The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1920-11-13
CHAPTER u.
Outlining a Plot.

SubtiluB TlObs
The Occidental hotel, Hicks proprie-
tor, was merely a place in which one
could sleep and eat, If one was thor
Oughly acclimated to border ideas of
comfort. Mccarthy, having no home
OF his own, roomed over his saloon,
but was compelled to eat the Hicks
brand of cooking, and. with many
apologies therefor, had, on this partIc-
ular occasion, the ex-reverend from
Buffalo Gap as his honored guest.
Shelby saw the two when he first en-
tered, over In the farther corner and,
as there CHANGED to be a vacant seat
beside Mccarthy, he made his slightly
uncertain way in that direction and
succeeded In safely establishing him.
self on the empty bench. The room
was well filed with men. most Of them
still discussing the important event Of
the afternoon. and he soon became
aware that the conversation Of the tive
next to him bore upon the same SUBJ
ject.
Shelby stared at the smoking, greasy
mess outspread before him, prying
open a soggy biscuit, and asked a
question of Mccarthy.
How'd the collection come out,
Mac?"
what colIection1 Oh. for the gurl:
bout i've hundred, want 1t, reve-
rend?''
-Four ninety-seven," said the
preacher in his deep voice. "Quite
an assistance for the young woman
In this time of bereavement, as / am
informed her father left little or no
property"
Property! Old CaIkinsi Well,
should say not. And what's more"
the saloon-keeper becoming interested,
II don't see how that moneys goIn'
ter do her much good. / was Just
talkin' ter the dominic yere about her.
Tom. what is she agoin' ter do? An
what he'd this town ought ter do fer
herr"
what do you mean? They done
enough, amt they, with that swell
funeral an five hundred bucks on top
Of II? What more would she expect1"
"She don't expect -nuthin'. That
amt her style. I got an idee she
won't even accept this bunch o. coin.
She's the ornariest heifer / ever saw.
But that's got no bearin' on us. She's
an orphan, left yere In Ponca with
no visible means of support. She's
q vfNl
In against her, and the way 1t looks
ter me we got a moral duty ter per-
form. Amt, that II, Reverend7"y
THAT is the thought l endeavored
to convey" returned the visitor from
Buffalo Gap seriously. "You heard
me, presume, young manT
only the last few sentences" ad-
mitted Shelby. II don't belong here,
but just happened to drift In today"
Toms ranchin' over on the Cotton
wood" interrupted Mccarthy, "but
he's mighty straight guy. an I'd
like ter have him express his feelin's
on this we're idee o. yours. Reverend.
It's rather a new one on me-"
The preacher Strengthened up and
cleared his throat.
well, here's the case Of a young
girl, seventeen or eighteen years old,
who has had no experience whatever
in life, suddenly left an orphan in this
town, without any money or friends.
so to speak. Where can she go7 What
can she do? There isn't a place she
could earn living here, excepting
the dance hall; there isn't a place In
this town she could call home. That
is what ! tried to make clear to Mr..
McCarthy-that the men Of this town
ought to give her a chance. Mac here's
a married man; got a wife and two
daughters Of his own back East and
he cottoned to my idea right away"
But what is your ideaf"
Marriage. sir--marriage; honorable
matrimony. ] even offer my services
freely. The girl should be given a
husband and home; this would as
sure her future and relieve Ponca Of /
every obligation. Do you see the !
poIntr'
Yea" admitted shelby. get rather !