The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-05-21

yung Teller, Martin, aire against tn Grays. and
you aire Gray. Mind you what say"
AS the days went by Molly caught glimpses. re-
mote and feeting of Martin dangerously far in.
on ground protected by an armed neutrality. Once
they CHANGED near enough for Martin to call to her.
Were friends, Molly?"
"Yes-yes, Martin. we're friends. this time"
They're done tn surveyin' Molly" Hannah
Hanks explained, when she reached home, ian tn
stranger amt satisfied. 1t don't give him Rain
bow mountaing. They're gon ter try 1t over
ergin, an they're all plumb hot long of it. whomst
steps on Rainbow aire to be drapped in his tracks,
'thout no warnin' Howsomere I'm deemin' to
flower tn grave whenst tn day comes"
The evening before Decoration day Molly was
plucking white lilacs when the Squire came down
the path.
"My daughter" he said, in the mild, slow tones
that always frightened her. sit hes come to my
that tn young Teller, Martin, prowls continual
on tn Rainbow. I've give in to a new surveyin'.
But we greed t shoot whomsOever footed on
Rainbow mountaing 1t has come to me that it's
tn Teller defyn of us. He aire comely, proper
boy but monstrous fool. en- seems like they don't
know johnson Gray"
The lilacs dropped from Molly's hands. She
knew Johnson Gray. Conflicting impulses stirred
her. From the chaos conviction came
preme-she had promise to keep. 1t was not
being friends with Martin to let him unwittingly
anger the Grays
The young moon had long since vanished behind
the peaks but the stars cleaned in cloudless bril-
llancy. The peace and sublimity of the mountains
seemed too infinite for evil design And yet the
Squire and half dozen Grays were lying noise
lessly in the brush along the di ding line. Every
mans finger on the trigger. for some one had
broken the compact, some one was prowlng on
the Rainbow
Across the contested line. hundred yards back,
the dense underground hid the reflection Of the
moon along other rifle barrels. Grohsman and his
men were equally vigilant.
Family at first, but growing louder and louder
with each step. the scufie Of advancing feet was
heard The watchers-on both sdes-cr0uched In
readiness to mete out the deserved retribution.
Then the traitors came into view. There going
boldly across the clearedSlope. were Molly and
Hannah Hanks. They were laden with glstenng
clusters of white flowers. They walked unafraid
along the sinuous path upward to the "lone grave"
on the mountain top.
The rifles of the Grays came to earth. The
SQUIRE started forward and stopped His face was
white and drawn. Though he could not see them
he knew that other eyes watched the self-sams
slope of the Ranbow-from the other side-tha'
other fingers Just remorseess. rested on Other
weapons. Would they be merciful to this. his oni!
one? Would they!
Across the line the bushes shook audibly ant
n leyeled rifle cleaned In the moonlight second
hut was lowered again. No shot rang out
The women passed on-unharmed. Their as
cending footsteps grew fainter and died away.
But, ere either side had opportunity to catcl
its breath the sound of other footsteps ascending
the mountain, resounded on the sharp night all
breathless wait, tense straining OF the eye
through the openings in the brush along the path
way-and another traitor came Into view. Marti
Crohsman walked boldly along. glancing neithe
10 the one side nor the other He too. was lade
with white flowers
ON the Gray side Of the line the bushes shoe
audibly and leveled rifle cleaned In the moo'
light But no shot rang out.