The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-02-09
CHAPTER J..
..Msturn 81 the Wanderer.

v
drove t. the summit Of the ridge, halt
Ing tho br6ncs, as his eyes swept oves
the sccne outspread below. The AMI,
mlls., their dusty siies streaked with
sweat stepped willingly after their
sixty-mile trip from the Cottonwood
y Below was deep, narrow valley,
In the midst of which Ponca spread
out along the bank Of the creek that
gave the town Its name. To shelby,
wearied with the dull plains, here was
Scene a beauty.
Just beyond there was life, fresh,
iuxuriant, sweet; running water, lusci-
GUS green grass, and above all, that
which he crayed most, human COM
partnership. 10 be sure, he knew
Poncn Of old. and possessed no illu-
sionk Ugly. dirty, unkempt, Ponca
mnde no prstcnse to either cleanli-
ness. or rsspectability; 1t possessed
M price. no hope Of future. It
'seemed. to recognize its destiny, and
ne ccntent, mere mushroom town of
@n FRONTIER. an adjunct Of the cattle
Uade, permitted to flourish today, but
as 'certainly doomed to perish tomor.
row.. q
IS The man who sat there on the ridge
xaxing down. the reins held idly IN
his hand, his eyes following the wind
ing OF the valley, was a perfectly nat
ural part Of the picture he belonged.
Beneath the tan and dust wNB 4
smoothly shaven face, 4 face OF
twenty-five, or twenty.slx, the features
strong, nose somewhat prominent, lips
firm ind full with dark-gray eyes
ehsdowed by heavy lashes, In truth,
Ne appeared all man, certain reck-
less-gayety about him not to be mis-
taken. vet as evidently not to be light
" taken advantage OF.
1T certainly beats HI" he NUT
tered, unconsciously aloud, ''that
afAh should dream about visiting q
dupl like this. Shows what sort O.
place Cottonwood is to make fellow
honAesick for Ponca. Town looks
kinder dead; no cattle In the corrals.
FL whnt'a the difference? There'll
be some of the old bunch hangin
'.rQnnd, an we'll make things hum for
awhile Come, broncs, jog along Let's
show Ponca we're live outfit ~
TWINS q rough. curving descent, the
trail ID places barely wide enough for
khes wheels, but the driver never lost
aqptrol, guiding the broncos with ex-
PERT hand. until they finally swung
about the edge Of a great rock at the
bottom. and went charging ut full
ea3l0p into the main street. To better
express the exuberance of his feelings
Mt this return to civilization, and an
rosance his arrival. Shelby whipped out
his gun and began sshatterlng the at
mosphere, driving the animals frantic
az the sharp reports rang out over
their backs.
6ut II any sensation was expected,
It signaIly failed to materialize. Ponca
$tmdihed deserted, and unimpressed.
Long experience had either rendered
he Inhabitants Indifferent to such
@ienlay, or else the town had gone
utterly dead. The silence and descla-
ton caused Shelby to utter an oath.
and suddenly swing his team mp to
hitching rack In front Of McCarthy's
saloon. the door of which stood in
Willingly open. An instant the per-
picked driver sat there staring GRIM
~ about from end to end Of the de-
serted street.
"Whnt the h--lw he calculated at
last, us up anyhow Is this grave
yard I've got intof Lord, 1t can't be
NIL the boys have got out: but some
thing In sure dead wrong. Well, Mac's
open anyhow. I'll 30 In and find out"
He sprung out over the wheel, stiff
fened from the long ride. yet standing
erect nevertheless, and strobe up the
saloon steps and In through the open
door. He had expected welcome
and this stinnge lack Of interest on
the part Of the citizens Of Ponca had
already considerably chilled his en-
tliusiasm. Once inside. he stopped,
staring about In even deeper perplex-
ity. The big saloon was absolutely
empty Of patrons-the tables were I'M
occupied /: no one was lined up in front
Of the long bar, and no sound OF voices
Or Of poker chips came down from the
room above. The place seemed like
I huge grave. and. for brief mo-
Inent, he even failed to perceive its
only occupants red-mustached bar
tender In front Of the mirror. indus
triously rubbing the immaculate glass.
Thoroughly angered by this time. Shell
BY advanced. his footsteps mufiled by
the sawdust on the floor.
"Nhat the hi Is the matter with
this Dump" he demanded savagely, mis-
INST humping the bar "Oh, SO It's
you, Is II. Moran7 Well. are you all
that's left in Ponca9"
The red-muatached one turned in
dimersntly. vt managed to extend a
rather limp hand IN fraternal greeting.
That's bout the size Of 1t, Tom, =
~ admitted gravely. "Where yer been
~ Jaet ok months?''
sQyet VI TIE Cottonwood, ranchips.