And then whnt would you do?" "Me? Why go on o" course nn take care o' the cattle. Taln't se first time I've seen Indians." "Then I am going with you," she said firmly. "I am not the least .afraid. I wonder If you have an cxtru rifle out there?',' "Sure," he said, grinning. "I sorter like thnt kind o' talk, little girl. Can you shoot?" "Some; I'll show you when we get out there. Anyway, please don't turn bnck on my account I henrd In Poncn that the Sioux were ghost-dancing, but I didn't think about their coming down the Cottonwood. Dad said they were getting ugly, but I don't know where he heard It." This unexpected mention of Calkins stirred Shelby to ask a further ques tion. She was going on with him, that was evident, and the mystery between them must be cleared away. "What was your name?" he asked soberly. She glanced up Into his face, sur prised at the abrupt question. "My nnme! Why, don't you know?" "I never henrd of It ; seems sorter odd, mnybc, but I never did." "It Is Olga." "Olgn Olgn what?" "Why, Shelby, I suppose." "No, I didn't mean thnt. Of course, It's Shelby now, but whnt was It be fore today? "Twnsn't Cnlklns." The smile had deserted her lips nnd her eyes were very serious. "Just whut do you menn, please? nave you heard something?" "Well. yes. This here soldier Shnu nessy has been In thu nrmy n long yhlle; he wns fifteen years In the Sixth cnvalry. Now I happened to lenrn, accidentally from McCnrthy, that Old Calkins was once a sergeant In thnt outfit, so naturally I asked Shnunessy If he ever knew him." "And did he?" "Sure; they were bunkles once nn' he said Jeff Calkins never wns mar ried an didn't hnve no daughter." "Well, did I ever say I wus his daughter?" "No, o course you didn't. I never asked, but everybody thought you must be. What wns the old mnn to you, anyhow? I reckon I got n right to know." "You certainly hnve. but I ennnot tell you very much. Frankly, I don't know. I could not explain even how I enmo Into his care. That sounds strange, perhaps, but It Is true. I wasn't much of a girl when ho got me first nnd I've scarcely been out of his sight since. ve asked him a thousand times, hut ho never would explain. Once he Mild It would come out all right nfter nwhlle. It seemed to nnger him for me to ask ques tions, so, nt lost. 1( stopped." "That's mighty queer. Did he ever tell you what your real nnme was?" "Oh, yes; there wasn't any secret nbout that It was Carlyn." "Olgn Carlyn," he repented the words slowly. "Sorter Norwegian Irish, ain't It? That ntory sounds rn ther funny to me." "My Idea Is he wns hiding mo from someone; trying to kep me from be ing found. I decided thnt wos why be moved nbout from plnce to place and always lived In such poverty nnd alone. I believe be hnd money or could nlwnys pet some when needed. Then he seemed to be afraid all the time nnd wutchlng for something to happen." "And you dontt have ao recollection whatever of eltfier your father or mother?" Not of my trVptljer ; sfce mny hnve died when I wis a heby, hut I can remember my Miner, aitruth I never -T- saw htr very often. He wob a tall man with Iron-gray hair and mustache; once I snw him In uniform." "An officer, likely." "I think so. I wes nt school thMi nnd I urn sure the lady principal called him colone. I never lived with him. but always at some school, first one and then another. I nin sure I was in St. Louis when Calkins came for lie nnd took me away. That Is ni'tu ally everything I know nbottt It ; since then we've Just moved around from place to plnce." They fell Into silence and rode on thus for hours, seldom speaking, each engrossed In their own thoughts. To ward sundown they came Into a more rolling country, with patches of green gniHM, nnd the trail wound In nnd nut nmong shallow depressions, yielding greater variety of scenery. Just be fore dark they tolled up over n high ridge nnd from the summit looked for S'tiiie dlstnnce down the volley of the Cottonwood. The trail ran slantingly down the side of the bluff, '.Igzug.lng here nnd there In search of easier pas sage, nnd It wns necessary to descend slowly. Consequently It was on hour after dork when they finally drove up to a small cabin surrounded by trees, a hundred feet bnck from the stream, and the driver announced their arrival. CHAPTER VI. A Blow of Treachery. i It was a dosolnte home-coming I the great stnrs overhead, the tinkle of distant wnter, the silence nnd bluck uess nil nbout, nnd the dim outline of the cabin barely visible amid the surrounding trees. The girl hold her breath with lips pressed tight, staring around Into the vogue shadows and permitted Shelby to gently swing her between the wheels to the ground. Some wuy the strong grasp of his hands brought buck to her a sense of courage. "Is Is there no one here?" she nsked, afraid to venture n step In the gloom. "It Is terribly dnrk." "I'll remedy thnt In a minute." he snld, pretending a cheerfulness he was far from feeling. "Hev there. Kid, stake out yer horse, and come here and hold these broncs until r light up Inside. Don't move, Olgu; there Is n steep bank Just beyond. I'll only be gone n minute." "But where Is your herder?" "Out with the cuttle, probably; he doesn't sleep here, and hnd no Idea when I would be back. Now hong on tight to these reins, Kid, and I'll help you presently. Would you rather go with me, Olga?" "Yes," she said, her voice trembling slightly In spite of every effort at control, "I would rather not be left out here." "All right; this Is the path; don't be afraid. I won't let you stumble. Now, one step up; Mint's It." "A Bit Touflh Looking, I Suppose He flung open the unsecured door, nnd stepped Into the dense hlnckness of the Interior. She could sco noth ing, hut henrd him rumuinglng nbout. nnd finally coiiKht the tiny Klenm of a match. The next Instant this had become the Hume of nn oil lnmp. nnd tho whole Interior of the room he came revealed In the yellow dicker. In spite of every attempt to steady herself, her heart cave a sudden throb, nnd she clutched nt the door for wip- pnrt. This wns even worse than sho i had pictured. ' "A bit touch lonUliiR. I suppose," Shelby snld with a hasty rIoiico nbout. ( "Sorter surprise, this brliiRln' a wife hack with me. Never reckoned on nny ' such thins, or I'd a cleaned the shuck j up n bit. However, i u sirnimuen thltiKs nrottnd In n JIITy. us soon ns I show the Kid the corral. Here's n choir to sit In." nnd lie dumped Its load on the llnor. "You uln't nfrold to wait here, are you?" "Oh. no; I will he nil right. You need not hurry." Struck down from behind. (TO M13 CONTINUED.) Clear Field. "Ah, here Is a letter from the old folk I "What does It snyt" "Come home your tullor Is dead." Paarsau'ti Waultlv. V yS rv I " 118 Ilii Ittlr III i vvaumwi w m YE OLDEN TIME H O O p ekirts wcro worn by tboso who first askod tho dmgBJst for, ana in sisted on having, the go nuin o Golden M o d i o a 1 Discovery nut ud by Dr. Piorco ovor fifty yoara ago. Dress has changed very much since thenlt But Dr. Pierce's medicines contain tho samo do pendablo ingredients. Thoy are standard today just as they were fifty years ago. 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