The Raymer enterprise., 1921-04-21

door. He hat expected welcome
and this strange lack Of interest on
the part Of the citizens Of Ponca had
already considerably chilled his en-.
thusinsm. Once inside. he stopped,
staring about In even deeper perplex-
lty. The big saloon was abb Jlutely
empty Of patrons-the tables were un-
occupied; no one was lined up In front
Of the long bar. and no sound Of voices
or Of poker chips came down from the
room above. The place seemed like
huge grave. and, for q brief mo-
ment, he even failed to perceive its
only occupant-a red.mustached bar
tender in front Of the mirror. indus
triously rubbing the immaculate glass.
Thoroughly angered by this time. Shel.
BY advanced, bis footsteps mufled BY
the sawdust on the floor.
"What the HI ID the matter with
this dumpr he demanded savagely, his
fist humping the bar. *Oh. 20 it's
you. ID It, Moranf Well, are you al
that's left IN Ponca1"
The red-mustached one turned in-
differently. yet managed to extend 4
rather limp hand In fraternal greeting.
"That's bout the size Of II, Tom"
he admitted gravely. "Where yer been
the last six monthsr
"Over on the Cottonwood. ranchlng.
Say. amt seen nothin' but dogs
since ! struck this valley. What's
up? Ponca gone on the bumf"
"No; she's all right mostly. Be all
right tomorrow. I reckon, fer Hitch.
cocks outfits comm In with 4 bunch
O steers What'll yer drinkr
BEST yerve got, O. course. That
looks bit like old times, an tastes
like II. Take a snort with me, Moran.
Where's Mac, an all the boys. any.
howT
"Out ter the funeral: that's what's
the matter with this town. The whole
kit an caboodle gone across the
creek to help plant old Dad Calkins
Yon remember Old Dadr'
mo. can't say I do; what was he
a gambler?"
kind Of tin-horn; soused most O.
the time but still everybody liked him:
pretended ter be o blacksmith when
he first come. an put up a shack down
there next the hotel. Never worked
morn three days to my knowledge
since-just naturally bummed round.
but he was a h-l Of good story.teil-
er. an the boys cottoned to him. Sure,
yer must have knowed him."
Shelby shook his head. "what did
he die from3"
"Shot himself, ! reckon. He was
picked mp over hack o the dance hall,
with bullet In his nut an a gun In
bis hand. The girl was huntin' for
him. cause he didn't come. home. an
30 Dan be went along with her. The
two Of 'em found him ont there"
"What girlr'
Daughter. ! s'pose. She's been
yere kinder keepin' house ever since
I frsf knew the cusa"
"How old u sher'
y amt no ledge o. females ages,
II yer ask me, but maybe sixteen or
seventeen. Quite a wisp Of guri
6rst l saw her. but she don't make
up with nobody: sorter sullen.lIke. an
Just stays ter home al the time"
"where'd you say all this rumpus
was goin' onr'
"Over cross the creek. beyond that
bunch O. willows. You know where
the graveyard Il. Coin ter bs some
obsequies. you bet. Dan be went clear
to Buffalo Gap for ter GIT . preacher
ter do the thing up swell. WHAT'S the
matter with yer goin' over there. Tom.
an takin' the show ini Dan'll bs
be mighty pleased ter see yer born in."
Shelby helped himself to smother
drink and gazed disconsolately about
the big desolated room. n reckon
ri turn the broncs into Davis corral.
an then amble along he said slowly.
"Even Q funerals bsttsf than this
2