The Adair County news., 1922-02-07

@ steers. What'll yer drinkT"
''Best yer've got, o. course. Thai
looks a bit like old times, an tastes
like it. Take a snort with me, Moran
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 gone across the
creek to help plant old Dad Calkins
You remember Old Dad"
mo, can't say 1 do; what was he
gamblerT
''Kind of a tin-hOrn; sOuSed most o
the time but still everybody liked him
pretended ter be a 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 good stOry-tell-
er, an the boys cottoned to him. Sure,
yer must have knOwed 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 a gun in
his hand. The girl was huntin' for
him, cause he didn't come home, an
so Dan he went along with her. The
two of 'em found him out there"
"What girlF
Daughter, 1 s'pOse. She's been
yere kinder keepin' house ever since
I first knew the cuss."
"How old is she?"
81 amt no jedge o. females ages,
if yer ask me, but maybe sixteen or
seventeen. Quite a wisp Of a gurl
first 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 all this rumpus
was gOin' on?"
"Over cross the creek, beyond that
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 git a preacher
ter do the thing up swell. What's the
matter with yer goin' over there, Tom,
an takin' the show in? Dan1l be
be mighty pleased ter see yer horn in."
Shelby helped himself to another
drink and gaZed diScOnsOlately about
the big, deSOlated room. Il reckon
I'll turn the brOncS into Davis corral
an then amble along" he said slowly.
''Even a funerals better than this
dump today"
He had waded the shallow waters
and reached the edge of the willows
before his eyes distinguished the
crowd gathered in the open space be-
yOnd. 1t 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. a 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 a glipmse of the ex-
preacher, elevated on a box, and his
ears caught the SOnOrOuS words of ex-
hOrtatiOn with which he ended his ser
mon. There followed a 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 quartette would sing "On-
ward, Christian Soldiers" after which
those who desired would be given the
opportunity to view for the last 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
again to the front.
"Now, you bucks" he rOared out
tersely, Zine up along them willows.
I'll go first with the daughter as chief
mourners, an 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, but we're agoin' ter re-
member the orphaned and the father
less. Thet's the way Ponca does busi-
ness. Now, chip in, gents; there's a
box there at the head Of the corpse,
an after yer've had a squint at OF
Dad cough up something fer the gurl."
Shelby dropped, into place behind
the stage agent, who recognized the
newcomer with hard handgrip and
grin of welcome.
"Just blow in? We're givin' Old
Calkins the time o. his career; owed
me hundred, but what the HI do
I care!- Know the oil cuss?"
"No; 1 just dropped around fer to
pass away the time. Some spouter
that fat preacher" i
"Ain't he, thought" admiringly. "He,
sure shot off some language I never
did hear afore. Yer heard our quar-
tette, 1 reckon?"
Heard it! Not being altogether
deaf, I did. Hullo, the procession is