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POLK COUNTY NEWS. BENTON, TENNESSEE. PE3SIQL RANDALL COPyfZGfjT JLC?eCZM2G & CO. r "OLGA CARLYN." Synopsis. Tom Shelby, a rancher, rlde into the frontier town of Ponca looking for a good time after a long spell of hard work and loneliness on the ranch. In stead, he runs Into a funeral that of Dad Calkins, a retired army man of whom little Is known. A girl, still In her teens, survives Calkins. McCarthy, a saloon keep er and Ponca's leading citizen, de cides that the girl, now alone In the world, should marry. Shelby starts a hunt for eligible husbands and the minister goes to confer with the girl. She agrees to pick a husband from the score of men lined up in her home. To his con sternation, she selects Shelby, who had gone along merely as a spec tator. He declines the honor. In dignant, the girl dismisses the as semblage. Later Shelby goes back to make an explanation. She re ceives him good-naturedly. Leav ing her, Shelby runs Into-two of the rejected suitors, and In a fight worsts them both. ' Angered at their remarks, he returns to the girl, determined to marry her, If she will have him. After his ex planation she agrees to marry him. CHAPTER V. The Wedding. It was an exceedingly busy after noon, so filled with details of prepara tion as to leave Shelby slight oppor tunity for reflection. He had never contemplated marriage, or imagined fclniself a benedict He knew practi cally nothing as to the disposition and character of the girl or what she might require of himself. He had no con ception that he loved her or that she felt any especial affection for hlra. His sudden action had been very large ly Influenced by his controversy with Cowan and she had quite frankly con fessed that her choice of him rested (entirely on the fact that he was not & resident of Ponca. There had been no mention of love between them, merely a business-like airangement, unmarked by the slightest sentiment. He was dimly aware that this made a poor foundation on "which to build for future happiness. This peculiar situation was driven home to him by a vivid recollection of what he was going to take her to that desolate ranch out there on the Cottonwood. Could she be satisfied? Could she even bear with such condi tions? He saw McCarthy and the preacher from Buffalo Gap, first telling them frankly the whole story and gravely pledging both to secrecy. Refusing firmly to receive a cent of the money which Mac promptly offered, he left these two to arrange all details for the wedding, confident of their discre tion and good judgment. There was no necessity for his seeing the girl again, and, indeed, he felt no inclina tion to do so. He even shrank from the thought of seeing her, and was profoundly thankful that everything was so completely understood be tween them as to make another con ference entirely unnecessary. Satisfied upon this point, he devoted the time remaining at his disposal to purchas ing the variety of articles made nec essary by this sudden change in life. The buckboard was loaded until noth ing remained unoccupied but the nar row seat, a huge box, packed full, oc cupying the rear portion, with bun dles tied securely here and there about the vehicle, wherever they would ride safely. Over all these he stretch ed a tarpaulin to keep out the dust, trapping the latter firmly into place. The solemn injunction to secrecy 'had prevented Ponca from making this occasion one of special celebra tion, but, nevertheless, rumor had been sufficiently busy so as to prevent any strictly private ceremony. The parlor of the hotel was already crowd ed with uninvited guests when he fin ally arrived and there was also an overflow meeting in the adjoining din ing room. Shelby swore under his breath, but it was too late to protest outwardly, as the nride-to-be was al ready waiting his arrival at the foot of the stairs. In spite of the doubts which had iassalled him during the past few hours, the sight of her thus awaiting his coming, her eyes meeting his own frankly, sent a sudden thrill through his veins. She was chaperoned by the Wife of the principal storekeeper and doubtless others among the few re spectable women of Ponca had com bined their taste and possessions to properly fit her out for the occasion. Just how the transformation had been accomplished Shelby, being a man woe fully lacking In experience, did not know, but he was vividly aware of ,'the change In her appearance and taanner. She was dressed In gray, 'the outer garment plainly fashioned hut fitting well, while a most becoming Jiat, rather coquettish In Its shape, rested on soft, shining hair, fluffed lout attractively, forming a most agree able frame for the young face, the (Cheeks flushed with excitement Shel t. 7 1 i.i. roi... j by stood before her tongue-tied, unable to find words of greeting, painfully conscious of his own. awkwardness. The embarrassment, however, was but for the instant, for the preacher had been waiting his entrance, eager to begin the ceremony. What occurred during the next few moments was never wholly clear In Shelby's mind. He did mechanically whatever he was told, but without comprehension. He remembered walk ing between rows of curious faces, oc casionally recognizing a familiar countenance, clear across that crowded parlor to the further wall, which seemed to be decorated profusely with sprays of evergreen. He seemed to recall that the girl joined him, stand ing at his left, and that she had ad vanced to his side guided by Dan Mc Carthy. It was all vague, misty, un certain, and the next moment all he saw was the fleshy figure of the Buf falo Gap preacher standing there im mediately before him, his hands up lifted and his sonorous voice uttering words that sounded like a prayer. Then Dan came, forward again and he felt her hand resting In his, real izing how soft and small It was. He remembered a question was asked him and he answered "yes" and then he seemed to hear her whisper a similar response. The preacher said some thing, using some strange words, and turning once to face the silent crowd pressing close In upon them; then he lifted his hands solemnly and Shelby caught the sentence, "I pronounce you husband and wife and whom God hath Joined together, let no man put asunder." There was an explosion of breath, a faint clapping of hands, an instant buzz of tongues. He felt that he must have shaken hands with a thousand people; was pushed here and there by the efforts made to reach him and finally, bewildered, his mind in a whirl, found himself once more out In the hall, obsessed with a desire to escape. He possessed no idea as to what had become of the girt ; no doubt she was somewhere back there in the crush, but he, at least, was free, and would wait for her to Join him out side. He stood there alone, staring down at the team of broncos and the heavily laden buckboard uncomprehendingly. Yet slowly It all came back and his mind began to arouse from blank stupor. His attention was attracted by the approach of a horseman trot ing steadily up the deserted street to ward the hotel. The rider was a cav alry soldier in uniform, powdered with dust, his horse showing evidences of hard travel. Shelby watched his coming curious ly, his memory still lingering upon the scene within. The man drew up at the hotel, dropped his rein over the horse's head, swung stiffly to the ground and advanced up the steps. He glanced aside at Shelby's motion less figure, took a step toward the door and then wheeled suddenly. "Say, ain't your name Shelby?" The dazed bridegroom turned and looked Into the face confronting him, his mind snapping back into quick recognition. "Sure. Well, thunder, you're Shau nessy of the Sixth. What're you do ing here?" The two clasped hands firmly. "Thought I knew you, Tom, when I first came up the steps, but wasn't quite sure till I got a side view. Must be six years since you left us, ain't It? What am I doing? Oh, they've shoved us up here from Arizona and I've been up at the Reservation watchln 'em ghost-dance an' aru headln' now for Collins to tell the old man the news. Some fun goln' to be pulled off pres ently." "You mean the Sioux are goln' on rampage ag'ln?" "Sure thing, unless I miss my guess, an' I reckon I ought to know Injuns by this time. It'll either come this fall or next spring. I figure they'll never hold In over winter. 01' Slttln' Bull has got the game In his hands an' you know that ol' devil, I reckon." "I have reason to. Any troops up there V "No; the Injun agent don't believe there's goln to be any trouble; says It's Just a few young bucks who are raisin' h I. ne don't know what Is goln' on. But I ben among 'era an the whole outfit Is blood-mad. I seen two of thelrghost-dnnces myself back In the hills an' I tell you they mean business. You Uvln' here now?" "No, out on the Cottonwood." "What north? Say, old man, that ain't goln' to be no healthy place fer a white, If those devils break loose; they'll make that country sure. Got much of an outfit?" "A bunch of cattlo an two herders." "Not enough to put up a fight Well, If I was you, Tom, I'd run those cows over Into the Bad Lands an' lie out there awhile. We'll get the Injuns, of course: but there Is bound to be some kniln firnt, unless Tin crazy. I've rot to go 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 cavalry?" "Fifteen." "Did you ever know a sergeant named Calkins?" "Jeff Calkins; he was my first top after I Joined; he left the service 'bout ten years ago. There was a shootln' scrape or somethln down at Harker. Sorter ugly story, though I've forgotten Just what It 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 ol' duffer?" "He was burled here yesterday killed himself; left a daughter 'bout nineteen " "The h 1 he did I Jeff Calkins nev er was married ; not before he left the army, anyhow. I know because"" I bunked with him nearly two years an' he told me a lot about himself. He wasn't no lady's man at all. Say, what the devil is goln' on here?" "There's been a wedding." Shelby started to explain, but the outflowing throng cut his sentence in two, and the startled soldiei, stepping back to 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 to where his outfit waited for depar ture. Some moments later she joined him, accompanied by' her bodyguard, wearing a long duster which almost reached the ground and a close-fitting cap pulled down over her smooth hair. He silently helped her Into the seat of the buckboard, joining her grimly and gathering up the reins in his fin gers. "Now, then," he called, "a couple of you untie those brutes and Jump. They're bad starters." The broncos amply Justified his pre diction and the party went tearing down the main street, pursued by yells of enjoyment and cat-howls of deri sion, Shelby struggling with the reins In an endeavor to keep the maddened brutes off the sidewalks. However, the steep ascent of the bluff brought the plunging animals to their senses and by the time they had surmounted the ridge and struck the prairie trail leading across .the upland they were willing enough to slow down to the swift trot they were accustomed to take on long Journeys. Shelby loosened his grasp on the leath er and rested back in the seat, ven turing a side glance at his companion. She was still gripping' the Iron rail fer sarety, but evidently felt nofear, "Mean devil, that bronco," said Shel by, feeling 'the necessity of speech and flecking his whip lash at the buck skin, whose evil eye was peering mali ciously backward, "worst horse I ever owned. The Kid back there seems to be some bronco ouster and I'll let him try his luck when we get out to the ranch. I got some outlaws there." She turned her head and glanced behind through the cloud of dust. "Who is he? One of your men?" "Well, I Just hired him down at Ponca. Seems to be a mighty good rider. His name is Macklln, but ev erybody calls him 'Kid.'" "Somehow I don't Just like him." "Oh, he's harmless enough." "Perhaps so, but I have that feeling about him Just the same." Shelby made no answer and they rode on In silence through the circling dust, ne felt awkward and embar rassed, unable to think of anything to say to keep up conversation and In tensely conscious of the peculiar situa tion in which they found themselves. Occasionally he stole a surreptitious glance aside at her, but her eyes were averted as though In avoidance, gaz ing out over the dull vista. To Shelby this quietness on her part, this half turning from him seemed particularly ominous. She was doubtless sorry al ready at her choice; this drear expanse which they rode was more than she expected to encounter she was dread ing already an approach to the Cot tonwood. He had been a fool to even dream that he could ever satisfy her In such surroundings. Well, It was not too late to turn back. He would talk with her and learn the truth. He drove steadily forward, en deavoring to formulate some pleasant opening sentence, his mind Inevitably drifting back to that late conversa tion with Shaunessy and the doubts It had awakened. Ought he to permit her to become exposed to a possible Indian attack? Was It not plainly his duty to explain fully the exact situation? And then that other mat ter relative to Old Calkins? Surely It was her place to make that clear? He straightened up, clearing his voice, and she glanced about dis turbed from revery by his action. "How dismal It all Is," she said, as he failed to speak, "and yet the very silence and loneliness has a charm. Is It like this out on the Cot tonwood?" "No, not exactly. It's lonely enough, but that Is broken country, with something to rest the eyes on. I am afraid, though, you're goln' to be awfully sorry." "Really, I don't," honestly. "1 don't mind being alone at all. I've always been alone, so that won't hurt." "But this Is different," he Insisted stubbornly. "Besides, I heard some thing hack there In Ponca that mokes me think I had no business bringing you along at all." "What was thatr "Why, Just before we come away I ran Into an old friend o' mine La the army, named Shaunessy. ned been op In the Sioux reservation. watchln' 'em ghost-dance, and he says the bucks up there, are goln" to raise Ned before long, ma' there ain't no troops anywhere around sufficient to hold 'em. It's Ol' SUtin' Ball who Is stlrrtn 'em up." "But surely they could never get down here?" "Not to Ponca no; they wouldn't go la that direction. But they'd be mighty liable to come raldin' down the Cottonwood. That's what Shaun essy said; he told me I'd better run my stock over Into the Bad Lands, and lie out for awhile, till the soldiers "Somehow I Don't Just Like Him." got the devils rounded up again. I been thinkin' ever since I ought to tell you about it, so. If you thought beat, we could turn around an" take you back to Ponta." "And then what would you do?" "Me? Why go on o' course an' take care o' the cattle. Taln't the first time I've seen Indians." "Then I am going with you," she said firmly. "I am n6t the least afraid. I wonder If you have an extra rifle out there?" "Sure," he said, grinning. "I sorter like that kind o' talk, little girl. Can you shoot?" ,"Some; Til show you when we get out there. Anyway, please don't turn back on my account. I heard in Ponca that the Sioux were ghost-dancing, but I didn't think about their coming down the Cottonwood. Dad said they were getting ugly, butI don't know where heTeard it" .' .', ': ' ' . This unexpected mention of Calkins stirred Shelby to ask a further ques tion. She was going on with him, that was evident, and the mystery between them must be cleared away. "What was your name?" he asked soberly. She glanced up Into his face, sur prised at the abrupt question. "My name! Why, don't you know?" "I never heard of It; seems sorter odd, maybe, but I never did." "It Is Olga." "Olga Olga what?" " "Why, Shelby, I suppose." "No, I didn't mean that. Of course, It's Shelby now, but what was it be fore today? 'Twasn't Calkins." The smile had deserted her lips and her eyes were very serious. "Just what do. you mean, please? Have you heard something?" "Well, yes. This here soldier Shau nessy has been In the army a long while; he was fifteen years In the Sixth cavalry. Now I happened to learn, accidentally from McCarthy, that Old Calkins was once a sergeant in that outfit, so naturally I asked Shaunessy If he ever knew him." "And did he?" "Sure; they were bunkles once an' he said Jeff Calkins never was mar ried an didn't have no daughter." "Well, did I ever say I was his daughter?" "No, o course you didn't. I never asked, but everybody thought you must be. What was the old man to you, anyhow? I reckon I got a right to know." "You certainly have, but I cannot tell you very much. Frankly, I don't know. I could not explain even how I came Into his care. That sounds strange, perhaps, but It Is true. I wasn't much of a girl when he got me first and I've scarcely been out of his sight since. ve asked him a thousand times, but he never would explain. Once he Mid It would come out all right after awhile. It seemed to anger him for me to ask ques tions, so, at lost I stopped." "That's mighty queer. Did he ever tell you what your real nome was?" "Oh, yes; there wasn't any secret about that It was Carlyn." "Olga Carlyn," he repeated the words slowly. "Sorter Norwegian Irish, ain't it? That utory sounds ra ther funny to me." "My Idea Is he was hiding me from someone; trying to kep me from be ing found. I decided that wns why he moved about from place to place and always lived In such poverty and alone. I believe he had money or could always get some when needed. Then he seemed to he afraid all the time and watching for something to happen." "And you don't have no recollection whatever of either your father or mother?" "Not of my mother; she may have died when I was a baby, but I can remember cog father, although 1 never , hi h.'m very ofton. He was a t I man with iron-gray hair and mustache: once I saw him ia uniform." "An officer, likely" "I think ko. I a af school thn an.! I am sure the lady principal cal'.ed hiui colonel. I never lived with him. but always at some school, first ooe and then another. I am sure I was in St. Louis when Calkins came for me and toot-rae away. That Is actu ally everything I know about it; since then we've Just moved around from place to place." They fell into silence and rode on thus for hours, seldom speaking, each engrossed In their own thoughts. To ward sundown they came Into a more rolling country, with patches of green grass, and the trail wound in and out among shallow depressions, yielding greater variety of scenery. Just be fore dark they tolled up over a high ridge and from the summit looked for some distance down the valley of the Cottonwood. The trail ran slantingly down the side of the bluff, zigzagging here and there in search of easier pas sage, and it was necessary to descend slowly. Consequently it was an hour after dark when they finally drove up to a small cabin surrounded by trees, a hundred feet back from the stream, and the driver announced their arrival. CHAPTER VI. A Blow of Treachery. It was a desolate home-coming the great stars overhead, the tinkle of distant water, the silence and black ness all about and the dim outline of the cabin barely visible amid the surrounding trees. The girl held her breath with lips pressed tight, staring around Into the vague shadows and permitted Shelby to gently swing her between the wheels to the grounfl. Some way the strong grasp of his hands brought bacE" to her a sense of courage. "Is Is there no one here?" she asked, afraid to venture a step in the gloom. "It is terribly dark." "I'll remedy that in a minute," he said, pretending a cheerfulness he was far from feeling, "ney there. Kid, stake out yer horse, and come here and hold these broncs until I light up Inside. Don't move, Olga; there Is a steep bank just beyond. I'll only be gone a minute." "But where Is your herder?" "Out with the cattle, probably; he doesn't sleep here, and had no Idea when I would be back. Now hang on tight to these reins, Kid, and I'll help you presently. Would you rather go with me, Olga?" "Yes," she said, her voice trembling slightly in spite of every effort at control, "I would rather not be left out here." "All right; this Is the path; don't be afraid. I won't let you stumble. Now, one step up that's it" "A Bit Tough Looking, I Suppose." He flunir ODen the unsecured door. and stenned Into the dense blackness of the Interior. She could see noth ing, but heard him rummaging about and finally caught the tiny gleam of match. The next Instant this had become the flame of an oil lamp, and the whole Interior of the room be came revealed In the yellow flicker. In snlte of every attempt to steady herself, her heart gave a sudden throb, and she clutched at the door Tor sup port This was even worse than she had pictured.. "A bit tough looking, I suppose, Shelby said with a hasty glance about "Sorter surnrlse. this brlngln' a wife back with me. Never reckoned on any such thing, or I'd a cleaned the shack up a bit. nowever, ril straignten things around In a Jiffy, as soon as I show the Kid the corral. Here's a chair to sit In," and he dumped Its load on the floor. "You ain't afraid to wait here, are you?" "Oh, no; I will be all right Yo need not hurry." Struck down from behind. (TO UK CONTINUED.) Clear Field. "Ah, here Is a letter from the old folk r "What does It say?" "Come home your tailor Is dead."- fearsoa'i WeekJj , DUSH KILLING . USE OF CALIF! Says Drug Is Mercury and Acts Like Dynamite on Your Liver. Dodson Is making a hard fight gainst calomel In the South. Every druggist has noticed a great falling oft In the sale of calomel. They all give the same reason, Dodson's Liver Tone Is taking its place. "Calomel is dangerous ana peopie know It, while Dodson's Liver Tone Is perfectly safe and gives better result!!." said a prominent local druggist Dod son's Liver Tone Is personally guaran teed by every druggist A large bottle costs but a few cents, and If it falls to give easy relief In every case of liver sluggishness and constipation, you have only to ask for your money back. 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