The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-05-27

Sz1E44G to be out huntiE' with me so
much - u t'-catching the
shade of the disappointment in the young face
you can go this time. But mind YOU
It's tn Iast!"
Yes father, the very last" Molly acquiesced,
slipping on a discarded coat of the squire, ''but
the buck We saw on the Rainbow mountain-we
mustn't miss him 90
SquireF" interrupted a shriIl voice from the
Kitchen, you're rasin' Molly mighty trifn'-
shootin en- trompin' arfter Jou like she were
yo' boy-kind, kilt endurin' tn war"
JeS so, Hannah Hanks; jeS So" the squire
agreed. 81 done-done lost my boys; then Molly's
born so long arter, and there's no one else. But
this aire tn last time, Hannah. Come along Mol
ly If yo're mOtherd lived she'd raised you es
female girl Oughter be raised"
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 was "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 better'n NINE daughter"
he said; "look south in tn cove neighboring Rain
bow mOuntaing-aire that Grohsman en- passed.
Of men no?"
cutting away the brush. Oh, father he's going to
take Rainbow and the Fighting Ground!"
Dunno es he will!" he drawled, striding rap
idly forward.
No one knew much of the stranger except that
he from the West, and was seeking health
and sport for his grandson Martin in the mountain
country. Molly constantly encountered Martin
hunting the ridge. In fact. he seemed to fol-
low the game Oftener the Gray lands than
mis- own Bull Tongue.
what aire you about, cuttin' brush on my
land?" demanded the old squire.
, I'm cutting the line between yours and
mine, if you want to know" the stranger retorted,
extensively. 81 want you to understand fully what
belongs to Gray and what belongs to Grohsman.
You don't seem to knowI"
"Mebbe I DON'T replied the mountaineer, 'but
Rainbow mountain aire mine. I've belt 1t, man
and boy, these sixty year. My father helt 1t afo'
me, my grandpap afo' him. Whenst I'm gone,
my gal there'H hold it arter me-!
wen see about thatI My claim includes the
Rainbow, and propose to hold it. When I'm gone,
my grandson Martin will hold 1t after mei' GrOhs-
flung back.
AS the two old men eyed each other the thickets
parted and, one by one, several men emerged,
They paused, quite naturally, though drawn by
the discussion and curious to its outcome.
81 want to move that grave off my land" Grohs-
man insisted, after scanning the faces of the in
truders carefully. "Out west where I come from,
people stopped throwing their folks the prairie
twenty years ago. They bury them decently 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 too stupid to understand
the line"
Seems like I'm mostly too stupid" asserted
the squire in misleading meekness of voice, ''tO
understan' how you can get my land, savin' you
bespeak and pass some money long of it"
I'm a western man, used to holding my claim
by main force. This is the dividing line, I say!
I'm no fool. If you are!'
''My haid aire monstrous thick, stranger. But
I mostly hold to my say-sO, which aire that your
line goes t'other side tn Rainbow
''AfoIly, 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
turbing its rigid pose. Looking back as she turned
into the big timber. she the wrathful stranger
advance q 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 squarely against Martin Grohsman he
stepped from behind an immense oak.
''Wait, Molly wait! here to see your
he called to her. 'You running like a wild
deer. 1 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 alwaysf"
she flung back with conviction.
"But, Molly, we needn't quarrel don't care
a fig about Rainbow mountain Let them settle
it as they like Let US be friends. Won't your"
Molly smiled forgivingly. It was hard to hold
resentment against Martin.
"You understand don't you. Martin" she ex-
planned that's the Fighting Ground, and Hannah
Hanks says the men killed there were all carried
away saving this one. can't say rightly how he
came to be left, but mother put wild violets and
honeysuckle and lilies from the marsh over his
grave, because he's so lonesome-like though he
amt of our men. flower his grave now,
Martin, stead of mother, every year. fault your
grandfather for wantin' the Rainbow and threat
enin' to have the grave moved-onliest 1 hope
father won't hurt him.
"Just promise friends with me, Molly?" he
pleaded.
Dunno but what I WILL" the girl capitulated.
When the Squire came home he was unusually
silent and taciturn.
sMolly daughter" he said, i've a word to say
I've give warnin' es we'll shoot any prowlin folks
on Rainbow mountain and the stranger has give
back word as he'll shoot any OF weuns ketched
there until arter the survey, which I've greed
to allow. The Grays aire bound to stand in with
one ernother whichever way the survey goes. Tn