The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-05-21


reckon you can go this time But, mind you.
it's til last.'
'Yes. father. the very last Molly acquiesced,
Slipping discarded coat of the squire, but
the buck we the Rainbow mountain--we
mustn't miss him =.
Squire" interrupted shr voice from the
Kitchen, you're rasin Molly mighty iriflin'-
sootin' Ell rrompin' arfter you like es she were
vo boy-kind kilt eniurin' tn war"
'JeS so, Hannah Harks; jes So the squire
agreed. 81 tone-lone lost my boys; then Molly's
born so long arter, and there's no one else. But
this are til last time Hannah. Come along, Mol
y. If yo're motherd lived she'd raised you
female gi.t oushter be rlised.''
And the old man, with Molly tripping along be-
side him and laughing softly to herself, wended
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
'Niebbe your sight are better'n mine, daughter"
he said "iook south in TIL cove ncighboring Rain
bow mountaing-aire that Grofsman passed.
of men no?"
cutting away the brush. Oh father, he's going to
take Rainbow and the Fighting Ground."
''Ibunno he will :" he tlrlwlet, striding rap
idly forward.
No one knew much of the stranger except that
ho WIS from the West and was seeking health
ana sport for his grandson Martin in the mountain
country. Molly constantly encountered Martin
huuing the ridge. In fact. he seemed to fol
low the game ofener the Gray lands than
his Bull Tongue.
What aire you about. cuttin brush my
iand:" demanded the old squire
I'm cutting the line between .Sours and
mine, if you to know the stranger retorted.
orrn*ively. Il want you to understand fully what
belongs Gray and what belongs to Grohsman
You tlont seem to know
"Mehhe dnnt." replied the mountaineer hut
Tuni.ow mountain aire mine. Eve heit it. man
and hoy. these sixty year My father heit it afo
my grandpap afo' him. Whenst I'm gone
my gal there'lI hold It arter me y
Wen about that My claim includes the
Ranbow and propose to hold it. When I'm gone
my grandson Martn will hold it after mef' Grohs
flung back
As the two old INen eyed each other. the thickets
r-ried and. by one. several men emerged.
They paused. qu''e naturally, as though drawn by
the discussion ani curious as to its outcome.
II want TO that grave off my land. Grohs-
man insisted. arter scanning the faces of the in
tr,iders carefully. "Out where come from.
people stopped throwing their folks on the prairie
twenty years They bury them derentIy In
cemeteries and church yards. And tell you right
now I'm not to be chiseed 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 or voice. 10
understnn' how you can get my land, savin you
bespeak me and pass some money long of it."
'I'm western man. used to holding my claim
by main force. This is the dividing line. say
I'm fool. if you are"
"My haid are monstrous thick. stranger. But
l mostly hold to my say-so, which aire that your
line goes t'other side tn Rainbow"
"NIoly. daughter" he added. without turning
his head "the' buck must have gone to tn big
timber. Go arter him."
Molly dropped out of the group without dis
tur,,ins its rigid pose Looking back she turned
irro the big timber, she the wrnthfui stranger
advance step in rash defiance. In an instant
Q, cry weapon Of the mountaineers was leveled
II ed
rem swiftly the big woods needless that she
rim squarely against Martin Grohsman as he
sterned FROM behind an immense oak.
.'Wait Molly wait, came here to see you!
he c:,Iled to her "You running like wild
deer wanted to say to you that you mustn't
h,ame grandfather He thinks the land is his"
"Jtow can he when IFS been fathers always?'
she flung back with conviction
Put Molly. needn't quarrel don't care
fig about Rainbow mountain Let them settle
II as they like. Let he friends. Won't you?"
Molly smiled forgivingy. 1t was hard TO holt
resentment against Martin
.syou understand. don't you Martin" she ex
n,aIped. chats the Fighting Ground, and Hannah
uarts snvs the men killed there We're all carried
away saving this cant say rightly now M
came 70 he left, but mother put wild violets ant
honeysuckle and lilies from the marsh over ms
grave because he's so lonesome-like though M
a,nt ono of our men flower his grave now
Martin. stead Of mother, every year fault you
grandfather for wantn' the Rainpow ana threat
enin' to have the grave moved-on"est hop
father won't hurt him."
.Irst nromse friends with me, Mollyf' HI
pleaded - ,.,.,
When the Squire came home he was uhusuah
silent and tacitnrn ua .. ~
rve rive wurnin es we'll shoot any prowlin foik
on Rainbow mountain and the stranger mas CIV
back word as he'll shoot any Of wenhs ke'cne'
there until arter the new survey. w''''n ~
pir q
ans -y,c4,.er whichever way the survey goes In