Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-08-20
TheMollyGray
A Girl Makes Good a
Claim
BY CLARlSSA MACisiE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.
BY cLARISSA MACKiE
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


laying the paper on the newly broken
ground and placing stone on top to
keep 1t from blowing away. Any one
who Jumped that claim now might ex-
pect the wild Justice OF the mining
camp TO be visited upon him.
As he drew near the camp the thun-
der OF tho stamp mills smote the air.
and the blur OF smoking chimneys
dimmcd the eastern sky.
Pete Clarkson's persistent efforts and
logged determination to find some.
thing that would enrich him sufficient
~ to offer Molly Gray home had re-
suited in his striking what was prob
ably the lost vein OF the Great Dome
ledge.
He stopped once nt tho house of Jim
Gray, superintendent OF the Great
Dome. and Molly Gray. sweet as
rose, with gray eyes. brown hair, pink
cheeks aSd pink gown. came to the
door.
How'd you make out. Peter she
asked, her little brown hand lost In his
great earth stained palm.
TITS the Molly Gray" he said quiet.
". thrusting the lump OF ore into her
other hand.
"oh, Pete" she cried joyfully.
'where?"
ION Grow ledge, near Grow rock"
Where we saw the sunset that
night:"
Same place"
What were you doing there. Pete"
she asked. with dImpling cheeks.
"Prospectin'." he grinned sheepishly.
Then. passing his hand over his un-
shorn chin, he nodded toward the
Great Dome smelter. Il guess It will
be all right now down there" he said
confidently.
you know It has always been all
right with me. Pete" said Molly softly.
Il know" he said soberly. I'm GO
In down now to git out my papers
I'll stop on my way back"
Haven't you registered yet:" she
asked anxiously.
Nope; stopped here first thing. Got
her staked all right. though. and the
name posted. Coin back there 10
make camp. So long: see you later"
And with backward wave OF bis hand
he loped down toward the registering
office.
From the doorway OF the cabin at
the head OF the street Molly. holding
pair Of fieldgasses 10 her pretty
eyes. watched him enter the Office
Then her gaze fell upon the figure Of
n man sprawled upon the rough veran.
da encircling the one roomcd building
A wide brimmed hat was drawn over
his eyes. and to all appearances he was
lost In slumber.
Molly looked at the open window
over the mans head and calculated
that IL Pete Clarkson announced his
discovery In his usual blum. hearty ac-
cents it could readily be heard by the
man on the veranda II he were awake
and listening, and II II should prove
to be Dave Lumly. who was own
brother to Jim Lumly. the registrar
of claims. why. then. Pete clarkson
would have race for his claim. that
was all. She remembered the case OF
Allan Smith, the young prospector
from the east who made n find and
staked his claim. Before he could reg
lister II and return TO the scene Dave
Lumly had news OF the find aud had
jumped the claim. With his brother
10 back his title TO II Lumly had de-
fled the sheriff and his posse TO Dust
him. Young Smith had shot himself.
and. after all. the mine had proved
worthless.
All, the somnolent one arose slowly.
stretched himself, took careful sur
vey OF the street: then. with swift
movement. leaped into the saddle OF a
waiting sorrel and rode out Black lane.
II was Dave Lumly.
Presently she saw Pete emerge from
the registry Office and cross the street
TO the nssayers. With sudden energy
she re-cntered the house. scribhled
few lines informing Pete OF her where
pinned the note 10 the front door, sad
died her little mare Daisy. mounted
and dashed down the street toward the
assay office.
pete Clarkson:" repeated Brown
ing. Just left here for down the
street"
IF he comes back tell him 10 so up
10 our place. There's message for
him. VIII you tell him." she inquired
breathlessly.
"Sure thing. Miss Molly" he said
heartily: then he watched her disap-
pear down the long street and out
upon the short cut through the canyon
TO Crow mountain. The afternoon sun
shone on her hntless head and the
light wind fiuttered her pink skirts as
the little mare broke into a gallop.
Once she drew rein and took a swift
survey OF the country.
Mile after mile the mare covered,
scrambllng up steep hillsides and slid
ing recklessly down the slopes. Molly.
with blazing eyes and compressed lips.
watched for the temperance Of the
sorrcl horse and it's slouching rider
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