The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-11-05
CHAPTER I.
Return Of the WANDERED.

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Shelby, alone In the blackboard,
drove 10 the summit of the ridge, halt
Ing the broncs. as his eyes swept over
the scene outspread below. The AMI
mails, their dusty sides streaked with
sweat, stopped willingly after their
slxty-mile trip from the Cottonwood.
Below was 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 duh plains, here was
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 TO either cleanli-
ness, CT responsibility; 1t possessed
no pride no hope of future. 1t
seemed to recognize Its destiny, and
be content, mere mushroom town OF
the frontier, an adjunct of the cattle
trade. permitted to flourish today, but
as certainly doomed to 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 perfectly nat
urai part of the picture-he belonged.
Beneath the tan and dust was
smoothly shaven face, 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, certain reck-
less gayety about him not to be mis-
taken, yet as evidently not to be light.
ly taken advantage of.
ut certainly beats HI" he NUT
tered, unconsclously aloud. that
man should dream about visiting
dump like this. Shows what sort o.
place Cottonwood is to make fellow
h0mesick For punCa. Town looks
kinder dead; no cattle In the corrals.
H, what's the difference? Theren
be some Of the old bunch hangin'
round, an Wen make things hum for
awhile. Come. broncs, jog along Let's
show Ponca we're Il live outfit I"
II was rough, curving 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 great rock at the
bottom. and went charging at full
gailop into the main street. To better
express the exuberance of his feelings
at this return 10 civilization. and an
nounce his arrival, Shelby whipped out
his gun and began shatterlng the at
mosphere. driving the animals frantic
as the sharp reports rang out over
their backs.
But If any sensation was expected.
1t signally failed to materiallze. Ponca |
remained deserted. and unimpreSsed. |
Long experience had either rendered |
the inhabitants Indifferent TO such
display, or else the town had gone |
utterly dead. The silence and descIa. |
tiou caused Shelby 10 utter an oath, |
and suddenly swing his team mp so |
hitchlng rack In front of McCar,hys
saloon. the door of which stood in
willingly open. An instant the per-
picked driver sat there. staring grim-
ly about from end to end of the de-
serted street.
''What the h-lr" he calculated nj
last. sis up anyhow? Is this q grave
yard I've got into? Lord, 1t can't be
Ill the boys have got out; but some
hing Is sure dead wrong. Well. Macs
open anyhow. III go in and find out"
He sprang out over the wheel, stiff
ened from the long ride, yet standing
rect nevertheless, and strobe up the
aloon steps and In through the open