The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-28


had come to the west to try to find
himself. to learn his bent In life, to
see whether there was a groove that
he fitted.
II think I've fonnd II here" be in
ished. ''This suits me. The money
told you Of Is my own. ! am not paid
to stay away. as the men say have
a small. a very small. income. but 1t
keeps me going. The trouble has been
that ran into debt at home. Out
here the outlook is wide. l will make
a good partner. Miss Owen
would you promise to be as faith
ful as you have been the past three
weeks?"
I'll promise anything II you'll let
me stay" be retorted. with sudden
recklessness. and Mollie at once dis
continued the personal circuit.
II.
She took him at his word. Dewing
was bought out the following week.
and Crittenden became partner at the
Upper Bend. Tacitly a new basis Of
friendship had been established be-
tween the two. however. he rarely
came to the home ranch. but spent bis
time at the sheep camp. MOllie did
not mind-nOt so very much.
One morning he rode back With a
brown and yellow pansy In the button
hole of his gray flannel shirt. The
dusky petals reminded him OF M0ilie's
eyes.
That evening Mollie went out In the
moonlight and looked longingly mp the
valley toward the sheep camp. four
miles away ON the mountain side. She
caught a glimpse Of the possible IN,
ture and bent to End another brown
and yellow pansy. warming to her On
ger tips at her own thoughts.
Instead. she found Crittenden's latest
letter from London. carefully folded
as 1t had fallen from his pocket
! She sat down on the low stoop. chin
on palm. weighing her loves worth
In the clear moonlight Lin Dewine
found her there MOllie barely listen
ed while he explained how be had rid
den fifteen miles out of his way to see
her.
Its on account Of this here CritteD
den you've taken In as partner. Mol
lie." he told her. you've turned thu
whole thing over to him, and he's made
mess Of 1t. The boys won't stant
for him any more They're riding to
night to clear him out Of the valley
and Goldspur"-
what are yon talking about. Lii
DewingY' gasped MOllie hotIy. crush
ing the letter In her hand. lyon know
he's never done a thing that wa
crooked"
| HE don't know the game nor thu
rules of sheep grazing. He's trespass
ed on cattle land. The boys will maxi
him see light!'
1T isn't them--it's you. Lin Dew
/ ing!"
| MOllie caught up lantern and start
ed on run for the corral. After he
went Lin. his horse following leisurely
Neither spoke. He knew what sh,
meant to do. As she seized the bridl
and saddle from their hooks be caugh
her arm.
| Don't be fool. kid: You can't stO
them now. What do you want witt
him anyhow? only pushed you har'
on the payments because wanted 70,
to have to ask me for help"
Heaven help anybody who had t
ask yon for help! You let me go!''
Il won't. Yell. yell all you want to-!
Mollie tore her wrist from bis gras
and whistled. Lin swung around a
the answering barks. but the big wolf
hounds were on him. and he wen
down like a worried fox.
watch him. Scraggs!" Mollie called
Easy. Monk. just watch him! Don
let him get away"
The pony was on its way before he
right foot had caught the stirrup, an
she bent low. laughing recklessly. ey
cry nerve on Ore at the thought o
what lay ahead. She knew Lin Dew
ing and his crowd of men. The
would clean out the sheep camp with
out a Qualm unless she could reach
In time to warn Crittenden and tn
herders.
So It happened that when the raid
ers rode over the rim Of the foothi
and looked down at the sheep. clos
huddled In the moonlight, they met
surprise. MoIlie had begged for a re
volver.
Its half my property and half m
fight" she told Crittenden. Il want Z
help"
He gave her one. There was barrel
time to get the saddle or her steamin
pony and sling blanket across 1t
back before Dewing's men came. bu
even In those precious moments he ha
managed to make her understand wha
her coming meant to him.
But the fight was his own. Brief d
IL was keener sense of enjOymen
swept over him than he bad known 1
years. he was fighting for more tina
Mollie's rights-for his own new hope
and ambitions.
When ii was over be sent the herd
ers to look after the three silent figure
that lay on the moonlight splashed hill
side and turned to Mollie She saw hi
eyes aud the great longing In then
and handed him the letter from be
blouse.
II found IL by the pansy bed. John.
she told him with her old directness
II didn't read IL. but IL bothered me