The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-04-29
CONTINUED From Yesterday
CHAPTER vi.
A Private Conversation.


Shelby was upon his feet instantly.
no thoroiy startled by this sudden
denouoment as to scarcely find
words.
'nut say, hold on he exclaimed
excitodiy. Il don't belong 20 this
bunch; l don't cvcn live In ionoa-
Tho girl looked from fano 20 face
In bowiid~rment. which. judging
from tho oppression Of her eyus. was
aircady versinK on anger
what does tho man meanT" nhe
asked hurricdiy Of the preacher. who
stood nearest. You said I was TO
choose. and now he refuses"
shs frouted Shelby. standing
straight. indignant. hef eyes Flashing
ooldiy.
You mako q fool gu, OF me: Is
that IT,
mo, not thai--beiieve me" he en-
dcayorcd to explain confusodiy. Il
avn not n marrying man II Just
camo along TO help Mac out II
had no idea you would select mo,
There arc the fellows you were ex'
pccted to choose from
We'll. then. this play has gone far
enough she said shortly. Tive been
square with you all. and I Amt going
TO be made a fool OF no longer, Now
II In time for you gents 10 get out o.
here
Shelby WINS tho first 20 side forth
thru tho half op~n door. giad enough
to e-rape into the cool night air. his
face burning aS tho on fire. his mind
In tumult OF emotion. lie had no
sense Of humor left. just an hide
fined feeling OF modification and re-
gret She had bern Justly indignant
and he felt profoundly rorry for the
part no had played or course he
couldn't marry hcr-thst Was simply
lmpoauible-bu nevertheless she had
appealed TO him In that monent Of
sudden passion. M ahc never had
before ny hcavena' she was some
Eiri: no nero wtshy washy creature
10 10 laughed at and ignored He'd
lik. 20 tell her -.
lilo saw again the picture Of hw.
sitting there facing hirn. her eycr
meeting his frankly. Yes. she had
made fool 81 hrn. all right. and he
turned and STROBE up tho path. OBJ
livious TO all else bu, his gloomy
thoughts.
one main street. aitbo the principal
groups were before the dance hail.
and McCar'hy's saloon. Shelby
s'opp-i Ia tho glare Of the former
tn consider wha, he had better do.
hls mind vibrating between Joining
the others at tho bar. or seeking his
bod AZ the hotel lie was stiii undo
eidod when two rncn suddenly bump
ed into him and he recognized cowan
and Red Kelly. both drunk enough
10 ba ugly and insulting. Tho nrsi
stns~d into his face with a sne~r.
ny God. Red ~ here Amt the
bridegroom he .sclaluned inroientfy
you butt-f into this same without
no warrant. an y-r piayin' us fer a
parcel Of fooA Fer ono. don't
stand fer IL
Il fail 10 understand Just wha; you
nean. Cownn. You refer TO the
choice tho rtri mnder-
Sure ! do u was . vut-up Job.
You an her are In cahoota for that
MONEY. IN. didn't newer look AZ one
o. us. Yous pre,sndin' ter be sur
prised was too darn thin--yer damn
SKUNK
Shelby, face hard~ncd. and HIS
,soth set rr4mly.
Don't TO too far. Cuvan.- he
warned sterniy. 7 gut sosns r~pu;a.
ton as a fighfin' man myseif. an I
don't take everything pcaceabiy.
Who says thi-r-'
II do. fer one. and there's others
that think H. TIed' here doe.-
Well. now listen 10 mo, you drunk.
on brute. and keep a civil tongue In
your head. I wouldn't touch tina,
money. not n cen, Of u. even 10 I
WAS TO marry h~r-ehe amt that
kind. Nor I amt
Gosh. you muxt think I'm q
sucker. Tom Shelby. What tho he'll
you got to gtt marriad on, III bat Yer
never seed two thousand before In all
your life. Tell that to tho marines
there Amt nobody goin' 20 marry
her e1eept for the cash"
what do you mcan.~
why. she's homely as a hedge
fence. RED he WAS Just sayin' tina,
II she'd picked him. he'd have jumped
tho Reservation. money or no money.
Yer can't string mer'
You say she's homesyr-
Il sure do. an Ms damn mean A.
she looks reckon
shclby's face was ike flint, and
his right fist crashed square into
Cowan's snecring lips. The fellow
went topping over. and before hs
even knew what had happened. the
ranchman was upon him. holding