The Red Cloud chief., 1920-12-09

low sittin' over there on the window:
the one with the pink shirt"
Shelby was upon his feet instantly,
so thoroughly startled by this sudden
denouement as to scarcely find words.
But say, hold on" he exclaimed
excitedly. 81 don't belong to this
bunch; I don't even live In Ponca.
just came 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 the man mean?" she
asked hurriedly Of the preacher, who
stood nearest. "You said was to
choose and now he refuses. Did this
one not come pledged?"
II am afraid not. my dear. I did
not know, but he claims otherwise.
He is not a Ponca man."
She fronted Shelby. standing
straight. indignant. her eyes flashing
cOldly.
"And you won't marry me?"
81 can't--thats all." he STAN
mered. ooh, HI! What did you wan,
to pick me out forT
The girls eyes rested hard on his
face then wandered slowly down the
line of the others and her lips SET
firmly.
"Well. then. this play has gone far
enough" she said shortly. "Tve beer
square with you all. but amt going
to be made fool of no longer. Now II
is time for you gents to get out o here.
| I pointed out the fellow i'd take an
there amt another one o. the bunch
I'll even look at. amt so crazy
bout gettin' married; It's only because
he said It was the will O. God that
l have. Now I'm done. picked my
man an there amt nuthln' else here
I'd touch with pair of tOngs. so you
might as well save your breath and
get out. don't want to talk any more
TO any Of you."
"But, my dear child"
"Stop that! I'm no dear child; Tn
n woman; an this place is mine, even
II 1t is shack. You get right out
o. here, the whole kit an caboodle of
you"
Shelby was the first to slide forth
through the half-Open door. glad
enough to escape into the cool night
air, his face burning as though on fire
his mind In tumult of emotion. He
had no sense of humor left. Just an
ill-defined feeling Of modification and
| hn had hnan fnStlU fn1iO
nnnt and he felt profoundly sorry for
the part he had played. BY heavens
She was some girl; no mere wishy'
washy creature to be laughed ut and
ignored. He'd like to tell her so. Per
haps he would; there would be reac
tiOn after awhile. when those fellows
were all gone. Her burst OF anger
would die away and she would shet
tears of modification. II would b'
nice thing then II he could go bach
: there all alone and comfort her; ex
plain how 1t happened and show hel
how impossible II was for him t.
marry.
, He could see the men plainl,
enough, outlined In the light, as the!
descended the steps one by one ant
|. then faded away In the darkness
1 They were n disconsolate. discomfite,
I bunch, with downcast faces and silen
r lips. The preacher and Mccarthy cam,
I last. the former still talking. his voic
q imploring, hut evidently to no purpose
for something behind, kept impellini
Z him forward and even while he clun
: to the step for one final effort the doc
l. slammed In his face and Shelby hear,
the sharp snap Of lock.
e swell. I'll be ID" ejaculate
Mac, his temper utterly giving way
v "If she amt wildcat! Lord, but L,
l. sure pity the felier who did MARI
Il her. Come on, old buck, there is n
"a use stayin' here. wonder vher
4 Shelby went?'