Licking Valley courier., 1921-03-03


p. "Not enough to put up fight. Well,
If was you. Tom I'd run those cows
over into the Bad Lands an lie out
there awhile Wen get the Injuns, Of
course: but there is bound to be some
KILN first. unless I'm crazy. I've got
to 20 in and get something to eat."
He started to turn away, but Shelby
halted him with a question.
"How long you been in the army,
Peter
"Twenty-two years"
"And with the Sixth cavalryp
"Fifteen." =
"Did you ever know sergeant
named Calkins"
"Jelf Calkins; he was my first top
after | joined; he left the service
bout ten years ago. There was
shOotin' scrape or somethin down Mt
Harker. Sorter ugly story. though I've
forgotten just what II was all about
now. Calkins got out O. that all right,
but when his enlistment was up he
quit; he didn't get on good with the
men. Do you know whatever become
of the Of duffer?"
"Ele was buried here yesterday
killed himself; left a daughter bout
nineteenT"
'rhe HI he did Jeff Calkluc new
er was married; not before he lett ;lie
army. anyhow. know because
bunked with him nearly two years m
he told me lot about himself. He
wasn't no lady's man at all. Say.
what the devil is goin' on hereT'
There's been wedding" Shelby
started TO explain. but the outflOwing
throng cut his sentence In two. and
the startled soldier, stepping hack 10
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
ture. Some moments later she joiped
him. accompanied by her bOdygunrd
wearing a long duster which almost
reached the ground and close-fittinc
cap pulled down over her smooth hair
He silently helped her into the sea-
of the blackboard. joining her grizzly
and gathering up the relns In bis fin
! gers.
Nov. then" he called, "a couple
Of you unite those brutes and ianp
They're bad starters"
The brOncos amply justified his pre-
dictiOn and the party went tearins
down the main street, pursued by yell'
of enjoyment and cat-hOwls of deri
sion. Shelby struggling with the rc!n'
In an endeavor TO keep the liaddehet
| brules off the sidewalks.
However. the steep ascent Of IN,
hlun brought the plunging animals Il
their senses and by the time the!
had surmounted the ridge and s,rucl
the prairie trail leading bcross th,
upland they were willing enough q
slow down to the swift trot they wcr,
accustomed to take IN long jonrrcyS
Shelby loOsened his grasp on lie lcath
cr and rested back In the scat. ven
turing side glance Al his companion
She was still gripping the iron raj
for safety. hut evidently felt no fcal
Mean devil. that bronco" snld She
by. feeling the necessity of spcer
and decking his whip lash ht the huck
skin whose evil eve was peerlng NAL
clouslv backward. worst horse | eve
owned. The Kid hack there seem
10 he some bronco custer and I'll II
him try his luck when we get ont I
the ranch. rot some outlaws there.
She turned her head and glance
behind through the cloud OF dust.
"Who Is he? One Of your men?"
We'll just hired him down .
Ponca. Seems to be mighty goo
rider His name is Maclilin, but 8,
eryhody calls him Kid
"Somehow ! don't just like him."
"Oh. he's harmless enough"
"Perhaps so, hui have l'at rselin
nboul him just the same"
Shelby made no answer md the
rode on In silence through the circlIu
dust. He felt awkward and eu,bn
raised, unable TO think OF anythir
TO say to keep M conversatlo and Il
tensely conscious " the peculiar stu
tion In which they found ,hemstlye
A Occasionally he stole II surrpptItiol
NJ glance aside NJ her. hut her eyes wei
averted as though In avoidance, Ga
ing out over the dull vista. To Shell
! this Quietness on her part, this IN
turning from him seemed particular
4 omnOus. She was doubtless sorry a
= ready at her choice; this drear cNnnns
n which they rode. was more than Sh
\ expected To encounter--she was dreaC
1 Ing already an approach to the Co
N tonwood. He had been fool to eve
Y dream that he could ever satisfy he
4 In such surroundings. Well, It wa
l not too late to turn back He wOul
I talk with her and learn the truth.
NJ lie drove steadily forward, eI
y deovorng to formulate some pleasaT
n opening sentence, his mind lnevltNbl
N drifting back TO that late convers'
y tlon with Shaunessy and the doubts
n had awakened Ought he to perm
VI her to become exposed to n possib
Il Indian attack Was II not plain
M his duty TO explain fully the exa
VI sltuatlonI And then that other ma
Il ter relative to Old Calklns2 Surely