Gunnison news-champion., 1921-01-07

the dsieEatiOo BY this time How
sboui II; TomT
They moved siouIy out. tosfiins
each other. and infDlging 10 horse
play and rude jokes. none taking the
affair seriously. hut eager 20 learn how
~ would terminate
Mccarthy led the way. directly
Bcruss the main stree and down III.
path pssi the dancs hall. which BY
this time vas IN full blaze. Beyond
they were plunged into darkness. but
could see ahead o, them The faint
Of CHlkins' shack. one or two sought
10 drop out, but Shelby coIlared them
promptly. 50 that the entire bunch
finally lined up behind Mccarthy As he
raped on the closed door. The preach
eT opened II. bis round face heamiug
bsuignhntIy Ia the glare OF the single
Oll-laup within. his bulk absolutely
blocking the entrance. Beyond. thoss
close a. hand hnd vague glimpse Of
the EirI. who stood hack against the
wall staring toward them with Wid.-
open eyes. The Buffalo Gap man
smiled blantIy IN welcome, Impressed
by the number Of faces be saw. and
s'eppct heavily aside
Come right IN. rcniIemen.- he eI-
claimed. .cs,urtuE impressivciy With
0uc hand. "Uur uc0ournH Hfafl0us ure
not extensive. as you Ut'l perceive
yet ample. trust. Just circle about
the wall thereto ths left. please
You hav" explained the circumstance
Nj Mccarthy"
Sure"
Very we'll. then his voice assurn-
ing q soothing tone. I'VE need vas'e
no unnecessary time In prciIEa.nari.S-
I have very frankly laid the entire
matter before the young lady and have
fnally convinced her Of the righteous.
ness Of our purpose. 10 f'ly express
your state %, mind. my chIldT"
She lifted her eyes slightly. a red
rush burning on either check
= suppose 50: that's what you told
ne 10 say"
Shelby slipping IN through The door
last of ALL had found pr"rurlouS
seat on N. sill ~ the window. whore
he had a fulI view Of the room. His
glance EHndorrd arprccia'iugly along
that solemn line OF men hacked up
riTid'y against the wall They were
IN odd looking bunch. crowded to-
gu'hcr under the glare Of the oIi-iamp
the most Of them roughly dressed and
Uushuyen and all Of them ylsIbIy en-
harrnssed and little ashamed The
girl stood alone just before them md
to Shelby she appeared younger Hnd
far better looking than In the after
noon. She would have been almost
pretty bui for the pathetic droop At
the corners Of her mouth and the re-
hellious sullen look IN her eyes. The
preacher spread his hands In dIsap-
probation Of her remark.
"Oh, no. my dear" he protested.
81 merely laborcd with you and urged
this upon y0n rs the better course I
even made II the subject Of prnyer
that We miEE be dlvineiy Enided II
Is now a matter entirely for your own
decision
She looked from him 20 the row o,
hrenthless men facing her. impatient.
Iy. her bosom rising and falling tu
multnusly.
"And I've go, to choose which one
ia rather marryT
well. yes, that Is the idea crude'y
expressed. Not thai you are com
PEELED In any way; only we feel II
highly desirable; that-weli, perhaps
may say. Il Is the will Of God that
you make some such choice
Her eyes wandered up and dowC
the shrinking line. resting calmly on
face after face. II she felt any humor
In the situation. there was no expires
sion OF II visible. She retained an ap.
pearance OF sullen Indifference. which
was almost lnso.ent.
There amt no more OF emf"
NO; this Is ALL"
"And J got to pick from thesef"
The preacher nodded his head. as
she glanced lnquiringly in his direc-
ton. The pent-up breath came in a
sigh from between her lips.
"well, II I've got TO. have, ! sup
pose. and, SO far as I can see, II don,
make no difference. TIL take the fel-