The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-03-22
CHAPTER III
Molly.

away N'''S
the faded blue Bingham. Sandy
/ marked how worn it was and marked
an Item in his mind-clethes. He
smiled at Der with the sudden show
ing of his sound white teeth that
made many friends. She was much
too young. too frank, too like a boy
to affect him with any of his woman
shyness.
Molly had a snubby nose, a wide
mouth. Irish eyes of blue that were
far apar and crystal clear, freckles
and a lot of brown hair that she wore
in a long braid wound twice about her
well-shaped head. She was a combi-
nation of curves and angles, of we'll
| rounded neck and arms and legs with
! collar-bones and hips over-apparent,
immature but not awkward.
Grit, entering with her, divided his
attentions among the men, showing a
moist nose at last into Sandy's palm
and lying down obedient, his tail
humping amicably.
$50 a sheepdawg," said Mormon,
"he sure shapes fine"
MOlly's eyes flashed. "He don't
know he's a sheepdawg," she protest
ed. He's never even seer one, less
1t was a mountain sheep, way up
against the skyline. Don't you like
himl?"
II like him fine" Mormon answered
hurriedly. Finer
'Ef you-aIl didn't, we cu'd shack
on somewheres. | cu'd git work down
to the settlemints. | reckon. don't
aim to put you out any. : I've been
thinkin' erbout that. Less you should
happen to a a woman to run the
house. don't know much about
housekeepin'. but | cu'd Farm. It's a
wOman's job, chasin' dirt. can
~cook-some. Dad used to say my
camp-bread an biscuits was fine. l
cu'd earn what | eat, ! reckon. An
what Grit I'D eat. We don't aim to
stay unless we pay-someway."
There was a touch of fire to her
independence. a chip on the shoulder
of her pride the three partners rec.
| ognized and respected.
"See here, Molly Casey"-Sandy
used exactly the same one and man
ner he would have taken with a boy
that's yore way Of lookin' at 1t. Then
there's our side. You fgger yore dad
was a pritty good miner. | reckon?
The las. two words he Says was
Molly and mines | give him my
word then and there, like he would
have 10 me. to watch out for yore
interests. My word Is my partners
word. I'm willin' to gamble those
claims Of his1l pan out some day.
Until they do, eff you-all II stay on at
the Three Star. stop Mormon stompin'
in from the corral with dirty boots.
ride herd on Sam IN me the same
way. mebbe o us up ONE of them
biscuits once in a while, why, it'll be
fine! Then there's yore schoolin'.
Yore dad 'ud wish you to have that.
don't suppose you've had a heap.
An you sabe. Molly. hat you swear
mo- often than a gel usually swears."
She opened her eyes wide. But l
don't cuss when I say 'em. An I
uOu USE Tic WOISt OucS. buu
wu'dn't let me. | can read an write,
spell an cipher some. But Dad need
ed ME more'n l needed learnin.'"
but you got to have It," said Nor.
mon earnestly. "S'pose them claims
pan OUT way rich and you gif ALFRED
wealthy? Bein' a gel, you sabe
clothes, di'monds. silks, satlns an
feather fuss. You'll want to learn the
pianner. You'll wan to know what
to gilt an how 70 wear It."
aIf you did that-took my Daddy's
place" she said. ''why, we'd be pard.
ners. same as him n me was. When
the claims pan out. half of it'll have
TO he yores. ! won't stay no other
way"
The giances OF the three partners
exchanged a conclusion, a mutual ap-
prevail.
.That goes" said Sandy. putting
u his hand. "Fo' all three of us.
When the mines are payin' dividends,
we split. half on count OF the Three
Star. half 10 you. Providin' you fall
In line with the eddication. SOS to do
yore dad yo'se'f an us. yore PARTNERS,
due credit when the money Starts
comm In. Sabe?'
M n#NM. HWtMW WMaasUN.