The Savannah morning news., 1903-06-07

wood blocks. in soft ground; and of
blasting with dynamite in hard ground.
Molly issued her orders rapidly. Axes
were found. log chains exhumed from
the warehouse dust. horses harnessed.
She waited long enough to see the
gang under Cheyenne Harry we'll start
ed in its work; and then, herself
mounted on one of the horses, she and
the other men took their way down
the ravine in search of timber. She
was satisfied with having been able
to give Cheyenne Harry just the posi-
ton of authority in the little undertake
ing which he now held, but she con-
fessed to a feeling of disappointment
that Billy Knapp had not been forth
coming, for he, too, should have had
a place in her scheme. She had oh
served Jack Graham near the hotel
but she had other ideas in regard to
the management of that refractory in
dividual.
But it so happened that, in regard
to Billy, chance helped her out The
route selected ran up the valley, and
about the bend was situated the Great
Snake lode, Billy Knapp's famous
claim, before the shack of which its
proprietor was at that very moment
tuning savagely over the non-arrivai
of certain men he had hired to build
more fitting quarters for the new com
pany's inspection. Billy blew a big
cloud from his pipe, and swore when
he finally caught sight of a group Of
Axmen and horses headed in his direc-
ton.
The men saw him, too. They began
to laugh. Good one on Billy Knapp"
they agreed. He must be pretty hot
when his ak gang don't come any,"
The girl overheard them.
Whats that about Billy Knapp"
she asked sharply.
Didn't mean y to hear, ma'am."
replied the speaker. Don matter ez
fur's we's concerned. But Billy, he
aims to put up a shack to-day get
tin ready for them tenderfeet that's
comm from Cheecawgo to look over
tn property; an he hires a lot of TIL
boys t put it up fer him, an, you
see, you runs off with most the hull
outfit yere to build you a shack. So.
natural, we thinks it makes Billy hot"
Il see," said Molly. She reflected a
moment. Where is it?" she asked.
That's it, right to the lef'. And that's
Billy waikiki round loose" They
laughed again.
Without a word she turned the ami
NAL she was riding sharp to the left,
and began to mount the little knoll.
The men followed in CONSERVATION.
Billy's patience was not noted for its
evenness
'Hullo, Billy" she cried when she
was near enough. Good morning"
of her, and was now plainly a little
nonplussed over his unexpected guest
Clearly he could not at this moment
"cuss out" the delinquents as they de-
served. He removed his broad black
hat.
Good morning! Good mo'ning!" he
replied to the girls greeting. Come
up T. see tn wo'ks?"
"Whoa!" called Molly. The men
stopped mo" she said, fatty, II
didn't Not to-day. that is. I'm busy.
I'm hunting for good timber"
Billy looked puzzled. Timber" he
repeated.
Eyes, timber I'm going to have a
shack built, and these boys are going
to put it UP for me-"
Thus she broke the news gently.
Billy looked the men over one by one.
He turned a slow red.
HUH" he observed at last. Il
thought they was goin' to wok 70
mel"
Did your" asked Molly. sweetly.
"Well, they're not; at least, not now"
That was categorical. Billy's wits
did not respond to this sort of erner-
to be rude; he did not care to lose
his men. Moody looked down.
Come here and tie my shoestring,
she commanded, holding out her foot
and gripping the harness with both
hands.
Billy did not remember that he had
ever seen so small a foot. He looked
fascinated
WELL" she said, impatiently
He raised his head and gazep plump
into the imperious depths of a pair of
blue eyes. His anger melted. He APP
preached and attempted to tie the shoe.
None but Molly ever knew how hard
that horse was kicked by the other
little shoe. Indeed, no one knew at
all how it happened. Some of the eye
witnesses theoriZed concerning bum
blebees. Others said horsef1ies. AS to
the main facts, there was no doubt
that he, the horse, gave a sudden start
led plunge; that she, the girl, screamed
slightly and started to fall; that he,
Billy Knapp, caught her full in his
arms, held her the fraction of a sec
ond, and set her lightly back on the
again motionless animal.
Molly caught her breath and stead
led herself on Billy's shoulder. Three
men offlciously held the horses head.
My" she gasped. I'D like to be
as strong as that"
Billy whirled on the ak gang with
great buster.
ere, you IellerS! ne Snouteu.
What re y standin' around yere for?
Take them bosses up in tn brush be-
hind my shack, an cut tn lady some
timber!"
Go ahead, boys" said Molly. She
slid down from the horse. "I'll be long
in a minute. I'm a little scairt.'
They clambered on up the BILL grin
ming. A clank of chains told when
they had stopped. A moment later the
ring of axes was heard. The Kid and
the rifle had disappeared in the d.
reciton of Peters rapid and scrambhng
exit The boy and the dog hated each
other, apparently, and yet they could
not bear to be long apart
The girl sat down on the ground and
made Billy talk about himself, which
was the obvious thing to do. Billy was
one of those expansive sanguine IN
dividuals without much ability in what
we call practical affairs, and yet with
a certain dexterity in gathering unto
himself the means with which to be
impractical. Because of this, he had
good opinion of himself, which at the
same time he was much given to doubt
ing. Molly induced him to fiatted him
self. and then deftly agreed with him.
After a time they went up through
the pines to where the workmen were
Telling trees. Toward noon the whole
party returned to town. dragging be
hind the horses a number of tree trunks
chained together with steel chains
These were slid to the site of the
house, and left in the road.
The men in camp had nearly finished
their job of leveling up. Cheyenne Har-
ry had worked hard with his own
CHI 10 %