The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-02-09


right tomorrow, reckon, fer Hitch
cocks outfits ccMln' in with bunch
:, o steers. What'll yer drink7'
"Bcst yer've got. o course. That
looks bit like old times, an tastes
like 1t. Take snort with me, Mor,in.
Where's Mac, an all the boys, any
how?"
"Out ter the funeral; that's what's
the matter with this town. The whole
| kit an caboodle gore across the
creek to help plant old Dad Calkins.
You remember Old Dad?"
mo, can't say I do; what was he.
n gnmbler?"
"Kihd Of tin-horn; soused most O.
the time but still everybody liked him !;
pretended ter be blacksmith when
he first come. an put up shack down
there next the hotel. Never worked
morn three days to my knowledge
since--just naturally bummed round.
but he was HI OF a good story-tell-
er, an the boys cottonN to him. Sure,
yer must have knoweH him.
Shelby shook his head. what did
he die from?"
"Shot himself. I reckon. He was
picked up over back o. the dance hall,
with a bullet in his nut an Il Eiih in
his hand. The gin VAS huntin' for
him, cause he didn't come home. an
80 Dan he went along with her. The
two of 'em found him out there"
"What girl?"
daughter, I s'pose. She's been
yere kinder ksepin'. house ever since
I first knew the cuss."
"How old Is she?"
II amt no jedge O. females ages,
II, yer ask me, hut maybe sixteen or
seventeen. Quite wisp Of CURL
frst / saw her, but she don't make
up with nobody: sorter sullen-like. an
just stays ter home all the time.'
"Where'd you say NIL this rumpus
was goin' on?"
"Over cross the creek, beyond hat
bunch o. willows. You know where
the graveyard is. Coin ter be some
obsequies, you bet. Dan he went clear
to Buffalo Gap for ter sit a preacher
ter do the thing up swell. What's the
matter with yer goin' over there, Tom.
an takin' the show in? Dan'll be
be mighty pleased ter see yer horn in"
Shelby helped himself to another
drink and gazed disconsolately about
the big. desolated room. II reckon
I'll turn the hroncs into Davis corral,
m then amble along" he said slowly.
Even a funerals better than this
dump today"
He had wnded the shallow waters
and reached the edge of the willows
before his eyes distinguished the
crowd gathered in the open space be-
yond. It was surely some funeral;
there, was no doubt about that A mass
Of men stood there. bare-headed in
the sunshine, and beyond them, on a
little knoll. small bunch of women
were crowded together, girls from the
dance hall mostly, judging from their
clothes and faces, although one or two
older women were at the farther end.
Shelby caught glipmse Of the ex-
preacher, elevated on box, and his
ears caught the sonorous words of ex-
hortation with which he ended his SER
mon. There followed faint applause,
checked instantly by Mccarthy, who
politely requested the bunch to stop
making id fools of themselves,
and Immediately announced that the
Ponca male quartctte would sing "On-
ward, Christian Soldiers" after which
those who desired would he given the
opportunity to view for the Inst time
the features of the departed. As the
last dulcet strains of the hymn rolled
away. Mccarthy. as though anxious
to preserve the lives Of the singers by
quick action, pushed his way once
agnin to the front.
"Now. YOU bucks" he roared out
terscly, Zine up along them WIDOWS.
I'll 80 first with the daughter as chief
mourners. en- then the females will
fall in behind. After that the rest of
yer can mosey along We're goin' ter
do this up In some style. an It amt
just goin' to be showin' proper respect
fer the dead. hut we're agoin' ter re-
member the orphaned and the father
less. Thet's the way Ponca does bust
ness. Now, chip in, gents; there's
box there at the head Of the corpse.
an after yer've had a squirt Mt or
Dad cough up something fer the CURL"
Shelby dropped into place behind
the stage agent, who recognized the
newcomer with hard handgrip and
I grin of welcome.
"Just blow in? We're givin' Old
Calkins the time o. his career; owed
me hundred, hut what the hi do
/ care! Know the ~ cuss?" M
"No; Just dropped around fer. to
pass. away the time. Some spouter
that fat preacher"
"Ain't he. thought admiringly. "Ee
sure shot OFF some language I never
did hear nfore. Yer heard our quar-
tette. reckon?"
"Heard 1t! Not being altogether
deaf di', Hu'lo. the pracessiAp u
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