The St. Johns herald., 1921-05-12

ed evlnced sufficient interest to yield much encouragement. His wares nao been brought to good market ana Olo Dads girl, rendered particularly at- tractive by a dot" running up into the thousands, would find plenty or eager suitors. Now that the rumor of her eligibility was being privately circulated from mouth to mouth any unnecessary delay would only render the affair more complicated.
 He would report at once the sue cess of his mission and urge ms cO- conspirators to immediate acton. would sure be a fine sight to see tnese fellows lined up while that girl looKeu them over, deliberately making choice. Suddenly his gaze rested On a young man, dejectedly hanging over the end of the bar, arguing "lth d bartender, who only shook his neau impassively. Shelby moved along uh- til he ranged up beside the fellow
 Whats your nameT
 "Joe Macklin."
 ''They call you Kid don't they round here?"
 Sure; mostly. What are yer orlVlh at, anyhow?"
 "Why, this. got ranch over on the Cottonwood, an come in here to pick up a cow-hand. 1 got a halI- breed, but I need another. That 5 where I stand"
 ''What'll it pay?"
 .'Forty dollars. You got horseT
 'WeH. the critter looks like one 1; turned out in Powelrs corral, but l ain't got no money to pay fer ms feed. Yer'n have ter blow me some coin."
 "All right; here's ten and I'll pay Powell for the horse keep. You sho" LID here sober at ten tomorrow or else I'll leave you here; that's straight.
 He strode away across the big crowded room and opened door at the further end. Stepping across the threshold he closed the door behind him and faced Mccarthy and the ex- preacher from Buffalo Gap, both or whom glanced up expectantly. Shelby leaned back against the wall and con templated the two, chewing on the butt of cigar.
 "WeIl," he said bluntly, "the cards are stacked, gents; now, all you go' to do is to play your hands"
 "What do you mean? The boys are for it?"
 .'Hungry and snapping. talked tC quite a bunch. The one thing Tn afraid of is that some galoot may take notion to hunt the girl up before we can get things into shape. That's why I hurried in here. We got t' pull the affair tonight"
 The preacher spread his hands, way ing the suggestion aside.
 "No. no; that really wouldn't b' decent. so soon after the funeral. Tht poor girl must be given opportunit! to mourn in peace.
 "Shucks! It will give her sOmethtni
 else to think about. Anyhow. tha
 whole bunch will be after her b. morning. What do you say, Mac% CT don't see no objections. Tn sooner it's cleaned up the better anC
 there won't be no hard feelin's anon tbe boys if we don't give lem any tim
 to mill around"
 'You aim to run the bunch in o her with no notice?
 'sNo: that's up to the preacher. H invented this game and has got to talk , care of that end of 1t. don't kno0 nothin' bout females and don't air
 to learn. We'll leave the girl to thi gent from Buffalo Gap. Let hir mosey right over and talk it out wit her straight. He can put it sorte religious-like. Say we give him a | hour an then shoot the bunch over { the shack; that ought to be Ion , enough for him to get the girl int F the right frame of mind, if she's eve : eoin' to he. Maybe she'll take it a
 right and maybe she won't. Yo F ready to try your luck, Dominie?" :, "There is no question in my mind he answered solemnly, "but that tn 7 is the proper method of procedur ; I am therefore resigned to do my par ,4 I shall undertake the mission in u rt high spirit of my calling" n "Well," said Mccarthy who he . been writing industriously, here's u s- list of gazabos I've made out. The if ain't no angels among 'em, but sl F. sure ought to pull prize out O tn
 bunch, if she looks lem over." y The preacher got to his feet. if ''Tis as the Lord wills" he sa Ie gravely. q go humbly forth to y my part" "a