Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-06-05
horse for the tramplins Of. bis own

what 90 you wantr' he GroWled,
looking at her out Of stealthy red eyes.
II want you to put that paper back
In the hole" she commanded sharply.
.And II I dontr' be grinned saw
agely.
why, II you DON'T" she said, with
q calculating glance, ~ believe I'll Just
bore your right arm"
1.-THE devil you will It seems to me
you are pretty highly tightly, miss"
"Are you going to do it?" she
asked.
"Oh, sure; Of course I couldn't refuse
q lady" he said, taking the paper from
his pocket with his right hand and fur.
lively reaching with his left around to
his hip.
"Your left hand upr' she command.
cd again.
With a muttered oath he swung bis
arm aloft The sorrel horse drew neat
and thrust an inquiring nose toward
his master. With a quick movemsnt
Lumly held out the paper. the sorel
caught 1t between his lips, and In an.
other instant 1t fell to the ground q
mass Of pulp. Lumly laughed exult.
antly.
Molly Gray whitened about the lips.
''Other hand upT abe commanded
shortly.
The man obeyed
Turn your back and walk toward
me-" Then, as he hesitated, she added
contemptuously. Don't be afraid. I'm
not going to shoot you In the back"
He turned sullenly and backed slow
" up to the mares side. With muxxle
pressed close to his shock Of rough hair
she distracted the SIX shooter from bis
belt and ascertained that there was no
other weapon. The man trembled
slightly. II was a pesky dangerous
thing to have q woman fooling with q
revolver One never knew what
"Now walk forward twenty steps
and don't turn; II you do It win be for
the last timer Molly did not recognise
her own sweet voice In the nrm tones
that cut the air like the Lash Of whip.
The man obeyed When, at her word
Of command, he faced about, the feet
Of the little mare were gathered In the
hole in the ground, and her rider, with
shining eyes and bright, glad smile,
looked at him down the length Of his
own si1 shooter.
"In fifteen minutes at the latest
Pete Clarkson, Mil Hodges and the
sheriff will strike this ledge. advise
you, Dave Lumly. II you value your
life, to prospect around Cartertown
way for a few years. The trail is
plain; there's your horse. and I'm CIV
ing you a chance"
Lumly looked back down the rrail.
Several horsemen were riding rapidly
up Crow creek bottom. There was a
dash Of sunlight on metal
With q muttered curse he turned to.
ward bis horse. you'll pay for this
holdup, GIRL" he said threateningly.
"It's not holdup; it's hold down, I"
retorted Molly saucily.
As Lumly disappeared among the
distant western slopes three men rode
madly down the trail and rounded
Crow rock In a cloud Of dust and q
scatter Of flying stones. Molly Cray,
with trembling Lips. smiled upon them.
"Where L. hep demanded Pete, while
the other men looked mingled disap-
pointment and admiration upon pretty
Molly.
She pointed toward the west, where
a solitary horseman was silhouetted
against the amber sunset sky ere It
dropped behind distant hill.
7 "So you let the critter go" uttered
the sheriff ruefully.
Pete looked at her questioningly.
II didn't want bloodshed On Crow
rock, Pete" she explained In a low tone.
A light Of understanding came into
bis eyes. he nodded his head. 'Thata
al right, sheriff. I guess that coyote
won't Jump any more claims here
abouts, I reckon"
"Where Ia your claim, PeteF asked
Hodges, looking curiously around.
"Here It is," tnterpolated Molly,
blushing. HE was jumping It when
@And you stood him offT chorused
the men.
She nodded gravsly. "He fed the pa.
per to the horse, 30 held him up. and
now I'm holding down the claim my
seif."
II don't understand" said Hodges
blindly.
"why, you see," faltered Molly, while
Pete grinned fatuously upon her, I'm
the claim-that is, I'm Molly Gray, and
I'm holding down the claim. It's the
Molly Gray. you know" she said, slip
ping down from the saddle into the
outstretched arms Of her lover.