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Show I Qf. Allan Dunn j C CopxnqMlglz BaJ.Xllan riuniSJgS&w''-'' gywt l valuable wan, under a superior, but be Is Intolerant." "lie didn't strike me that way," said Sandy. "Me, I set a good deal on his opinion." "I didn't Imagine you knew much about mining, IJourke." Keith looked at his watch. "I'll really have to be going as soon as you have looked over those papers. Hadn't we better call Blake?" Sandy looked out of the window, lie saw Miranda Bailey's flivver halting halt-ing by the big car, Mormon walking toward her, and wondered what had brought her over. Then he sow Mormon Mor-mon leave Miranda and come toward the oflice, bowling along at top speed. "Excuse me a minute, Keith," he said. "My partner wants to see me." Keith's face wore a scowl as Sandy stepped outside. His conscience was ly., fou show It la yore face. 1 doM hanker to insult a man but I dont believe you. An' here's this stock you sold. I've got the names of mora you sold It to. Why?" " "I have a right to sell my stork." "You ain't goln' to eierclse that right, Keith. You may make a business busi-ness sellln' chances to folke who like to buy 'em, but you can't sell Here-fo'd Here-fo'd folks paper when they think they're buyln' gold. You'll give me the m.mey you got fo' the shares with a list of (he men you sold 'em to an I'll tell em the Molly Is pinched out aa It is." "You must be crazy, man I They wouldn't believe you. If you went round with a statement like that you'd lose every cent of your own and your ward'a. You have no right ..." , "Trouble Is with you, you don't know the meanln of that last word," said Sandy. "Right Is Jest what I aim to do. We'll put It up to Molly an" you'll see where she stands. We don't do business out West the way you do. We don't rob our friends or even try an' run a rasoo on atrangehs. The Molly'll shut down. " I'll git you to give me a statement long with the money an' the list fo' me to check up, sayln' you've Jest had news the vein has petered out sudden like It has. That's lettln you down easy. I'm doln' this "count of the fact you folks have looked out fo' Molly. An I'm tellhV you, Keith, that, If Heref'od folks knew , you'd deliberately sold them rotten stock, .you an' yore prt- CHAPTER XVII Continued. 15 The relief that Sandy felt, and dismissed dis-missed as selfish, was marred by the cordial understanding that had sprung up between the two. He wondered If they bad discovered a real attachment attach-ment for each other.' "I'll have to go first thing tomorrow," tomor-row," said Westloke. "I'm sorry, too. They've come up t my counter-offer, Bourke, and they want mc to come on immediately. It means a lot to me. Everything," he added, with a smile that Molly returned. "You'll writer she said. "You promised." "Talkin' about what?" "Ills sweetheart Now he can marry mar-ry her wltlj this opportunity. She may sail with him. Isnt it fine? He showed me her picture." "It's the best news I've heard fo a long time," answered Sandy soberly. "I'm sleepy," said Molly. "Goodnight, "Good-night, Sandy, dear." She put her Hps to his tanned cheek and left him In a maze. The dying fire leaped up and the room lightened. light-ened. It died down again, but Sandy sat there, smoking cigarette after cigarette. CHAPTER XVIII not entirely clear and he did not like the general atmosphere of the office. He took out a cigar, bit off the end savagely and lit It "Mlrandy wants to see you," panted Mormon. "She's found out somethln' about Keith that sure shows his play. He's been dlseardlnT The Keith chauffeur had wandered off to the corrals where Sain was showing Blake around. Miranda handed hand-ed SHndy a long envelope. f Hen Collins bad an accident last night," she said. "Blew a tire on the bridge by our place an' smashed through the ratlin'. Bu'sted a rib or two an' was knocked out We took him in. Hen was grateful to Ed fo' takln' htm In an' puttln' him to bed an' sendin' fo' the doctor. Don't open that envellup, that Keith weasel might be lookin'. I reckon you'll want to spring It on him sudden." "Sure," said Sandy. "Spring whatr "I'm flustered," admitted Miranda. "I usually talk straight. Now I'll start to the begtnnln. When Keith arrived on this trip he held quite a vate car might suffer consid rable damage befo' you got away. I'd sure advise you to come across." Keith looked into the face of Sandy and, briefly, Into his eyes, hard as steel. He made one more attempt. "Let's talk common sense, Bourke. The Molly is capitalized for a quarter of a million dollars. The atock can be sold at par If it's done quietly. I Miranda broke In. "I'm sure glad It's good news," she said. "I've got some of my own. There's been trouble out to Jim Plimsoll's. lie shot at Wyatt or Wyatt at him, I don't know which rightly. But there was sides taken an' a gen'rai rumpus. Several of his men quit or was run off the place. Plimsoll's almln' to sell out, Ed heard. It'll be a good riddance." rid-dance." "I'll have a telegram fo' you to take back, Mlrandy." said Sandy. "You sendin one, Westlake?" Dehorned. Miranda Bailey had offered to come In for Westlake with her car, but the train went early and be had refused. Molly drove hlra in the buckboard, his grlpB stowed behind, and Sandy saw them go with the old light back In his eyes. He gave Westlake a grip of the hand that made him wince, "You can rety upon my Information being correct," were Westlake's last words, spoken aside before he climbed Into the buckboard and Molly flirted reception In his private car, Ed was there with the rest He Invited them up fo' cigars. Talked big about Casey Town an' gen'ally patted himself on the back. Said It was too bad all the stock of the Molly wasn't held locally, but of co'se the pore promoter had to have somethln' fo' his money. He was real affable. "Tills time, when he come back yesterday, yes-terday, he brings up the subject ag'ln. I don't know how many he saw or jest what he said, but this Is what he told Hen. That Casey Town was boomln' big an that his own holdln's was nettln' him a heap. That he liked Hen One an' had picked him out as a representative citizen. With a lot mo' slush, the upshot of which was that he lets him have a hundred shares of the Molly mine at par. Hen was to say nothln' about It because, says Keith, If It got out he was sellln' stock, It would send down the price of the shares. Hen was sure tickled. He w'udn't have said a word about It on'y Ed picks these shares up out of the bed of the crick en' give them to Hen afteh he'd been fixed up. "Ed went nos'n around Hereford this mornin'. ne got eight men their names Is Inside the envelope Creel one of 'em to admit they' bought some shares. Mighty glad they was to have 'em. Ed didn't tell 'em anything different, but he come Rcootln home at noon an' I borrowed Hen's certlftcut, seeln' he was asleep. An' here it Is." "Mlrandy," said Sandy, "I'll let Mormon tell you what we all think of you. You've sure dealt me an ace." He returned to the office. Keith eyed the envelope. "Blake coming?" he asked. "Not yet. When do we get another dividend from the Molly. Keith?" Keith laughed. "Needing some ready money?" "How about the dividend?" "Why. that depends upon the output." out-put." Keith's voice purred but bis eyes had narrowed. "The output has been hlg. The Molly has been a the reins over the backs of the team shooting off at top speed. She came back a little before noon, her eyes wide with excitement "Mr. Keith's In town," she said. "With Donald and his secretary. Mr. Blake. He asked me If Mr. Westlake hod been here and he seemed annoyed when I told hlra I had Just seen hlra off on the train. They all came from Casey Town In the big car. Mr. Keith has some business In Hereford. He and Mr. Blake will stay on their private pri-vate car. He told me to tell you he would be out tomorrow to see you. Oh, here's a telegram for you." "Thanks." Sandy tucked the envelope en-velope In his pocket. "Hop out, Molly, Mol-ly, an' I'll put up the team." "I'll help you. I haven't forgotten how to unhitch." Her nimble fingers worked as fast as Sandy's with buckles, colling traces and looping reins. "Goln' to take Donald Keith out fo' a real ride on a renl hawss?" he asked her. "Yes. Tomorrow, ne's keen to go. You'll come. And Sam and Kate?" "I've got a hunch Tra goln to be busy ter-morrer. Keith's comln', fo' one thing." "I forgot I wish you could cotne." Molly went into the house and he opened the telegram. It was from Brandon, as he expected. "Thanks. Coming Immediately. Was starting anyway. That trap worked. May need horses for eight. Will you arrange? "BRANDON." "It sure looks like a busy day ter-morrer," ter-morrer," Sandy said half aloud. "Keith and Brandon which means roundln' up Jim Pllmsoll. Sam don t get to any picnic, either. He'll have to 'tend to the hawsses." The Keith touring car arrived In mid-afternoon with young Keith at the wheel, the chauffeur beside him, "If you'll take It, Miss Bailey." "Glad to." Westlake and Molly were both standing. They moved toward the door and out to the moonlit veranda together. "They seem to hit It off well, that pair," said Miranda. Kate Nicholson murmured something some-thing about the kitchen and left the room to attend to some refreshments. "Now tell me about Keith," demanded de-manded Miranda. "What's he been up tor Sandy told her. "I ain't a mite surprised. That Westlake acts white. I liked him from the start. What are you goln' to do about Molly? You ain't told her yet?" "No use spollln' her holiday befo' we have to," said Sandy. "I'm goln' to talk with Keith first." Kate Nicholson returned and the talk changed. Westlake and Molly remained, outside until the food was served. Then theie was music. Miranda Mi-randa departed at last with the telegrams. tele-grams. Molly lingered as good-nights were said. "I've got something to tell you, Sandy," she said. "It's private, for the present," she added with a glance toward Westlake. Sandy sat down by the Are with a sinking qualm. Molly perched herself on the arm of his chair, silent for a moment or two. "It's a love story, Sandy," she said presently. "Westlake?" "Yes. He wanted me to tell you before be-fore he went. He's very fond of you, Snndy." "is he?" Sandy spoke slowly, rousing rous-ing himself with an effort "I think he's a fine chap. I sure wish him all the luck In the world." He fancied bis voice sounded flat. "I sudposc you wondered why we Keith Looked Into the Face of Sandy and, Briefly, Into His Eyes, Hard as Steel. can dispose of it for you. There Is no certainty that the mine will not produce richly when we strike through the second level of porphyry. There are plenty of people willing to buy shares on that chance after the showing already made. People buy stock as a gamble." "No sense In you talkin' any mo' thnt way, Keith. Mebhe you sell pn-per pn-per to folk 8 who gamble on It, an' on what you tell 'em about the chances, makln' yore Btory gold-colored. Folks may like to git somethln' fo' nex' to nothln', but I won't sell 'em nothln' fo' somethln', neltheh will my partners, neltheh will Molly Casey. She's a western gel. Above were so chummy all the evening?" "Yes. I wondered a U'l about that." Sandy did not look at her, hut gazed been hlg. The Molly has been a bonanza, so far. I do not think It wise always to pay dividends according accord-ing to the Immediate production, however. It Is better, as a rule, to average It, generally to develop the mine as a whole rntber than work the first rich veins." "That why you boarded up the st opes?" Keith's face grew dark. The veins twitched at his temples. "Ixok here, Bourke." he blustered. "You've been listening to some fool talk from that cub, Westlake. I know my business. You've got some stock In the mine, twenty-five per cent. I've put money and brains Into It and I've got forty-nine per cent. Molly . . ." "If you had fo'ty-nlne per cent I wouldn't be worryln' so much." "Whut the devil do you mean?" "I took you fo' a bet t eh gambler thon to git mnd," said Snndy. "I'll jest ask you a question on behalf of myse'f an' partners' twenty-five per grips In the tonneau. Young Keith Inspected In-spected the corrals and the stock with eager Interest and the riders with a certain measure of awe, which lie transferred to Sandy on learning that he had broken two colts that morning. Know what time yore father expects ex-pects to be out?" Sandy asked him. "He didn't say. He's got some business busi-ness to attend to. Some time In the forenoon, I Imagine." Keith Senior arrived after lunch had been cleared the next day. He was brisk and brusque, breathing prosperity. "I was detained In Hereford, Bourke," he said. "I haven't much time for anything but a flying visit Donald's Don-ald's out with Molly, you say. Ill leave him with you on your Invitation Invita-tion and pick hlra up when we go back East. That will be In about a week. Sooner than I expected. I'd like to spare a day to look over the ranch. I've beard fine things about it " nil. I won t gold-brick my friends. I know the mine Is petered out. We've bud our share of the gold In It an', we won't sell the dirt. No mo' w'ud Pat Casey, lyln' out there by the spring. If he was alive." "Suppose 1 refuse?" asked Keith, his square fact obstinate. "I've done nothing outside the law." "To h I with that kind of lnw! We make laws of our own out heie once In a while. Justice Is what we look fo', not law. 1 reckon you'll come through. Fo' one thing I expect to have yore boy visit with us till you do." The promoter's face twisted uglily and be lost control of himself. "Kidnaping? A western method of justice. Not the first time you've been mixed up In It either, from what I hear. You don't dare . . ." Keith stopped abruptly. Sandy had not mo-ed, but his eyes, from resembling re-sembling orbi of chilled steel, seemed suddenly to throw off the blaze and beat of the molten metal. "Fo" a promoter yo're a mighty pure Judge of men," h said. "I'm warnin' you not tc ride Hny further along thnt trull. Yore ron can stay here, or we can tell the Herefo'd folk what you've tried to hand to them. Yo're apt to ,,,olt buzzard that's fallen Into a tar barrel after they git tliriniL'h with vou. Keith. I can And iipii mm "Thanks," drawled Sandy laconically. laconical-ly. 'Olad to have a talk with you. Sam, Mr. Wake might like to see the hawsses gentled that came up this mo'nln'." Keith raised his eyebrows but said nothing. Leaving P.lake, Snndy led Keith to his offlce, rolled a cigarette, offered a chair to his visitor and smoked, waiting for the latter to open the talk. "There are some papers for you to examine, as Molly's guardian." snld Keith. "Hut Blake ha them." "We'll take them up Inter. Any-thin' Any-thin' else?" "Nothing of great Importance. 1 hear Westlake has been over here, I'.ourUe. We had a niMii).!er-tiini;iii!. Surry to lose blm, since yen recommended recom-mended him. Ills olnl"ti chi-lcil with that of my em-'lne-'r-in-ehnr;'-. nn expert of high standing. Wc-thi' e v, ns hot-headed and would not brook being overruled. There If no d:iiM lint tliiU be us inJstiikta. He Is u cent, an' Molly's twenty-six, me beln' her guardian. Plump an' plain. Is the Molly pinched out? How about It?" "It's a d d falsehood." "Then why are you sellln' your stock r The words came like bullets as Randy whipped the certificate out of the envelope and slapped It smartly on the desk. Keith whitened, flushed again, recovered hlineslf. "If I whs not friendly to you. Itourke, I should take tluit as a direct Insult. 1 run understand that you believe be-lieve In Westlake and take slock In what he told you. Hut he Is a dl-cbnrp'd dl-cbnrp'd employee. He lias every reason rea-son . . ," Sandy held up hU hand. "lie's a friend of mine." he n I "Kci:li, may not l,nov the mum' gaiue as yoij lay It. In some 'va-It's 'va-It's rambi:ti'. IM o :!ayin' p.kur. I'v plavcd that n heap. I ran teli inlHy oll when a man's Hirhn'. Mohhi-on're Mohhi-on're h".iif some of yore nerve lute out who you sold stock to eny enough, hut I don't cere to waste the time. You nn' me can ride Into town In yore ear an' clean this all up befo' the hank closes. We'll leave thfl money with ("reel of the Herefo'd National. Na-tional. Then you ran eome buck an' t-it yore boy." "I don't remember the names. l:'al.e took tl;c record of ttieai," ea!d Kei:h MilVti'y. "The., u c'll have ! Im in ' mi ; fovTiNvri) ) But Sandy Sat There, Smoking Clga-retts Clga-retts After Cigarette. Into the dying fire. He saw himself sitting there, lonely, woman shy once more, through the long stretch of years, with a letter coming once In s while from far-off places telling of t happ'ness that he had hoped for j tnd jet had known could not be for him; Sand lioiirke, cow-puncher. ! two 'gun mar, rancher, growing old. j "I whs the Mrst girl lie had seen for t long while, yon see," Molly was say-' say-' Ing. "And be had to tal It. over with someone. He told me about It Ii ft-1 I (bis marring and then the telegram came.' |