Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-10-05

stitute u OF his own and claim pos
session of the Molly Gray. If she could
only reach Grow rock before Dave
Lumly she would fight with all the
ierceness of old Jim Gray himself for
the possession of her lovers rights.
Molly frowned as she thought all
these things over, and every now and
then she turned and looked back along
the trail for some sign Of the approach
of Pete Clarkson. If he returned to
the cabin, as he had intended doing, he
would find her note.
With heart beating In time to the
muf1ed thud of Daisy's hoofs, she drew
rein on the crest of the ledge and
looked about for Dave Lumly, but he
was not In sight, and with resumed
confidence she cantered along the nar-
row, uneven trail to Grow rock.
When she rounded the rock the sor-
rel was nipping the parched turf and
Lumly, on his knees, was stufing "A
piece of white paper into his pocket.
His back was toward her, and he had
doubtless mistaken the tread Of her
horse for the trampling of his own
beast.
Look here, Dave Lumlyr'
Lumly jumped to his feet and look
ed into the barrel of a revolver leveled
with cool precision.
you git outer my way, young lady,"
he snarled %deiantly, making a move
ment to grasp her bride rein.
"Stop there or I'LL fire" she said
calmly.
what do you want'" 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 If l don'tT' he grinned saw
agely.
why. If you don't" she said, with
a calculating glance, Il believe I'll just
bore your right arm"
'The devil you will 1t seems to me
you are pretty highly tightly, miss"
Are you going to do itY' she
asked.
"Oh, sure: of course l couldn't refuse
a 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 up!" she command
ed again.
With a muttered oath he swung his
arm aloft- The sorrel horse drew near
and thrust ar inquiring nose toward
his master. With a quick movement
Lumly held out the paper, the sorreI
caught it between his lips, and In an
other instant 1t fell to the ground a
mass of pulp. Lumly laughed exult-
antly.
Molly Gray whitened about the lips.
"Other hand up!" she 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
ly up to the mares side. With muzzle
pressed close to his shock of rough hair
she distracted the six shooter from his
belt and ascertained that there wal no
other weapon. The man trembled
slightly. 1t was a pesky dangerous
thing to have a woman fooling with a
revolver. One never knew what
"Now walk forward twenty steps
and don't turn; If you do it will be for
the last timei" Molly did not recognize
her w sweet voice In the firm tones
that cut the air like the lash of a 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 six shooter.
'In fifteen minutes at the latest
Pete Clarkson, Mill Hodges and the
sheriff will strike this ledge. | advise
you, Dave Lumly. if 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 trail.
Several horsemen were riding rapidly
up Crow creek bottom. There was a
fash of sunlight on metal.
With a muttered curse he turned to-
ward his horse. You'll pay for this
holdup girl he said threateningly.
"Its noe ID holdup; it's a hold down."
retOrted Molly saucily.
As Lumly disappeared among the
distant western slopes three men rode
madly down the trail and rounded
Grow rock in a cloud of dust and a
scatter of flying stones. Molly Gray,
with trembling lips. smiled upon them.
Where is 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 s~ilhouetted
against the amber sunset sky ere 1t
dropped behind a distant hill.
$50 you let the critter goi' uttered
the sheriff ruefullV.