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Show -....,WT,.,,,.,,TIIlt,,,n,,v,tii,llttllttr afl JAA ' M 1 TPi Author of lmrock Trail & r- By J. ALLAN DUNN OopTrthl,t,tirj, AtlmDima j llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilllllllll K I "nWA "-tcr, cotnln' up to the I rldln' thrauKb the week than I cnro I mnm ..nn c., IHlyt Dnddyl" ffcljhlght have been the tender Boi the cry to which Patrick HHBfy'a dulling brain responded, HMRendlnff the meage of his will EfFBgl0ng the nerves to transmit a 1 final summons. Ills body twitched, H' he choked, swallowed, opened gray eyes, nimy with death, brighten- lng with Intelligence as he saw his daughter bending over him, the face of Sandy above her shoulder. ftH The gray eyes Interrogated San-H San-H dy's long and earnestly until the H light began to fade out of them H and the wrinkled lids shuttered down. Another swallow of the raw splr-H splr-H Its and they opened flutterlngly H again. Tho lips moved soundlessly. H Then, while one hand groped wav-H wav-H erlngly upward to rest upon his K daughter's head, Sandy, bonding H low, caught three syllables, repeat-H repeat-H ed over and over, desperately, mere K ghosts of words, taxing cruelly the H last breath of the wheeling lungs H beneath the battered ribs, the anal H spurt of the spirit. "Molly mines!" "I'll look out for that, pardner," H said Sandy. H This Is the beginning of a flrst- class outdoor story of the West H Molly la the old prospector's young daughter, companion and partner. The mines believed to be worth-H worth-H less. Bandy one of the three own-H own-H ers of the Three Star ranch. How H Bandy keeps his word given to the H old prospector, dying under his H wrecked wagon, Is the story. The author J. Allan Dunn, who knows his people and his ranch land, and has written many a good I yam. CHAPTER I Grit "Mormon" Peters carefully Blilftec his weighty bulk In the chair that In dared not tilt, gazing dreamily at thi taw-toothed mountains shimmering li the distance, sniffing luxuriously tli scent of sage. "They oughter spell Arizona wltl three 'Co,'" ho said. "Why?" asked Sandy Dourko, wlp lng the superfluous oil from the re volver he was meticulously cleaning " 'Count of Climate, Cactus, Cattlo-on' Cattlo-on' Coyotes." "Makln' four, 'stead of three," sale the managing partner of the Thrci Star ranch. Came a grunt from "Soda-Water Sam as he put down his harmonica, or which he had been playing "The Cow boy's Lament," with variations. It was Sunday afternoon on tin Three Star rnncherla. Tho three part ncrs, saddle-chums for years, cvei seeking tmjtual employ, known through i Texas and Arizona as the "Three Mus kctecrs of tho Itangc," sat on the porch of the ranch house, discussing business and lighter matters. One year before they had pooled thcli savings and Sandy Dourke, youngcsl of the three and most aggressive, cool est and swiftest of action, had glorl ou.sly bucked the faro tiger and wot enough to buy the Three Star rnncl and certain rights of freo range. Tlu purchase had not Included tho brant of the late owner. Originally tin holding had been called theTwo-Bar-P As certain cattlemen were not want lng who had a knack of appropriate calves and changing the brands oi steers, Sandy had been glad enough la his capacity of business manager to change the name of the ranch am brand. Two-Bar-P was too easily al tcred to U-B, U-P, U-U, OP, or b scoro of combinations hard to provi HI SM fnri'prlna I There had been lengthy nrgumen concerning the new name. Three Star so Soda-Water Sam whoso nlcknami was satirical opined, smacked of tin saloon rather than the ranch, but I as Anally decided on and the'brand lng Irons duly mnde. Sandy Dourke had dark brown halt Inclined to bo curly, a tendency h offset by frequent clipping of hi thatch. Tho sobriquet of "Sandy" rc fmed to his grit. Ho was broad Mouldered, tall and leun, weighing i hundred and seventy pounds of well Mrung frame. Ills eyes woro gra nd the lids sun-puckered; his deepl tanned skin showed the freckles o; e and hands as faint Inlays; til 'ong, limber legs wero slightly bowei Not so the curvo of Soda-Wate J'm'y legs. You could pass a sraal C between the latter'a knees wltl Interference. Otherwise, Sou '"Me last name was Manning, wa f distinguished by his enormou "wping mustache, suggesting tb of o Texas steer, Inverted, of hr Monnon' disillusioned her m mntrlmonlal adventure wnan-soft where Sandy wns womui for '''Kl'-stomoched, too stoi mnrn. tense t0 ''Imself or raoun RiW whcre h,s pnrtncrs we 5 fnbrown- "'8 Pnto was bal lf a tonsure-fringe of grlzzb !5 Vh Btubby flnt'er8 W01 boat,.,! i ' wn8 Pelting horsehal bndl, ft C of '"'iwood to form tli jSiit th0 frlngo of Ui laid. "Qol X.at "iPry royoti'!" I 1 "u ni'rvt with hltu, tl "Mormon, you need glasses fo yoi old age. That ain't a coyote, It's dnwg," pronounced Sandy. Tho creature left tin cover of tl mesqulte and came slowly but dctc minority toward the ranch house, pa tho corral and cook shack ; Its darli proclaiming It anything but a oownr ly, foot-hill coyote. Its brush wi down, almost trailing, Its muzz drooped, It went lamely on alt foi legs and occasionally limped on thro "Colllol" proclaimed Sandy. "Poi devil's plumb tuckered out." "Sheepdawgl" alllrmed Sam, dlsgu in his voice. "II 1 of a gall to con round a cattle ranch." Tho gray-whlto dog camo on, di tongue lolling. It halted twenty fci from tho porch, ono paw up, as Sani bent forward and called to it. "Como on, you dawg. Come In, c feller. Mormon, take that hair oi of that pan of water an set it whci he can see It." Mormon shifted the pan In which I had been soaking tho horsehair f easier plaiting and tho dog sniffed i It, watching Sandy closely with ey that were dim from thirst and went ncss. Sandy patted his kneo encou nglngly, and tho tired animal secmt suddenly to mako up Its mind. Igno lng the water, It camo straight I Sandy, uttered a harsh whine, catcl lng at tho leather tassel on tho co man's worn leather chaparejos, tU; glng feebly. As Sandy stooped to pi Its head, powdered with alkali dm that covered Its coat, the collie r leased Us hold and collapsed on or side, panting, utterly exhnusted, wll glazing eyes that held appeal, i Sanoy reached for the pan, squa 0 ting down, and chucked some wnt a from the palm of his hand Into tl 1 open Jaws, upon tho swollen tongu s I "Ono Thing About a Sheepman I , Alius Good," Said Mormon, "H! Dawg." The dog licked his hand, whine ' again, trred to stand up, failed, sui cecded with tho aid of friendly fli gers In Its ruff and eagerly lapped few mouthfuls. ' Again It seized the tassel an pulled, looking up Into Sandy's fat Imploringly. s "Somethln' wrong," said tho mai ager of the Three Star. "Tryln' I 1 tell us about It. All right, ol' fellc you drink some moro wateh. Let ir. B look nt that paw." He gently took tt B foot that clawed at his chaps and e: 1 nmlned It. The paw was worn to tl quick, bleeding. "Como out of tl Had lands," he said, looking towai ', tho range. "Through Pyramid pas o likely." Sandy rolled tho dog on his side ni ' found the other pads In tho same co dltlon. Running his fingers benea the ruff, scratching gently In sign ' friendship, ho discovered a Icath ' collar with a brass tag, rudely c ' graved, tho lettering worn but 1 ' lble. i "GMT. Prop. P. Casey." "They sure named you right, so: " he said. "We'll 'tend to P. Cam 1 soon's we've 'tended to you. Y need flxln' If you're goln' to tnke to him. You'll have to hoof It till 1 cut fair trail. Sam, fetch me some t ' heslve, will you? An then saddle u 5 Pronto fo' me, a howss fo' yoreself i rope a spare mount." Sam went Into tho houso for t . medical tape, then to the corral. Ban bathed the raw pads softly, I patches of the tope with his knl ' put them on the abrasions, held thi 8 there for the warmth of his palm ' set them. Grit licked at his har whenever they were In reach, 1 brightening eyes full of understand! shifting to watch Sam striding to I r corral, n "One thing abnut a sheepman alius good," said Mormon. "Ills dai b Herkon yon aim tcndln' I nim-li. Snndy?" i "Coiiih If you want M." i- "Two's plonty, I reckon. I do mi to nowadays. I'll stick to tho chr re "Prod up, Pedro to git somo a water rendy. Keep a klttlo b'l No tellln' what timo wo'Il git bw lie said Sandy. sr. Ho pressed tho dog on Its side st tho shade, and went Into tho hd ig .Mormon followed him. Grit wntc d- them disappear, gnvo n llttlo wi of Impatience, accepted tho Bltuai lc philosophically as ho listened ur sounds from the corral that told ! . of horses being caught, and droo re his head on tho dirt, lying rclai eyes closed, gaining strength nga st the return trip. so Sam rodo to the porch on his rt Sandy's pinto and a gray maro 1 ry lng, and "tied them to tho grou ct with trailing reins as Sandy ci ly out bearing a pan of food, a pack und a leather case. ,j Ho coaxed tho colllo to cat tho f ut from his hand whlio Sam brought re whisky. "Load my guns, Monnon," ho e quested. or Monnon did It without commi nt Tho two blued Colts wero as muc es Port of Sandy's working outfit as rj. belt, or the bridle of his horse, ir- buckled on his own cartrldgo belt, 1 Ml ster and pistol, fixed his spurs, I ,r. tho packago of food to his sad to Hied two canteens and did tho st h- with them. Sandy offered tho par iv- water to Grit, who drank In busln g. Hko fashion, assured of the sua at of his mission. Ho stood up squat st on his legs, eased by tho plaster! o- They wero only tired now. io As Sandy and Sam mounted, th latter leading tho gray mare, Orlt ahead of them and camo back to m t- certain they wero following. Then ir headed for tho spot In cue mesqi io whenco ho had emerged, marking e. opening of a narrow trail. Tho hoi broko Into a lope, the two men, three mounts, and the dog, oft their errand of mercy. CHAPTER II Casey. Tho two men followed tho across tho flats, through mesqi through chaparral to barren slopes with strango twisted Bhapcs of tus. When It became apparent I Sandy's hazard had hit the mark, they entered tho defile that m entrance for Pyramid pass, tho c puth across tho Cumbre range to Ilud lands beyond, Sandy reined coaxed up Grit, resentful, almost i plclous of any halt, lifting the cc to tho saddlo In front of him. ( protested and tho pinto plunged, Sandy's persistence, the sootho of steady voice, persuaded the dog last to accoinmodato itself as bes could, helped by Sandy's ono a sometimes with two as Sandy, rid with kneos welded to Pronto's w ers, dropping reins ovor the sad born, left the rest to tho horse. "I flgger wo got somo distance y he said to Sam. "Dawg was g I, steady as a woodchuck ten mile' fi )( water. Iteckon my guess was rig! he woro his pads out crossln' tho 1 beds, though whut In tltno any hum ;d who ain't plumb loco Is trapu c- round thoro for, beats me. Itecl n- this P. Casey Is a prospector, S a One of them half crazy old-tlm nosln' round tryln' to pick up I id leads. Them fellers Is born with h co an' It's the last thing to leavo 'em." "Hope's a good huwss," 6ald S n- "Hut It sure needs Luck fo' u run; to mate." ;r, "You said It." Sandy relapsed I no silence. tie At tho far end of tho pass tho x- struggled to get down, lie "I'll let him glvo us a lead," t lie Sandy, "soon as we hit the luva. rd cun fuller his trail that fur. Sit t! is. son." Grit whined hut subsided un tho restraining hands. 3(1 Sandy took, the lead, bending fi Uie saddle, reading tho trull thut Gi th paws had left In tho alkali and su of Onco tho dog's tracks led aside t er scummy puddle, suueered by alii n" dotted with the spoor of desert i 'S- mals that drank tho bitter water extremity. Then It run straight t wide reef of lava. Sandy set d( ," tho collie. Grit ran fast across ;y, pitted surface, ahead of tho hor ou waiting for them to cross the li us They had hard work to get him pro come to hand ugaln, but he gave li id- last to the knowledge that they wc Pi not go on otherwise in' The two riders went silently on a steady walking galL he "Never see a prospector with a di dy afore," said Sam at last. "An' tin nit sheep dnwg." fe, "Dawg ud be apt to tucker ou Bin desert travel," agreed Sandy. "M to one moro mouth fo water," ids He, llko Sam, speculated on his kind of a man J. Casey If It ng, Casey they were after might be. :he not a sheepman or n prospectoi third probability made him on nuti Is a man with n price on his bend, vg. lng In tho wilds from punishment, the sufficed to thorn that ho wns a i whom n dog loved enough to ben call to help his master, are Slowly, tho mesa ahead took ulr." Grit's trail onco again. Tho hot wrlgglml, shot up Its muzzlo, wli llln'. licked Sandy's face, ck," "NIB there," suggested Sam. S nodded and let the dog get down. In raced off, nose high, streaking nr use. a curve. When they reached I :hed wns out of sight. Tho road rose hlne steep pitch, cliff to tho right, tlon pice to tho left, stretching on an to to the summit of tho pass, him Grit, unseen, ahead, was barkli ped staccato volleys. There was nn xcd, sound, n faint shout, unmlstal Inst human. Tho men looked nt each with eyebrows raised, oan, "That ain't no man's voice," end- Sam. "That's a gaLH Ho lc md" qulzzlcnlly nt Sandy, knowing amo chum's Inhibition, tngo Sandy was woman-shy. Men Mb lovel glance, fairly, with swlfl food tainty that hero stood a man, the Bquaro; or shiftily, according to caso of conscience, knowing his b ro- Sandy wns a two-gun man but he not a killer. Thcro wero no no cnt. on tho handles of his Colts. In :h a Her days he had shot with dead)) his and purpose, but never savo In 3am defenso and upon tho sldo of lnv hoi- right and order. Among men tied polso wns secure, but. In a wor Idle, presence, Sandy llourke's tongue ame tied savo In emergency, his i of tangled. Whatovcr ho privately iess- of the attraction of tho opposite cess tho proximity of a girl produce rely embarrassment ho hated but coub lng. help. Ho gnvo Sam no chnnco for bi tho Action was forward and It al ran straightened out the short-clrcul lake of Sandy's mental reflexes to i he. womankind. Ho touched Pro uue flanks with tho dulled rowels he ' the and the pinto broke Into a lopi rsus big bowlder was porched upon tho nigh sldo of the road. Grit cami on from behind It, barked, whirled, seemingly dived Into tho cai Coming up with the mare, Sam f Sandy dismounted, waiting for h What bad happened was pin! both of thorn. Tho rotten, hastily i jog road collapsed under tho lurch ilto, wagon Jolting over outcrop unco' 8Ct by the rains. Scored dirt where cacv t'e hoofs had pawed In vain, that marks that ended In sldo scrape! ( as vanished wero evidence. iade Sara got off tho ronn, tho Uly horses standing still, snuffing tho marks of trouble. Far down In, 81P0 Grit gave, tonguo. Tho BU3. Bhouldered out and they could jlllo nothing from tho broken road. Brit nnyonocould havo hurtled ovci but precipice and be still able to cal 1,1s help without tho aid of somo ml nt was an enlgmn. They listened fo t it other shout, but, savo for tho bai irnii of Uie dog, thero was silence li ling Krlm Rrge. In tho sky, two but Itti- wheeled. Idle Sandy untied the packago of and Uie leather medicine kit; ct," "topped his hip to bo sure ol oin whisky flask. Aided by their run, heels, digging them In Uio uns !t dirt, they worked down the uva rounding the shoulder, ibro A wide edgo of outcrop Juttei sin from tho canyon wall Jagged Into ton tlements. Piled there wns a wi urn. on Us side, the canvas tilt sagge erS( Its hoops broken. A white horse, lost elated, little moro than buzzard ope when nllve, lay with its legs stl the air, neck flattened and bead nm A broken pole, with splintered nm crossed tho body of Its mate, a gnunt-blppcd, high of ribs. It lay Into Dut It" flanks heaved, catching a of sun on Its dull hide, jjpg Hetwcen the wheels of tho w knelt n girl in a gown of faded jaid Men(1 hidden behind n Bunbonnet. WJ leaned forward In the shadow o ght, wnKn Sandy caught a gllmpt lJur a huddled body beyond her. Grl on his hnunches, head toward rom ron', tnrown hick nt each bark, fi rlfs rcnc,,ed the ledge first. Tho glr d not turn her head, though Ills de ' was noisy. He touched her gentl .. tho shoulder, telling himself thai anl' Wns "Just n k,d" . )n" Sho looked up, her face lined v 0 4ears had lancd down through swn raDsk of dust Now 8,10 Wl18 P"8' Uie lng. Her eyes met Sandy's pltl holding neither surprise nor hope avn "He's dead." She seemed t , t(j stntlng a fact long accepted. ' a 0, dead. An' he made me Jump, )ujj come too late, mister." The roan lay stretched out, heat j nt shoulders hidden, his gaunt dressed In Jeans, once blue, long nwg washed and sun-faded to the gre lt B turquoise matrix. The boots were i patched. Tho wagon-bed, tor t in sldewlse, had crashed down oi lean c,iest Iloek Portly supported weight of It. Sandy picked tll0 gnarled linnd, scarred, calloused WBS shrunken, tho hand of an ojd pre If tor- T H law 1,1,1 "If you did that took i I, Daddy's place," the said, "v, man we'd be partners, same as h ,r H an' mo was." on (TO BE CONTINUED.) |