The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-05-21
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shade OF the disappointment In the young race
-"reckon you can so this time But. mind you.
it's tn last !"
EYES, father, the very last" Molly acquesced,
slipping on n discarded coat of the squire, "but
the buck the Rainbow hountain-we
mustn't miss him !"
squirrel interrupted n shri voice from the
kitchen, "youre raisIn' Molly mighty trfin'-
shootln' en- trompin' arfter you like she were
20 boy-kind, were kilt endurin tn war;"
"Jes so, Hannah Harks jes so' the squire
agreed. II done-done lost my boys; then Molly's
born so long arter, and there's no else But
this aire tn last time, Hannah Come along Mol.
y. If yo're mother'd lived she'd raised you
female girl oughtcr be raised"
And the old man, with Molly tripping along be-
side him and laughing softly to herself wendell
his way down the hill path. Every time "the
last until Molly wanted to go again. They went
down through the pines. Suddenly the squire
stopped and rubbed his eyes
Mebbe your sight aire bettern mine, daughter"
he said "look south in tn neighboring Rain
bow mountaing-aire that Grohsman a passed.
Of men nor?
its him, father-the stranger on our land-
:utting away the brush Oh, father he's going to
take Rainbow and the Fighting Ground!"
Dunno he will !" he drawled, stridng ran.
idly forward
No one knew much of the stranger except that
he was from the West, and seeking health
and sport for his grandson Martin In the mountain
country. Molly constantly encountered Martin
hunting on the ridge In fact, he seemed to fol-
low the game oftener the Gray lands than on
his own Bull Tongue.
what aire you about, cutin brush on my
land?" demanded the old squire.
"fm cutting the line between yours and
mine, II you want to know" the stranger retorted.
Extensively Il want you to understand fully what
belongs to Gray and what belongs to Grohsman.
You don't seem to know!"
~ ~ ssh,,k
Rainbow mountain aire mine. I've helt it, man
and boy, these sixty year. My father belt 1t afo'
me, en- my grandpap afo' him. Whenst I'm gone,
my gal there'll hold 1t arter me!'
swell see about that! My claim includes the
Rainbow. and propose to hold 1t. When I'm gone,
my grandson Martin will hold 1t after me!' Grohs-
man flung back.
As the two old men eyed each other the thlckets
parted and, by one, several men emerged.
They paused quite naturally, as though drawn by
the discussion and curious as to Its outcome
II want to move that grave off my land" Grohs-
man insisted. after scanning the faces Of the In
truders carefully. "Out west where come from.
people stopped throwing their folks on the prairie
twenty years ago. They bury them decenty in
cemeteries and church yards And tell you right
now I'm not to be chiseled out Of part of my pur
chase because you are too stupid to understand
the line"
"Seems like I'm mostly too stupid" asserted
the squire in misleading meekness of voice, ito
understan' how you can get my land, Svin' you
bespeak me and pass some money long Of It,"
"Pm a western man. used to holding my claim
by main force. This is the dividing line, say |!
Tn no fool, II you are!"
"My haid aire monstrous thick. stranger. But
mostly hold to my say-so, which aire that your
lire goes t'other side tn Rainbow"
"Molly daughter" he added, without turning
lis head, "the buck must have gone to tn big
timber Go arter him."
Molly dropped out Of the group without dis
turbing its rigid pose Looking back as she turned
into the big timber. she saw the wrathfu stranger
advance a step in rash defiance. In an instant
every weapon Of the mountaineers was leveled
at him and his men. Molly averted her eyes and
ran swiftly into the big woods, needless that she
ran squarey against Martin Grohsman he
stepped from behind an immense oak.
swat, Molly wait! ! came here to see you !"
he called to her. "You are running like wild
deer. wanted to say to you that you mustn't
blame grandfather. He thinks the land is his"
"How can he when it's been fathers alwaysr
she flung back with conviction.
"But Molly, we needn't quarrel. don't care
a AZ about Rainbow mountain. Let them settle
It as they like. Let us be friends. Won't Your
Molly smiled forgivngly. 1t was hard to holt
resentment against Martin
'You understand don't You. Martini" she ex
planned, "that's the Fighting Ground, and Hannal
Hanks says the men killed there were all carries
came to be left, but mother put wild violets AM
honeysuckle and lilies from the marsh over hi
grave, because he's so lonesome-like though h
amt one Of our men. flower his grave now
Martin. stead Of mother, every year. fault you
grandfather for wantin the Rainbow and threat
enin' to have the grave moved-onliest I hop
father won't hurt him."
"Just promise friends with me. AollyT y
pleaded.
"Dunno but what WILL" the girl capitulated
When the Squire came home he was unusuall
silent and taciturn.
MOLLY, daughter" he said. "rve word to "a!
I've give wasn.n es we'll shoot any prowlin' FOLK
on Rainbow mountain and the stranger has CIV
back word AZ he'll shoot any of we'uns ketche
there until after the new survey, which I've gree
Do allow The Grays aire bound to stand In wit
~ erpstker whichever way the survey coca II