The Holbrook news., 1921-05-13

Then l am going with yOu, she said firmly. "I am not the least afraid. I wonder if you have an extra rife out there?"
 Sure" he said, grinning. 'I sorter like that kind O talk, little girl. Can you shOot?"
 | Some; I'll show you when we get out there. Anyway, please don't turn back on my account. I heard in Ponca that the Sioux were ghost-dancing, but didn't think about their coming down the Cottonwood. Dad said they were getting ugly, but I don't know where he heard it.'
 This unexpected mention of Calkins stirred Shelby to ask a further ques- tion. She was going on with him, that was evident, and the mystery between them must be cleared away.
 What was your name?" he asked soberly
 She glanced up into his face, sur prised at the abrupt question.
 My name! Why, don't you know?"
 q never heard of it; seems sorter odd. maybe, but I never did"
 Ut is Olga"
 "Olga-Olga what?"
 "Why, Shelby, I suppose"
 "NO, I didn't mean that. Of course it's Shelby now, but what was it be- fore today? 'Twasn't Calkins."
 The smile had deserted her lips and her eyes were very serious.
 "Just what do you mean, please? Have you heard something?"
 "Well, yes. This here soldier Shau- messy has been in the army a long while; he was fifteen years in the Sixth cavalry. Now I happened to learn, accidentally from Mccarthy, that Old Calkins was once sergeant in that outfit, so naturally I asked Shaunessy If he ever knew him."
 And did he?"
 Sure; they were bunkies once an he said Jeff Calkins never was mar ried an didn't have no daughter"
 "Well, did I ever say I was his daughter?"
 "No, O course you didn't. I never asked, but everybody thought you must be. What was the old man to you, anyhow? I reckon got a right to know"
 You certainly have, but I cannot tell you very much. Frankly, I don't know. I could not explain even how 1 came into his care. That sounds strange, perhaps, but 1t is true. I wasn't much of girl when he got me first and I've scarcely been out of his sight since. hTe asked him a thousand times, but he never would explain. Once he said it would come out all right after awhile. It seemed to anger him for me to ask Ques- tions. so, at last. I stopped"
 That's mighty queer. Did he ever tell you what your real name was?"
 "Oh. yes; there wasn't any secret about that-it was Carlyn."
 "Olga Carlyn," he repeated the words slowly. "Sorter Norwegian Irish, ain't 1t? That story sounds ra- ther funny to me"
 My idea is he was hiding me from someone; trying to keep me from be- ing found. l decided that was why he moved about from place to place and always lived in such poverty and alone. I believe he had money or could always get some when needed. Then he seemed to be afraid all the time and watching for something to happen"
 And you don't have no recollection whatever of either your father or mOther?"
 Not of my mother; she may have dfnd rrhnn T hohu hnf I remember my father, although I never saw him very often. He was a tall man with iron-gray hair and mustache once I saw him in uniform"
 An officer, likely"
 'I think so. was at school thCn and I am sure the lady principal called him colonel. I never lived with him, but always at some school, first one and then another. I am sure I was in St. Louis when Calkins came for me and took me away. That is actu- ally everything know about 1t; since then we've just moved around from place to place."
 They fell into silence and rode on thus for hours, seldom speaking, each engrossed in their own thoughts. To- ward sundown they came into a more rolling country, with patches of green grass, and the trail wound in and out | among shallow depressions, yielding | greater variety of scenery. Just be- fore dark they toiled up over a high | ridge and from the summit looked for | some distance down the valley of the | Cottonwood. The trail ran slantingly | down the side of the bluff, zigzagging | here and there in search of easier pas sage, and 1t was necessary to descend | slowly. Consequently 1t was an hour after dark when they finally drove up to a small cabin surrounded by trees, a hundred feet back from the stream, and the driver announced their arrival.
 CHAPTER VI.