Gunnison news-champion., 1921-01-07
CHAPTER ".
The Proposal.

The Proposal.
He stared back at the closed door.
fill dazed but capable of swearing at
himself for being such. a blame fool,
he felt vague suspicion that he had
acted foollshiy and that the girl was
amused nt his awkward embarrass-
ment. The interview had proven al
togther different from what he had
anticipated: the tears he had come to
wipe away were conspicuous BY their
absence, and instead Of bringing COM
fort and courage 10 an extremely NOR
tifed young lady. he had found her
nlled with merriment over the affair
and quite Indifferent as to It's outcome.
She was different from anything he
had previously conceived. He had
confidently expected TO encounter O m.
ther ordinary young woman Of the COM
monplace frontier type-the kind he
had known for years.
She had proven herself nothing like
what he had conceived. She had been
smiling and self-possessed. mocking
him with her good humor and treating
the whole affair as a Joke. He was
the victim. rather than she, evidently,
In her estimation; md he had actually
felt like n raw boy In her presence,
unable TO think Of word to say or
what to do with either hands or feet.
How Immediately clean she was and
ready Of speech. He saw agnin the
picture Of her. sitting there facing him,
her eyes meeting him frankly. Yes,
she had made fool Of him. all right.
and he turned and strobe up the path,
oblivious to all else but his gloomy
thoughts.
There were numerous people on the
main street. although the principal
groups we're before the dance hall and
McCarthy's saloon. Shelby stopped In
the glare OF the former to consider
what he had better do. his mind vibrat-
ing between Joining the others at the
bar or seeking Ills bed al the hotel.
He was still undecided when two men
suddenly bumped into him and he rec
ognized Cownn. and 'Red" Kelly. both
drunk enough to be ugly and insult
ing. The first stared into his face
with q sueer. @
Ill. Red. II here Amt the bride
groom" he exclaimed insolently. .Say,
where you been all this timer
Shelby drew back slightly. but held
his temper. his brain Instantly clearing.
y don't hold that to be any Of your
business" he replied coldly.
swell. by thunder. II Ia. just the
srme. You bufted into this game with.
out no warrant. an yer playin' ~
fer a parcel Of fools. Fer one. I
don't stand fer It. II was a put-up
job. You an her are In cahoots for
that money. she didn't never look at
one o. us. Your pretendin' to be sur.
prised was too darn thin. Hill ! bet
yer Just come over from bein' with her
an laughin' At us-yer d-n skunk r
Shelby's face hardened and his teeth
set grimly.
.DoD't 60 too far. Cowan.- be warn
ed sternly. Il got some reputation ~
f1ghtin' man myself an don't take
everything peaceaby. Now. listen to
me, you drunken brute. and keep Z
civil tongue In your head. have seen
the girl, but we didn't talk none about
marriage and. what's more. wouidn't
touch that money. not cent Of II.
even II I was to marry ber-she ain't
that kind. ner ! amt
Gosh. you must think I'm . sucker.
Tom Shelby. What the h-l Jon got
to GIT married ONT ri bet yer never
seed two thousand before In all your
life. Tell Ihat to the marines-thsrs
ain't nobody goin' to marry her ex-
cept for the cash."
sWhat do you mean r
.'why. she's homely a. : hedge fence.
Red was Just sayin' that II she'd .
picked him, he'd have Jumped the n.
servation. money o. NO money. Ter
eap't stYing me I"
~You ny she's heme3yr
r sure Do, an o. damn mean - sl,e
lookn. ! reckon.
Shelby's face wns lfke afnt and III
ssght flst 1ashed square Int Cowanis
aneerins lips. Ths fellow went top-
plins eser and before he ,1veo knew
whai bad happened the ranchman vas
- ~ headaG ~ ~ y ~