Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-07-02

'T'n promise anything IL you'll let
me stay" he 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 new basis OF
friendship had been established be-
tween the two, however He rarely
came to the home ranch, but spent his
time at the sheep camp. Mollie did
not mind-not so very much
One morning he rode back with n
brown and yellow pansy In the button
hole of his gray flannel shirt The
dusky petals reminded him of Mollie's
eyes
That evening Mollie went out In the
moonlight and looked longingly up the
valley toward the sheep camp, four
miles away on the mountain side. She
caught a glimpse OF the possible flu
ture and bent to find another brown
and yellow pansy, warming to her FIN
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
OH palm, weighing her loves worth.
In the clear moonlight Lin Dewing
found her there. Mollie barely listen
aI ha hAx hn I'm rid
den fifteen miles out of his way to see
her.
IT'S on account of this here Critten-
den you've tuken In as partner, Mol
| lie," he told her. you've turned the
whole thing over to him, and he's made
mess OF 1t. The boys won't stand
for him any more They're riding to-
night to clear him out of the valley,
and Goldspur'--
what are you talking about, Lin
Dewlngf" gasped Mollie holly, crush
ing the letter In her hand. "You know
he's never done u thing that was
crOokedv'
"He don't know the game nor the
rules Of sheep grazing. He's trespass-
ed on cattle land. The boys viii make
him see lightp'
1T isn't them-its you, Lin Dew
ing"
Mollie caught up lantern and start
ed ON run for the corral. After her
went Lin, his horse following lelsurely.
Neither spoke. He knew what she
meant to do. As she seized the bride
and saddle from their hooks he caught
her arm.
Don't be fool, kid! You can't stop
them now. What do you want with
him anyhow? ! only pushed you hard
on the payments because wanted you
to have to ask me for help"
Heaven help anybody who had to
ask you for help! You let me gol''
II won't Yell, yell all you want tor
Mollie tore her wrist from his grasp
and whistled Lin swung around at
the answering banks, but the big wolf
hounds were on him, and he went
down like worried fox.
watch him, Scrnggsp Mollie called
EASY, Monk. just watch him! Don't
let MIN get hWuyI
The pony was ON It's way before her
right foot had caught the stlrrup, and
she bent low, laughing recklessly, ev-
cry nerve on fire at the thought Of
what lay ahead. She knew Lin Dew
ing and his crowd of men. They
would clean out the sheep camp with
out qualm unless she could reach II
In time to warn Crlttenden and the
herders.
So It happened that when the raid
ers rode over the rim OF the fOOthlll
and looked down at the sheep, close
surprise. Mollie had begged for re
volver.
Its half my property and half my
fight" she told Crittenden. 81 want TO
help"
He gave her one. There was barely
time to get the saddle of her steaming
pony and sling blanket across Its
back before DeWlng's men came, but
even In those pre- Ous moments he had
managed to make her understand what
her coming meant TO him.
But the fight was his own. Brief as
swept over him than he had known in
years. He was fighting for more than
MOllie's rights-fOr his own new hopes
and ambitions.
When II was over he sent the herd
ers to look after the three silent figures
that lay on the moonlight splnshed hill
side and turned TO Mollie. She saw his
eyes and the great longing In them
and handed him the letter from her
blouse.
II found 1t by the pansy bed, John"
she told him with her old dlrectness.
II didn't read It, but 1t bothered me.
/ thought that when we went into part
nership you stopped all this sort OF
thing"
"Yet you rode tonight to save me,
all the same"
ITO savc the sheep" corrected Mol
lie, avoiding his eyes. II must get home
Lin may be chewed to mincemeat II he
tries to get away from the dogs"
Tm going with you" said Critten-
den.
She turned at that, one hand on the
pony's back. her lips parted.
But whyT
"WhyT' He reached for her sud
denly. Because ! have the right or
mean TO have from tonight Your eyes
we're the spur TINT started me on the
new road. Mollle. I've been trying to
keep the trail since. That letter was
only In answer TO one OF mine ordering
the disposal Of the property that
brought me In the little income told
you Of I'm not going back any more,
and don't want any ties TO hold me.
Thank God, can stand alone nowF'
MnIIia,q Iaahoa hrttahad bfa chaoL