The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-11-11
CHAPTER /.

drove to the summit ~ the ridge, halt
INK the broncs. as his eyes swept oyel
the e outspread below. The AMI
mails, their dusty sides streaked with
sweat, stopped willingly after their
sixty-mile trip from the Cottonv God
Below was a deep. narrow valley,
In the midst OF which Ponca spread
out along the bank Of the creek that
gave the town its name, TO Shelby,
wearied with the dun plains, here was
a scene OF beauty.
Just beyond there was life, fresh,
luxuriant, sweet; running water. lusci-
Gus green grass, and above all, that
which he craved most. human com
partnership. To be sure. he knew
Ponca Of old. and possessed no illu-
sions. Ugly, dirty, unkempt, Ponca
made no pretense 10 either cleanli-
ness, or responsibility IL possessed
no pride. no hope Of a future. II
seemed TO recognize It's destiny. and
be content. a mere mushroom town Of
the frontier. an adjunct OF the cattle
trade, permitted 20 flourish today, but
as certainly doomed 10 perish tomor-
row.
The man who sat there on the ridge
gazing down, the reins held idly In
his hand, his eyes following the wind
ing OF the valley, was n perfectly nat
ural part of the picture-he belonged.
Beneath the tan and dust was a
smoothly shaven face. a face OF
twenty-five, or twenty-six. the features
strong. nose somewhat prominent. lips
firm and full. with dark-gray eyes
Swallowed by heavy lashes. In truth,
he appeared all man, "a certain reck-
less gayety about him not TO he mis-
taken, yet as evidently not TO be light
ly taken advantage OF.
at certainly beats III" he NUT
tered, unconsciously aloud, that a
man should dream about visiting n
dump like this. Shows what sort o
place Cottonwood is 10 make "A fellow
homesick for Ponca. Town looks
kinder dead no cattle in the corrals.
HI. what's the difIerencei ThereIl
be some Of the old bunch hangin'
round. an we'll make things hum for
awhile. Come. hroncs, jog along Let's
show Ponca we're a live OUTFIT
II was a rough, curying descent, the
trail in places barely wide enough for
the wheels, but the driver never lost
control, guiding the broncos with ex-
pert hand, until they finally swung
about the edge Of a great rock AZ the
bottom. and went charging at full
gallop into the main street. To better
express the exuherance OF his feelings
AT this return TO civilization, and an
nounce his arrival. shelby whipped out
his gun and began SCATTERING the at
mosphere. driving the animals frantic
as the sharp reports rang out over
their backs.
But II any sensation was expected, .
Il s~ignally failed 10 materialize. Ponea
remained deserted. and unimpressed.
Long experience had either rendered
the inhabitants Indifferent 10 such a
display. or else the town had gone
utterly dead. The silence and descla
ton caused Shelby TO utter an oath,
and suddenly swing his team up 10 a
hitching rack in front Of McCarthy's
saloon. The door 81 which stood In
willingly open. An instant the per.
picked driver sat there. staring grim
about from end to end " the de-
street.
what the h-lr" he calculated at
last. lis up anyhow? Is this q grave
yard I've got intoi Lord. IL cant he
ali the boys have got out hut some
is sure dead wrong. Well. Macs
open anyhow. I'll 20 in and find out.
He sprang out over the wheel. stiff.
from the long ride. vet standing
erect nevertheless. and strobe up the
steps and in through the open
door. He had expected a welcome
and this strange lack Of interest on
the part Of the citizens Of Ponca had
considerably chilled his en-.
ihusiaSm. Once inside. he stopped.
staring about IN even deeper perplex
.ty. The big saloon was absolutely
empty " patrons-the tables were IN
occupied no one was lined M In front
" the long bar. and no sound ~ voices
" ~ poker chips came down from the
above. The place seemed Ike
! huge grave. and. for q brief mo
nent. he eyen failed to perceive is
lnly occupant red mustached bar
.ender In front 81 the mirror. indus
riouSly rubbing the Immaculate glass
Thoroughly angered Nv this time shell ,
y advanced. his footsteps mufed ~ .
he sawdusf on the foor
what the h-i Is the matter with :
Ms dumps ~ demanded sa1aseiy mis- :
ST humping tho bar ~nh 80 irs J
ION IS o. Moranf Well. arr you al
let ID pnncaT
The red-musfached one turned ID {
differently YET managed t. extend r
limp hand IN fraternal greeting :
That's bout The size - 90 Tom Z
y admitted gravely Where yer been {
last SIX noufhsf
over % the Cottonwood RAMBLING {