The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-04-26
CHAPTER /.
Return Of the Wanicrsr

shelby alone I'm the blackboard.
drove 20 the summit OF the ridge.
hating the hronca. AS hia eyes swept
over tho scene outsprcad below. The
animals. their dusty sides stroaked
with sweat. stopped willingly after
their sixtymiie trip from the Cotton
wood Half broken, they had been
unruly enough at the start, but now
only the huckskin turned an ugly,
blood stained eye back at the uncon.
xcioua driver. Below was a deep.
narrow valley. In the midst of which
Ponca spread out along the bank
OF tho creek that gave the town Its
name. To shelby. wearicd with the
dun plains. here was scene OF
beauty. and hts appreciative gaze
wandered slowly from the scattered
outlines Of the snrawlinE village 20
stream. bordcrod by green foliage.
aud Swallowed by the high brown
hills on either side.
The man sat there on the ridge
gazing down. the roins held idly IN
his hand. his eyes following the
winding Of the valley. Beneath the
tan and dust was a smoothly ahavcn
face. the face OF twenty-five. ca
twenty.six. the features strong. nose
somewhat prominent. lips firm and
fun. with dark gray eyes Swallowed
by heavy lashcs. His dress was the
rough garb OF the frontier. powdered
white. his powerful shoulders clearly
outlined beneath a shirt. open at the
throat. giving glimpse OF n muscular
neck. The inevitable as" swung
careiessly at his hip. the belt reveal.
ing the slimncas OF hia waist. Will.
the stiff uprightncsa with which he
sat spoke Of a soldiers trimming In
truth. he appeared all man. a certain
reckless gayety about him not TO be
mistaken. yet as evidently not TO be
lightly taken advantage Of.
Ills glance had settled on the
ragged town. rather whimsical
glcam In his eyen beneath the shadow
OF the lowered hat brim
IT certainly beats hoii." he NUT
tered. unron3ciousiy aloud. that a
than should dream about visiting a
dump like this. Here I've been
I
now I'm here. damned u 1 wouldn't
turn round. an drive ha-k. only 1
got 10 stock up. Shows Ahat sort
o. place Cottonwood is TO make "a
fellow homealck for Ponea Du, then
again u amt that exactly. l reckon.
but just tho GUESSED Loneliness OF H..
what want Is just somebody TO
J talk 10 again. and one he'll Of high
time 10 think over. Then. maybe. I
can go back and settle down for an.
other long spell. Town looks kinder
dead: no cattle In the eorrais. Come.
broncs. JOG along' Lst's show Ponoa
we're a live outfit
lie struck the buckskin with the
end OF a rein. and tho animal icapcd
forward. viciousiy iashing out with
both heels, awakening tho roam like
wiao into sudden activity. To better
express the eIue-ranc. OF hia feel.
inEs at this return 20 civilization.
and announces bis arrival. shelby
whipped out his gun. and began shat.
tcrtng tho atmosphere. driving the
animals frantic NJ the sharp reports
rang out over their backs.
But ~ any sensation was expected.
II siSnaiiy failed 10 matsriaiIEn.
Ponca remained deserted. and unifn.
pressed
An instant the perpicr~d driver m;
there. slipping hts cmptled gun back
into its holster. and staring Erimiy
about from end 10 end OF the desert.
ed street
what the heri- he calculated at
last. is up. anyhow II this a grave
yard I've got into7 Lord. II can't
BE- all the boys have got out: but
something i sure dead wrong. Well
Macs ppen. anyhow"
The big saloon was absolutely
esnpty OF patrons. The place seemed
Ike a huge grave, and. for n brief
moment. he even failed To perceive
its only occupants red mustached
bartender in front OF the mirror, IN
dustriousiy rubbing the Immaculate
glass. Thoroly angcred by this time.
Shelby advanced. his footsteps muf.
fed by tho sawdus, on tho floor.
What's the matter with this
dump he demanded HsvaTcly.
humping tho bar. ''oh. 40 it's you.
Is Il. Moran7 Well. are you all that's
left in PoncaT'