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Show Rimrock, Trail m t By J. ALLAN DUNN Jmtho, tf "A Man to Hk Mm," ttc Ouprright, ISO, by i. AUaa Duna let him forget me. I hope you won't do that yourselves. Don't think I'm unhappy, because I'm not." "If she's happy, I'm a Gila llznrd," snld Mormon. "Whut's the sense of havln her miserable fo' the sake of a U'l book learnlu'. . She's gettln' to spell so I can't make out what she's writln" about." At last Moll wrote that she had mude the basketball team and won honors and favors. She gained laurels for the college 'In swimming and tennis, ten-nis, and life went more merrily. the same way now. Speshutly when soli. Lead's cheaper than rope, but stvmehow It ain't so convlneln'." Brandon changed the subject after he had spoken, but It was plain that lie and his companions had not given up the matter; clear also that they were sure of Pllnisoll's guilt and laying lay-ing plans to trap him. They stayed until the next morning and departed. The Incident was forgotten as the roundup days grew near. Molly was not to come home at Christmas after all. She formed a friendship, the first close one she hod made, and Barbara Redding advised that the Invitation extended by this new acquaintance to spend the holidays be accepted. Snows fell, the temperature ranged down far below tero at times, winter gave reluctant place to spring until the last moment when It turned and fled and, far Into the desert, myrluds of flower-blooms sprang up overnight while everywhere the cactus gleamed In silken blooms In yellow and crlm- with 'em Is a smaller bunch that thrives best when things Is run haphas-srd. haphas-srd. There'll be llcker down there, an' ltll sure be aulckfire llcker at that. If you weren't the kind you are," added Mormon, "I d tell you that down thera ain't no place fo' a woman 1" "Meanln'J" snapped Miranda Bailey But there was- tt gleaiu It, ir? -iJi:V' showed of a compliment accepted. "Meauln"," said Mormon, "that, ef you'll take It 'thout offense, you-all air plumb up-to-date. When wlmmen took up the ballot I flgger they wasn't on'y ready fo' equal rights, they knew how to git 'em. 'Side from the shootln' end of It, I'd say you was as well equipped as any man to look out fo' yore own Interests." Thanks," replied Miranda. "I sun-pose sun-pose you mean that as a compliment Also I know one end of a gun from another an-other an' I can hit a barn If tt ain't flylnV They rolled down to the valley and over the dusty road to the camp. Before Be-fore they reached the main street a car passed them from behind wtth a rush, driver and passengers reckless, whoop-' whoop-' lug as they rode, one man waving bottle, another firing his gun Into tha air. 'That's the kind that'll flgger to run Dynamite fo' a while," said Sandy. "I'll bet there ain't twenty old timers In the camp real miners, I mean." The street was alive with changing groups, merging, breaking up to listen to some fresh report of a strike, or opinion as to the prospects. There were no women In sight. The men were of all sorts, from cowboys In their chaps, who had left the range for the chance of sudden wealth, to storekeepers from Hereford and other towns. GOLD! SYNOPSIS. To the Three-Bar ranch, Arizona, owned Jointly by Sandy Bourke, "Mormon" Peter and "Soda-Water Sam" Manning, a fine collie makes Its way, In the last stages of exhaustion. Inscription Inscrip-tion on Ita collar tsays lta nam la Grit, "property of P. CaBey." Scenting a desert tragedy, Bourke and Sam mount and let the dog lead them. The two And a dying man, Patrick Casey, pinned under an overturned wagon. Kneeling beside the wagon la his young daughter Molly, fifteen. They extricate ex-tricate the old prospector, who dies repeating "Molly mines!" "I'll look out for that, pardner," says Sandy. It la agreed that Molly stays as mascot of the ranch, she and the "Three Musketeers" becoming be-coming partners In the mines. Bandy Insists upon an education for Molly. Jim PUmsoll, gambler, visiting the ranch. Insults Molly. He claims he grubstaked Casey, which made him the old man's partner. Mormon drives him off. Starting with a gold eagle, Molly's luck piece, Sandy, with Sam, plays faro at PUmsoU's place, winning $10,000. It Is arranged that Molly shall go East to be "eddlcated." A neighbor, Miranda Bailey, warns the ranchers that Jim PUmsoll, at Patrick Casey's "partner," claims guardianship of Molly, and the authorities au-thorities stand in with him. Sandy determines to take the girl to New Mexico, to an old friend, Barbara Redding, for advice. The three men, with the girl, set out Pursued Pur-sued by the sheriff and PUmsoll, the ranchers separate, Mormon and Sam returning, and Sandy and Molly going on. The two are caught In a pass by a cloudburst during which Sandy saves Molly's life. They reach the town of Caroca. Sandy meets a friend, who helps the pair elude the pursuing pur-suing sheriff, and they safely board the train on their way out of the state. CHAPTER XI Pay Dirt In September there was a killing In the Good Luck poolroom, the murder of a stranger whose friends made such an Investigation, backed by the real law-and-order element of Hereford, that the exposure brought about forfeiture for-feiture of all licenses and a strict shutting shut-ting down on gambling and illicit liquor. PUmsoll left Hereford for his horse ranch, deprived of the sheriff's official countenance, and Jordan began to worry about election. One evening In early October a little body of riders came to the Three Star, all strangers to the county, men whose faces were grim, who cracked no Jokes, whose greetings were barely more than civil. Tills Is the Three Star, ain't It?" asked the leader of a cowboy, who nodded silently, taking In the appearance appear-ance of the visitors. "Bourke, Peters and Manning?" "One and all," answered the Three son. One April night the Bailey flivver came charging up to Three Star, smothering Itself in a cloud of dust that had not settled before there sprang out of It Miranda Bailey and the lanky Kd, temporarily charged with a tremendous activity. The cause of young Ed's galvanism was so strong that he actually won from his aunt as bearer of the news. "Gold I" he cried. "They've struck pay dirt at Dynamite 1 Chunks of syl-vanlte syl-vanlte that sweat gold In the fire. Assay As-say thirty thousand dollars a ton. Whole streaks of It. Vein's twelve foot wide. The whole town's stamped-In stamped-In by way of White Cliff canyon. Pm goln'. Got a pick an' shovel In the car. i Aunt MIrandy, she was bound we'd Star rider. "Find 'era at chuck, I reckon. You-all are Jest In time. If you aim to stay overnight I'll tend yore hawsses an put 'em In the corral." cor-ral." "Too seem hospitable here." The tone was half sarcastic. "Rule of the ranch," replied Buck. "Folks arrlvln' after 8 (In down, the same beln' strangers, Is expected to pass the night. If they're In no hurry." Sandy personally backed the Invitation Invita-tion a moment later and steaks were being pan-fried as the men dismounted and lounged on the porch, awaiting their meal. The leader Introduced himself him-self by the name of Bill Brandon, claiming previous knowledge, without actual acquaintance, of Sandy, Mormon Mor-mon and Sam In Texas. "We're out after a man who's been collectln' hawsses too promiscuous," said Brandon after supper. "We know you gents by past reputation an' by what they say of you In Herefo'd. Also, by that last reckonln', I ain't flggerln' you as any speshul pal of the man we're tryln' to round up. I reckon you know who we mean. Jim PUmsoll, come this way. Mebbe we can pack you all In. But you got to hurry or they'll swarm over Dynamite like flies on a chunk o' liver I" "It's true," backed Miss Bailey. "Folks over to Hereford have gone crazy. 1 caught a word or two that Pllnisoiri to the bottom of the rush. An' he'll grab those claims of Molly's first thing. That's one reason I made Ed come this way. Thought you might like to come erlong, on'y he took the words out of my mouth." "You goIn'T" asked Mormon. "Sure am," she answered. "Ed Bailey Bai-ley Senior, he 'lows there's no sense In chasln' gold underground. Says he likes to see his prospects growln' up under his own eyes an' gazln' on his own land. I'm the adventurous one of the Bailey famly, though you mightn't guess It to look at me," ahe said with a twitch of her Hps. "PUmsoll ain't got much love for me. He Aggers I lost him his license an' Ms brother-in-law sheriff his badge. He's right. I did. I flggered you'd not be anxious to let him have his own way about Molly's claims an' I lowed I'd like to be along an' see the excitement. Me an' Ed here'll stake oft suthln' for ourselves. I'd Jest as soon git some easy money as the rest of 'em." Mormon s pronouncement mat me town, after its long desertion, had automatically refunctloned, was not far wrong. Rudely lettered signs proclaimed pro-claimed where meals could be bought and boldly announced gambling. KENO CIIUCKALUCK AND STUD CRAPS AND DRAW POKER TOE OLD RELIABLE FARO BANK J. PLIMSOLL, PROP, read Sandy. "He's here, lookln' fo' easy money, both ends an' the middle," he drawled, "Wudn't wonder but what we'd rub up ag'In' him 'fo' we leave." "You'll want to go right through to Molly's claims, I suppose," said Miranda Mir-anda Bailey. "Do you know where) they aret "I can soon find the location," replied re-plied Sundy. "But there ain't any extry hurry. They've been recorded, They'll keep. We'll git us some real hot grub at one of these restyronta an' listen a bit to the news." "Ain't you afraid PUmsoll or soma one'U have Jumped those clalmsr asked the spinster. "W'udn't be surprised. But there's alius two ways to Jump, Miss MIrandy. MIr-andy. In an' out Let's try Cal Simpson's place. I knew him when he was runnln' a chuck-wagon. He's sure some cook If it's him." They passed through the crowded street to the sign. Next door to the cabin that Simpson had pre-empted on the first-come-flrst-served order that prevailed, was one of the olden saloons. sa-loons. Through door and window they could see the crowded bar with bottles bot-tles and tin mugs upon the ancient slab of wood. Some looked curiously at Miranda Bailey, but the sight of her escort checked any familiarity. Covered with dust from their ride, guns on hip, the Three Musketeers did not encourage persiflage at the expense ex-pense of their outfit and they passed unchallenged Into the eating house where a stubby man with a big paunch i shouted greetings at Sundy. CHAPTER X Sandy Returns. Eight days passed before Bandy came riding back on Goldle, leading the bay, reaching the Three Star at the end of sunset. Mormon was 1b his chair with the one letter that Sandy had written, on his lap. Sandy pulled in the mare beyond the corral. He could hear the sound of Sam's harmonica and pictured him with the Instrument cuddled up under un-der his great mustache. "It's sure good to be home, Goldle," said Sandy. Then he let out a mighty, "Hello, the house 1" Sam's lilt ceased abruptly. The riders rid-ers came hurrying. Sam appeared, with Mormon waddling after, too wiftly for his best ease or grace of motion, both grabbing at Sandy, swatting swat-ting him on the back as he off-saddled. "Lemme go," said Sandy. "I'm hungry hun-gry as a spring b'ar. Where's Pedro? Pedro, I'm hungry muy hambrlento. Despachese Vd. Pronto I Huevos sels huevos frltos! FrlJolesI Jamonl Cafe I Panecllos! Todo el rsnchol Pronto !" . "SI, senor, Immedlatamente." And, ' with a yell for Joe the half-breed, i Pedro hurried away, grinning, to pre-' pre-' pare the six fried eggs, the hnm, the coffee, the muffins, everything In the larder I Sandy, after a swift word of apology, turned away toward the bunk house. Mormon, with a sweeping salute from his bald head to his knees, voiced his opinion. "Marm," he said, "you're a dyed-ln-the-wool sport an' I admire to trail with you. But that flivver 'II sure bu'st Its cinches with we-all rldln' It. I'm no Jockeywelght, fo' ene." 'It'll stand up. We've got to make Wis "You ornery son of a gun I An' Mormon. Mor-mon. This yore last. Mormon. Not I beg yore pardon, murm. I c'ud have wished Mormon 'ud struck somethln' sensible an satisfactory at last. It's his Iors niore'n your'n. Wliat'll yon hnve, folks? I've got steak an' po'k an' beans. Drove over some beef. More cmnln' ter-morrer. I'll have a real mc-nnoo by the end of the week. Steak? Segiiro! Biscuits an' cnflVe." lie shouted orders to a helper and hurried off to pnn-broll the steaks. "What's the Indications?" asked Sandy, lifter Simpson had rejoined thorn time." With orders to Buck, with some provisions, pro-visions, ammunition und a few tools, the hurried start was made. Mormon clambered to the front seat beside young Ed, Miranda Bailey sat between Sandy and Sam. Whatever lack of energy en-ergy the lank Kd Junior displayed on his feet, he eliminated as a driver. The springs creaked, chirpings arose from various parts of the car as It ran, but he coaxed the engine, performed per-formed miracles at bad places In the road, nursed the Insufficient radiator surface and kept the flivver at a simmer. His two partners watched Sandy eat, plying him with food and then with question after question about the trip, about Barbara Bedding and about Molly's going to school. "Molly's got an outfit Barbara Redding Red-ding bought her," said Sandy. "Trunk an' leather grip, all kinds of do-dads. School costs fifteen hundred bucks a year. The rest of Molly's money Is banked. Barbara picked out a school In Pennsylvania she said was the best." "It's been all-flred lonely with both you an' her gone," said Mormon. "An' the dawg ain't eat a mouthful, I don't believe. Mebbe you can coax him, Sandy. Set around an' howled like a sick coyote fo' fo'-flve days mostly nights. If the gel hoiks I'll stand back of her to quit on' come back to Three Star." "An' hnve Jor.lnn git her away an' put her under Pllnisoll's guardecn-ship?" guardecn-ship?" "He c'udn't do that MIrandy Bailey 'ud block him." "He c'udn't do anything," snld Sandy. San-dy. "I got myse'f app'Inted legal guardeen to Molly while we was In Santa Kosa, one day Barbara an' Molly was shoppln'. John -Bedding's lawyer fixed It up." The months passed without especial Incident at the Three Star. Sandy purchased a chumpion Hereford bull for the herd out of the ranch share of the faro winnings. Otlier Improvements Improve-ments were added, and the three partners part-ners seemed on the fair woy to pros- rmrltv. "Big. Look here. White gold!" He pulled out a piece of tin white mineral with a brilliant metallic luster, lus-ter, sparkling with curious crystals. "Sylvanlte twenty-five per cent gold an' twelve an' a half silver. Veined In the porphyry. There's a young as-sayer as-sayer come In last night. He 'lows It's sylvanlte, same ns they have over to Boulder county In ''olorndo. He a kid, hut I w'udn't wonder it " knows what he's talkln' nbout. Some calls It tellurlde. But It's gold, all right, an' there's a big vein of It close to the surface on the knoll east side of Flivver crick." They passed the heavy mineral from hand to hand, examining It with eager curiosity. Simpson rambled on. "Lady back here In the crowd," said Sandy quietly. j (TO HE CONTINUED.) They mnde the down-road as the sun rose above the run of the eastern range, so Jagged It seemed trying to claw back the mounting sun. Ever In view below them lay the lntermountaln valley In which the camp hud been located. lo-cated. There were a few tents, some wagons and picketed horses, and there were a great ninny machines parked at will. Here and there unbroken glass In the windows flung hack the sun. Suddenly smoke Jetted from a tumbled chimney, other puffs followed and steady vapors mounted. Ant-like men emerged from every house, gathered gath-ered In little knots, busied themselves with the horses, hurried back to breakfasts. break-fasts. Faint sounds came up to the travelers. "W'udn't think that place had been dead as a cemetery fo' years?" commented com-mented Sandy. "Stahted up overnight like an old engine. That's the hotel, ulth the high front. Furniture all In It an' In the cabins. Most of the fixtures fix-tures left In the saloons, an' there wns a plenty of them. Two hotels, five res-tyronts, res-tyronts, seven gnmblln' houses, twenty-two twenty-two saloons nn' the rest slcepin' cab-Ins. cab-Ins. That was tiynninlte. When they git It dusted off and started up It'll run ortennntlc." "('uttin' out the saloons," Mild Miranda, Mi-randa, "I'm not so sure of that," said Mormon, Mor-mon, turning In his seat. "You-n want to remember, nia'um, that this is an unco'poraled town an" that there's :i!lus a shortage of law an' order for a vlillus wherever there's a strike, fold, oil or whatever 'tis. KIghty per cent of i: rtiuli Is a hard-shelled lot un' erlon.' "Lead's Cheaper Than Rope, but Somehow It Ain't So ConvlncinV who owns what he calls the Waterllne hawss ranch, sixteen miles east of you, more or less; an' who gits more fnncy breeds out of the mangy ray uses he shows his breed In' mares an' stallions, stal-lions, thun there is different fish In the sea. From all I can flgger most of Ms mares must have fo' foals a yeor. "Some of us are from this state Mojave county two of us from Nevada. Ne-vada. Me, I'm from California. We've all been losln' hawsses off an' on an' we've final' got together an' compared notes. Seems most of the nilssln' stock sorter drifted across the Arlzony line somewheres between Mojuve City an' Topock. Most of 'em haw been sold or passed on. All of 'em have been faked an' doctored more or less. Talk points to PUmsoll, so So some facts, but not enough." "You been over to his ranch?" asked Sandy. "Jest come from there. He's slick and' cool, Is PUmsoll. We was supposed sup-posed to be lookln' over hawsses for buyln', but he's CLreful who he sells to. We saw some. An' we recognized some. But you know how It Is, Bourke, It ain't hard to change a hawss. I'll say this for the tnnn, he's the finest brand-faker I've n-rt up with. But we're goln' to git htm yet nn', whu we do, there won't be any more hnwss stenlln' an' fakln' In Coconino county, Arizona. Hawss stt ulin' wits a hangln' matter when I flrxt come West an' I reckon there's some feulx i f ; i Occasional letters came from Molly. Homesickness and unhapplness showed between the lines of the first epistles, despite her evident efforts to conceal them. Her ways were not the ways of the other girls. She apparently apparent-ly formed no friendships und It seemed that none were Invited from her. "But I'm going to stick with It till I get same as the rest on the outside, anyway," she wrote. "I don't know how soma of them work Inside. It ain't like me. But I've started this and you-all you-all want me to go through, so I will, though I get lonesome as a s'ck cat for Hie ranch. I don't swear any more I ot Into awful trouble for spilling Oiy language one time and I can spell ! pretty good without hunting up every I word In the dictionary. I reckon I'm I a hsr Ullj w break, but then, I was haltered lar X don't mink It would b allowed for mo to have Grit, si you'll have to look out for bins and not |
