Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1920-12-09
CHAPTER II.
Outlining a Plot.


but was compelled to eat the Hicks
brand of cooking, and, with many
apologies therefor, had, on this partic-
ular occasion, the eN-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 scat
beside Mccarthy, he made his slightly
uncertain way in that direction and
succeeded in safely establishing HIM
self on the empty bench. The room
"a well filled with men, most of them
still discussing the important event of
the afternoon. and he soon became
aware that the conversation Of the two
next to him bore upon the same sub
ject.
Shelby stared at the smoking, greasy
mess outspread before him, prying
open q soggy biscuit, and asked a
question of Mccarthy.
How'd the collection come out,
Mac?"
"What collection? Oh, for the CURL;
bout five hundred, WANT it, 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 l am
informed her father left little or no
property"
property! Old Calkins! Well, l
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. I 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"
I what do you mean? They done
enough, amt they, with that swell
funeral an five hundred bucks on top
of it? What more would she expect?'
"She don't expect nuthin'. That
amt her style. 1 got an idee she
won't even accept this bunch O. coin.
She's the ornariest heifer 1 eve saw.
But that's got no bearin' OF us. She's
an orphan, left yere in Ponca with
no visible means Of support. She's
a decent girl; nobody ever said nuth-
in against her, and the way it looks
ter me we got a moral duty ter per-
form. Amt that it, Reverend"
"That is the thought 1 endeavored
to convey" returned the visitor from
Buffalo Gap seriously. you heard
me, 1 presume, young man?"
"Only the last few sentences" adj
mitted Shelby. IT don't belong here,
but just happened to drift in today"
Toms ranchin' over on the Cotton
wood" interrupted Mccarthy, but
he's a mighty straight guy, an I'd
like ter have him express his feelin's
on this yere idee O. yours. Reverend.
It's rather a new n 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 go? What
can she do? There isn't a place she
could carr a 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..
HF1('o tbr-thot tho mon IF fbic tou,r,
ought to give her a chance. Mac here's
Il married man got a wife and two
daughters of his w back East and
he cottoned to- my idea right away"
But what is your idea?"
wharfage. sir-marriage; honorable
matrimony. | ever offer my services
freely. The girl should be given a
husband and a home; this would as
sure her future and relieve Ponca of
every obligation. Do you see the
point?'
Yes" admitted Shelby. yet rather
dazed at the project, blu there would
seem TO be certain obstacles in the
way of such a scheme. No doubt you
have considered these. Who. for in
stance. would marry her?"
"There isn't likely to be any trouble
about that, "'confidently. IF she'd fix
up she'd be a right g~ood-looking girl.
besides. she's got five hundred dollars
to start with and that's more money
than Il lot of these gazabos v saw
in all heir lives. I'll bet there's fifty
men in Ponca that would jump at the
chance"
"Rounders and tin-horns."
"Some of them-sure. But there
would he some decent fellows among
them. Tha1's about how we figured it,
McCarthv?"
The S~aloOnkeeper nodded.
There's quite a few of the right
kind round Ponca. Tom. who'd be
slightly glad to get IA decent m
and settle down. | could name a bali
dozen right now What | amt so sure
bout is the CURL"
"She might object? or course she
will, and why shouldn't she. Yon
want TO know what 4 think OF the
scheme, Mac? Well. it's a fool idea
and II won't work--thnt's whaf think
30 it tee ,Ilntiap