The St. Johns herald., 1921-05-12
CHAPTER II-continued.

"If you go at 1t right-yes. This IS a sporting proposition. That's where it will make a hit. Say we limit the chances to a dozen, or maybe fifteen; those fellows will bite at it like hun gry fish. Everyone of them duners will think he's a lady's man. l know them, and there never was young fellow in pants who didn't secretly be- lieve he was a regular lady-Klller' That's what's going to round them up in a bunch; we'll give the girl a chance to take her pick. That's talr enough. isn't it?"
 Shelby laughed, the situation as thus swiftly outlined appealing sud- denly to his sense of humOr.
 "That's sure. some scheme" he ad- mitted cheerily. land I'd rather like seein it pulled off. But it's my nO- tion that the girl is liable to create some disturbance. She didn't nOways look to me like the sort who could be driven. It's my idea that girl ain't even halter broke yet, let alone willin' to trOt in double harness. Ain't that the truth. Mac?
 Shelby lit a cigar. waiting for the saIoonkeeper to deliver his decision.
 She's a bit odd, an sOrter bull- headed, yer might say" the latter said finally. That's true enough. Tom. l had a time gettin' her to go through them ceremonies this afternoon. She just wanted Old Dad planted quiet like, She's mighty liable to be of1sh when the preacher first puts this pro- position up to her. Likely as not she'll throw a fit, but we'll fetch her up to the trough just the same. You ain't got any better scheme, have yer? The only way ter save a girl out in this country is ter marry her-ain't that so?"
 CT reckon it is. Got yer gang lined up yet2"
 "Not yet; there's a plenty to choose from an I aim ter write out the list over at the saloon. How about yOu2" "Me2 Not on your life, Mac; this is not my funeral"
 'You1l help us out, thought"
 "Sure; I'll talk it over with the boys and get 'em interested. I'll even throw fifty dollars into the jack pot to give the happy couple a start. There's nothin' that will put more pep into a prospective bridegroom than @ bunch O money in sight. You two fellows figure it out an I'll go over to the saloon and, sOrter quite-like feel the boys out bit. Where'l you be in an hourP
 ''In my office. Who was you aiming to talk with?"
 "Oh, Cady, Jim Mack, ROwdy' Egar an that bunch. They are the boys yer aImin' to interest, I reckon. How much of jack pot do you aim tC raise"
 Mccarthy pondered a moment, hi! chin cupped in his hand.
 "Well, I'll blow in twO-ffty an reckon there are those who would raise 1t to a right smart figure. Yol kin talk a couple O thousand, Tom As yer say, that'll be quite feature an there ain't no reason why W, shouldn't pull the affair off ternight.
 The delicious and delicate humor O the situation was what particularly az peaIed to Shelby-the affair promise excitement and a good laugh. He wa even convinced that the scheme migh work and thus really prove a benef to the girl, if she only chose wisely but at present his main interest cer tered on the fun he expected to ez tract from the preliminaries.
 He had already decided on a get eraI course of action; he would al proach those whom he considere worthy, in a strictly diplomatic wa! judiciously limiting at the possibilit of Old Dad Calkins' girl being an hei ess and suggesting the advantage ( her being sought fin early marriage. was merely an idea he proposed advance, to be implanted in their mind that she should not be allowed to e cape from the community with all thu money, nor snapped up by some me cenary stranger.
 During the next half hour She'll managed to interview at least a ha dozen whom he considered eligib bachelors or lonely widOwers, artful