Licking Valley courier., 1921-05-19

"0h, yes, that's it. Well, q course
felt bad about the oil man, but It
wasn't no fault O. mine. Then 1t
seemed like his shufflin' off put the
cards right In my hands. 1t sure
proved she was the girl an now she
was left plum alone, 1t didn't look no
awful hard job for me to shine up an
marry her, before enybody else got
wise. Say, hpd It all figured out when
you an Dan Mccarthy horned In on
that fool stunt of yours, an knocked
my game galley-west. Then cottoned
onto that job with you. l didn't aim
to stay out there punchin' steers, but
just thought I'd see how things turned
out. l sOrter figured II this way-the
girl she didn't care nothln' for you /;
she just married yer ter get out er
there, an hay some place ter live; an
maybe, out there on the Cottonwood,
could make love to her, an some day
we'd skip out together. That's as far
as went at furst, an goip' out over
them prairies, ] got 1t into my head
that she didn't have no objection to a
little Irritation. was feelin quite
foxy about It when we got to the
ranch"
The lashes dropped low over Olga's
eyes, and her cheeks burned.
"Then l reckon the devil must er
took charge O. the game, fer the min
ute ! was left alone out there | run
into q bunch O. Indian cattle thieves.
| knew two of 'em for they were out
OF the Hole here an all at Onct, it
struck me ] might just as well have
the Job over with. took II she didn't
care about you, an that a little strong
arm stuff would pan out all right. II
works with most women, didn't
have no notion then Of humping you
of, Shelby, but the buck who took that
Job cracked you good an hard. Well,
that makes the whole story, don't itT
He shut his eyes, his head falling
back In complete exhaustion. Only his
labored breathing proved that Mack
lin still lived. Olga held him motion
less In her lap, bending over and soft
ly smoothing back his hair with one
hand. Shelby left them there, creep
ing ont through the entrance onto the
rock Platform without,
Il had ceased showing, hut enough
had fallen TO cover the blur with Il
white mantle. Obllteratlng the trail
and leaving the valley below covered
The sky nrched over all dull and gray
Shelby hung out over the ledge
watchfully studying the view out
spread beneath. II was peaceful
scene enough, with scarcely movin!
figure visible. He could hardly real
lie lhnt this was the haunt of out
laws where only q few hours before
he Ind been desperately struggling fo
life. The daylight revealed no sigI
Of disorder or pursuit the only re
mlnder of what had occurred beni
the blnckened ruins of the burned
cabin almost directly below. Ye
This was deserted aud the snow
about appeared untrampled. TIL,
sight give him hope, yet he fel
strangely depressed and unnerved
he remembrance OF the scene jus
Witnessed could not he cast OIL
lie hud no reason to question tn
! ruth Of that occasion and II hut
Impressed him strongly. Mnckln wa
evidently dying; was already heyOnl
help. Any breath might prove to b
his last, and II was even then too lat
for any doctor to save him. But wOul'
Pancha return In time to assist them
Would she bring sufficient help will
her? In spite Of the omInOus Qule
below he felt no faith that Indian JO
would so easily abandon their trail
lie was not that kind. Something
would ussuredly arouse his suspicion
thai they had moi perished In tn
flames. Indeed, that could he easily
nscsrtnlnpd by u search Of the debris
and the perturbed rnnchman was faI
from heIng satisfied TINT Panch'
alone knew Of this secret trail. Why
MncRlln stated he had himself been NJ
ns far ns the cave and II was scnrrel!
likely Il had heen entirely overlooEe'
50 long by these others--the Indian
cerlhinly must have secured ever
inch Of these bluffs at one time or IN
otllpr. Something, for the momcn
nms have drawn aside suspicious
bis escape, yet those devils wCu'