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Show I kimrock Trail & "am-1,w By J, ALLAN DUNN I SF Oopjrtjhmfa.br J. AlUaDwm ; i 1 mSSSSSmmm fififiniiiiiii BSBBBBBBBBBBH T.BJ.V.nH.urt S,,s o on o,ou,. Ao,,,r pyr.on had com. , crsoc. ?oa.w.w.,.M promo, ( flpts of I'llmsoll did not bothc: i heart. The "old tnnn" of tin (. iVttnr bearing the cowinnn's In IK title for tho licnd of tin jjfcmcnt, whether young or old or femnle carried out his long iMplshed P'nns or nddltlonnl wntor HTply, for nlfnlfn plnntlng, for regis tred bulls nnd high-grade cows. Hi " Bodied hard, he got In touch with th iMjtc experimental developments, hi '"'Ascribed for inngnzlncs thnt told oi nrMttlc breeding, ho rent soils for nn (yds. nnd young Ed, coming homi HMm bis first term, found, somcwhni 3 tils chngrln, thnt Snndy wns fai ,M(l of him In both tho theory nni 3 -sctlcc of ranching. Tie days multiplied Into weeks nni e weeks Into months. Snndy reived re-ived one letter from Brandon thnl med to prcsngo nnother visit roM the line. It wns terse, chnrno rljtlc of tho man. ; Dear Bourkc: We are still losing throe nnd four ar-olrts. nnd the evidence points tc dr drifting -over townrd I'llmsoll, t have traced up some of the links idlng from this end. To ho quite ink, the nuthorltles of your own J anty do not scojn over-disposed to ther In tho mnttor, nnd wo nro tnk-; tnk-; things In our own hnnds. Wc -I re set n trap for Jim Pllmsoll nnd re hopes ho will wnlk Into It If he the guilty party. T "The favor I wnnt of you Is to i me off If Pllmsoll appears about leave the country. Wo hnvo n tip L it ho expects, to do so before long. yon get wind of this n wlro would much appreciated by me. "Sincerely yours, "W. J. BRANDON." Vlth tho founding of tho Three ir ranch the lives of tho partners 1 changed a good denl. They held ponslbllitlos, they owned a homo 1 they lived there. Nono of them, ce they wcro children, hnd over wn tho closo companionship of a ng girl. Mormon's mntrlmontnl enturcs hnd been foredoomed ship-cks ship-cks on the sands of time, his es marital pirates preying on his d nnttiro nnd earnings. Molly hnd iened their existences In a wny t two of them hardly suspected, tho yenst of nffectlon ' was still king. Each hung to tho hope that might return to the ranch ngnln ' stay and each felt that hopo was ilnt one. hen, at last, there came tho news, 1 a Molly herself -nnd from Mrs. th, that Keith was coming out to ) e Inspection of bis Casey Town : , lertles, that ho was traveling In a ; 1 i&to car with his son, with Molly '. 1 her governess-companion, Miss "Biolson, and that tho two latter ' Aid get off nt Hereford for a visit ftho Three Star, Sandy went about li a whistle, Sam breathed san-h.t san-h.t melodies through tho harmonica 1 Mormon beamed all over. The initiation was apparent. Sam told ft he looked "all lit up, like a Chi- lantern" nnd Mormon beamed the . uPolly's letter wns primed with do- Wl Mrs. Keith's contained regrets It her physicians did not think the ifcuey would bo best for her to un-vttke un-vttke in the present state of hei Wth, which meant that shu feared 41e discomforts en routo nnd Vlbed the ranch as a place where vis fed only on beans, sour bread, bull meat and IndllTcr "1 I CHAPTER XVI In East and We8t Wa Miranda Bnllcy heard th l W ihe announced her dotcnnlna V ot coming over to the, Threi tpreparo for tho visitors. J reckon my reputntlon'U stnni a said, "secln' I'm older thai you an' the third Is still ( man. Pedro's cookln' it Mr1 to give any easterner dys It w,10' houso wants red F"5! It ain't been swept prope jltir" J M&J. the partuere gnvo her ful J!' The ranch-houso was scourei Ka t0 bottora- Miranda's cn Jf 0T curtains for tho win Mowers for tha window-sills "3 HLi1 cada that mado tlio pine K checrful, Inviting. Pedn "t Ms . lessons at th 8t0T0 Uin h sulkily, but, beta, BeVta. 18 WnIC0 raised, too! H Ktt.40'" vouchsafed Miranda a f Viiircn,ns bcforo rlvn WW. a at cookies or dougt W7 wW be' but brlD itl , .tlrao t0 t,m- Uo cn i ran wl ? blscult nn' ho can bro KrTlU8ht h,m t0 n1' I'" An thero's tour c ... B?"nsa nme bacl- T110 othc Umv Wo 80ln' to mm Hae In with me." sal r along that Molly rodo over tho Coat b pass." "Hide in 7 She won't be dressed fc a It, travclln' on the train," said M , rniula. "I've got a hunch she will," Sand answered simply. "They got the! own private car. If she ain't, wh; b Sam enn rldo tho bay back. But ni b an' Pronto, Uio bay an' Grit nrc goli b thataway." t There were certain tones of Sandy volco thnt gave absolute finnllty to hi J statements. Ho used them on thl t occasion. Tho nrgumcnt dropped. I r n way Sandy was making tho mnttc 1 n test of Molly. If she was as anxlou ns sho wrote to "fork a broncho," ! I sho understood Snndy nnd ho her, sh would feel thnt ho would be waltln t with her mount for her to return t t tho ranch western fashion. If not, ! meant that sho was out of the chryi nils nnd had become, not tho bus bee thnt belongs to tho mesqulte an . tho sage, but a gaudier, less respoi , slblo flutterer among eastern flowci beds. , Miranda's enravnn stnrted nn hoti . after Sandy left, she driving, Mormo i nnd Sam In the back, each dressed I , his best, minus chnperajos nnd spur; , but otherwise most typlcnlly the cov , boy nnd therefore out of plnce nn feeling It ns they sat stlflly In th , lentherette-llned tonneau. Mlrand was In starched linen, destitute of a , ornament, a dark red ribbon nt he thront tho only touch of color, lool , Ing extremely cfflclent nnd, ns Sni whispered to Mormon, "n bit stnni j offlsh." Tho train rolled In mnjcstlcnlly, th private car gleaming with varnls and polished glass and brass, with , white-coated darky, flashing whit teeth on tho platform as tho fuss locnl engine took tho detnehed luxui , to tho side-track designated for II Hereford location. The flivver wt parked nnd Miranda, Mormon nn Sam mado one group a little alien of tho others, recognized by tho crow ' ns privileged. If Wilson Keith, clad In tweo( , tailored on Fifth avenue, n lltt I portly, square-faced, confident, a trlf . condescending, typified tho Eas Sandy was tho West. A good hon is tho Incarnation of symmetry, gra and power. Snndy, erect In the saddl lean nnd keen, matched all of Pro: to's fitness. Man and mount bol eminently belonged to tho land, shir merlng with sage, far-strotcHlng t tho mountains, a land that demande nnd bred such n combination. Keith stood by tho railing of h platform, tho darky ready with tt dismounting stool. Ho surveyed tr i crowd affably, with tho poise of successful candidate assured of wc come, waving his hand In dcml-salut to Sandy, Sara and Mormon, llftlr , his hat graciously to Mlrandn Balle; Tho man nnd tho car emanated pro i perlty. Yet, for nil tho booming I Cnsey Town, tho finding of pny-or , tho sale of shnres, Keith's prese: i financial status was not all that I tmsted It might be within a short tlm . It was part of tho technique of his pr i fesslon to assume a mask and ninnni , of financial success, nnd of lato he hn . worn theso until nt times they Jade him, but they wcro well doslgnei 1 well worn, nnd no ono doubted hi I thnt Wilson Keith wns n mnn of rend s millions. Keith had dallied wltli oil, had spc . ulated, plunged, been persuaded to li vest heavily, no was beginning I have a vaguo fear of not being t certain as ho would have wished r to which end of tho line ho had takci that of tho baited hook, or tho er j that was attnebed to tlio reel Hint nt . tomntlcally plnys tho fish. ) Ho sold gold and ho was buying ql Others, partners with him In new c: 1 terprlses In tho petroleum field, wer l making sudden fortunes. His tur i had not como yet, but they assure s him thnt his ventures promised eve i- moro than thoso that had enrlche ;. them. Faster thnn gold camo out ( r Casey Town, Keith used It In Okh homa and Texas. I Tho englno uncoupled nnd pnntc d off, leaving tho car nt rest on tli r spur-track. Tho fox-fneed secretnr i- came out, held the door open. Sonv i, ono followed Molly Cnsey. Sand o surmised It must bo Donnld Keith, bt o ho had sight for nothing except tl ,t slender figure whoso rndlnnt face, b g tween a Pannma hnt nnd a dustcoi If of pongee silk, shono straight at hlr It wns Molly, but a glorified Moll it woman, not girl. Tho freckles hn 1. gone, tho snub noso hnd becomo d i- fined, tho eyes of Irish blue seemt g to hnvo deepened in hue bnck of the n smudgy Inshes. The wide month wi II tho snme, scarlet and soft ns encti Is blossom, smiling, opening In n glr ir cry. . . . n "Sandy 1" Iler nrms went a o toward him In greeting over the bra t. railing. Then Grit, catapulting fro o ground to platform, with frantic ya f of welcome, fairly bowled over tl r darky with his mounting block m i- bounded up Into Molly's embrac There wnB confusion on tho pfntfor d for n moment with Grit as tho n i uYiuuuiiy anas ruciioison, ane nr b' tho general appearance of a whl rabbit and the manners of a mate ir nally lntentloncd but none too, c( I- clent hen. Kolth descended first, Molly dart y by his extended hand and run stralgl Ir to Sandy, who hnd dismounted. ?, "I'm going to hug you, nnd Mormc o nnd Snm, us soon ns wc get homo ' tho ranch," sho cried. "Home! I' so glad to bo here. Pronto, y 's beauty, and my own bny, Blnzol I Is you remember tho trip over tho mes Is Blaze? How did you know I wnnti n to rldo to Three Star lnstcnd :r drive?" is -Took n chnnce," said Snndy. "I If you?" Tho old woman-shyness hi o como over him, lighting with h g knowledge of tho child who lit o changed Into n womnn. And the po It gee duster deceived him, 3- "Do I? Didn't I write you I wi y nchlng to fork n snddle? Look I" d Sho unbuttoned tho duster wl l- swift fingers and stripped It off, stnn Ing revealed In riding togs of smalle blnck nnd white checks, cont finrlr ir out from the trim wnlst, slim, strnlg! n legs In breeches nnd riding boots, n whlto stock about the slender, roun s, cd neck. Sho gave ono hand to Mt ! mon, the other to Snm, gnzlng nt h d In ndmlrntlon thnt wns rndlnnt ni e goggle-eyed. Sandy, looking down n her, saw her eyes crinkle nt the cc 11 ners In tho old way. Keith and h ir son Joined them, coming from tho ct Miss Nicholson hovering behind 1 n gratlntlngly. I- "Glnd to see you, Bourke," ho sal "And you, Manning. You, too, Pctei ic Meet my son, Donnld." h Tho three partners shook han n gravely with the boy, appraising hi :o without his guessing It. iy "Glad to sec you out west," sa y Mopnon. "We'd sure admire to ha ts you visit us fo' a spell." is "I w-as hoping for n bid," said youi id Keith. "Thanks. The car Is here, ,r There Was Not Much Spoken Betwe ,j Molly and Sandy on the Way Da ,( to the Ranch. will bo within an hour or two. Fath shipped It nhead. Sims wired ns ly was at the Junction. Ho will drive over for us to go on to Casey Tov c as soon as ho overhauls It. Then I 3 run In from the mines, ns soon ; 0 Dad can spare me. ro "Donnld has to get acquainted wl 18 n real mining property," snld Kel nffnbly. "Molly wns certnln yi 1(1 would hnvo a horse for her, Bourt a" Don't wnlt round for us. We hnvo get somo supplies nnd we'll wnlt ! my car till tho machlno comes. Er-ho Er-ho looked around, and Miss Nlcholsi :e Muttered up "this Is Molly's compa n ion, Miss Nicholson. Sho goes wl d you to tho ranch. How . , .?" m Snndy Indicated tho flivver nnd 1 id troduccd Mlrandn Bnllcy, who hi Jf been directing tho stowage of tl tho porter, who had not seemed a d preclatlve of the flivver, e Molly held out a gloved hand f y the reins of the fretful Blaze. Youi J- Keith advanced with the proffer of y palm for her mounting. Sho shoi it her head at him. e "Blaze wouldn't know what yi j- were trying to da Don," sho sal it Sho turned tho stirrup, set In her foi i. grasped mnno and horn, and rals f, herself lightly, holding her body do d to the bny'fl withers for a second b- ho whirled, then lifting to tho sadd d flrm-sented, with n laugh for Bla Ir plungings. is "I see they didn't unteach you rid: is back east," said Mormon admiring d Miss Nicholson clambered into t flivver besldo Miranda Bailey. Sn it Mormon nnd tho grips packed t is tonneau, and Keith nnd hlo son wc ra left stnndlng by tho prlvnto car. is Keith was soon surrounded with le crowd, ranking himself popular, fl in torlng them until they finally wc e. away convinced that they had nil ci m stltuted n flrst-claBs reception co u- tnlttce to moot tho Illustrious, tho iu anu engineer of other pooplos f to tunes. :r- Th"-o was not much spoken I n- twe jlly nnd Sandy on tho w ' .-i- to tuo ranch. Sho seemed ci Ml a to breathe In deep tho he lit scented air and gaze at tho mot tains. in Sandy, riding a Uttlo to ono side to little back of her, so that ho could i m her better without appearing to stn )u echoed, for tho time, her happlne o This was Molly, tho girl who b a, sworn when she told them of 1 ;d father's death. Ho could recall t of tone of tho words at will. "The d d road Jest slid out fr )o under. He didn't havo a h 1-chnnci id Molly, who had put nrms nbout Is neck nnd kissed him good-by when f id went to school how long ago tl n- seemed nnd said, "Snndy, I do want to go, but I'll be game." us This was his Molly I The kno edge swept over Sandy nnd left h th tingling. Love enrao to him, tho 111 d- clenn white flnmo of first love, bu st Ing like n lump In the heart of a m ig It was for this, he knew, that ho li lit been womnn-shy, that ho had cli a Ished hts own thought of womanlu d- as something so rare n thought mil ir- tnrnlsh It. First love, shorn of t er fallacies, strong, Irresistible, prot id tlve, pnsslonnte. nt Gnmo nnd dnlnty, tender, true, r- glrl-womnn, partner what n parti its she would mnkc, western-bred . . ir, He checked himself there. Sho v n- western born, but whnt had the tra planting done? Would she ever n d. bo satisfied with western ways? I rs. would como to him, Sandy knew tli Whatever he nsked her sho would i ds refuse. But would that bo fair m her? And ho did not want her come to him out of gratitude. Id wnnte'd her nature to fuso with hit vc it seemed no tlmo since ho 1 taken her from her saddle and c ag rled her, a tired, henrtsoro child, or his nrms. Sho must havo a 1 chnnce to sec If tho East, with nil could offer her of nmuscment and tercst, would not outbid tho clnl of the West. Ho must wait and wn and hold himself In band though love and his knowledge ot it thrll through him, charging him bb if u an electric current thnt strove close nil gnps between him nnd Mo struggling ever, In mind and body, complete the circle. They got to the ranch ahead of flivver by a scant margin. Mlrai Bailey Inducted Molly nnd her cli cron governess Into tho quarters i had helped prcparo for them, M giving Uttlo cries of delight nt Improvements she saw downstn Miranda camo down first and Job the partners. "Molly Is certainly sweet," sho si "Sho'B grown Into a woman an' si grown away from the old Mo Can't say as how sho's affected m an' her speech an' manners Is er fine. That gel's nntcherally got grand disposition. "Tho Nicholson person her fl name Is Clarice Is wcll-meai enough. She ain't shlflcss, but : nln't what you'd call practical, en reckon she docs flno In tcachln' Mc ck somo things, but she'd bo plu wasted out west. I'll say sho no washed out anything bigger than er hankychlf or cooked n thing large 1' an egg. An' sho c'udn't boss a a It lizard. But sho's easy to git ah n with, I suppose. 'n "That Donald Is a good-lookln' In as went on Mlrandn. "It must tnko 1 nn awful wasto of tlmo to fix , th clothes every tlmo he puts 'em on. don't know how smart ho Is Insl &u but he's got somo of them mov :0, plcturo heroes beat nn nppcarar j I'm wonderln' what Molly thl In about him. As for his father, I ' smnrt enough lnsldo nn' out. But m tnlks too much llko n politician suit me. Tm mlchty clnd wo cot r for our claims. Keith's too slick smooth nn' smllln' to suit mc." It wns a lengthy dlntrlbo from randa Bailey, accustomed as t! "e were to hear her state opinions fre or Tlio trio nt Three Star had anli P sally como to respect her declsl and also her Intuitions, nnd nono or them had felt especially con 08 toward Keith as a man, though t 0 considered him good In his profess 0K "Tho writer, Klplln'," said Sar "wroto n poem about East atf W ou sayln' that never tho two c'ud m lQt Ef Keith trios to flamjlggcr Molly ot of anything that's coraln' to her ea rights, why, I reckon that's ono t 180 tho West an' East Is goin' to mc 08 an' mebbe lap over n bit. Bo fur, : ,e put money In our pockets. He 08 Molly . . ." , "I'm goin' home," said Miranda ,n tho girl entered tho room. 'Tvo jy- you started an' I'll run over onci tin i . |