The Holbrook news., 1921-05-13

what the devil is goiD' on here?" There's been a wedding" Shelby started to explain, but the outflowing throng cut his sentence in two, and the startled soldier, stepping back >to get out of the way, was instantly swept aside, while the gang poured forth between, separating the two completely. The bridegroom found himself once more the center of fer vent congratulations and only escaped by pushing a passage down the steps to where his outfit waited for depar- ture. Some moments later she joined him, accompanied by her bOdyguard, wearing a long duster which almost reached the ground and a close-fitting cap pulled down over her smooth hair. He silently helped her into the seat of the blackboard, joining her grimly and gathering up the reins in his fin gers.
 Now, then" he called, "a couple of you unite those brutes and jump. They're bad starters"
 The broncos amply justified his pre- dictiOn and the party went tearing down the main street, pursued by yells of enjoyment and cat-howls of deri- sion, Shelby struggling with the reins in an endeavor to keep the maddened brutes off the sidewalks.
 However, the steep ascent of the bluff brought the plunging animals to their senses and by the time they had surmounted the ridge and struck the prairie trail leading across the upland they were willing enough to slow down to the swift trot they were accustomed to take on long journeys. Shelby lOOsened his grasp on the leath- CT and rested back in the seat. ven turing a side glance at his companion. She was still gripping the iron rail for safety, but evidently felt no fear. Mean devil, that bronco" said Shel- by, feeling the necessity of speech and ffecking his whip lash at the buck skin, whose evil eye was peering mali ciously backward. worst horse I ever owned. The Kid back there seems to be some bronco buster and I'll let him try his luck when we get out to the ranch. I got some outlaws there"
 She turned her head and glanced behind through the cloud of dust.
 "WhO is he? One of your men"
 Well, I just hired him down at POnca. Seems to be a mighty good rider His name Is Macklin, but ev- erybody calls him Kid"
 Somehow I don't just like him."
 "Oh, he's harmless enough"
 "Perhaps so, but have that feeling about him just the same"
 Shelby made no answer and they rode on in silence through the circling dust. He felt awkward and embar- rassed, unable to think of anything to say to keep up conversation and in- tensely conscious of the peculiar situa- ton in which they found themselves.
 Occasionally he stole surreptitious glance aside at her, but her eyes were averted as though in avoidance, gag ing out over the dull vista. To Shelby this quietness on her part. this half | turning from him seemed particularly ominous. She was doubtless sorry al- | ready at her choice this drear eXpanse | which they rode was more than she | expected to encOunter-she was dread ing already an approach to the Cot tonwood. He had been a fool to even l dream that he could ever satisfy her | in such surroundings. Well, it was | not too late to turn back. He would | talk with her and learn the truth.
 He drove steadily forward, en- | deavoring to formulate some pleasant | opening sentence, his mind inevitably |
 
 ton with Shaunessy and the doubts it | had awakened. Ought he to permit |