The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-04-19
CHAPTER discontinued.


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II don't sabe the eddication part of
it." she answered. "Jest what does
that mean7 l don't want to go to
school with a lot of kids who'll laf
at me-"
you don't have to. AS partners"
Sandy went on earnestly, II don't
mind teilin' you that the Three Bar
has put all Its chips into the kitty
an, while we fgger sure to win, we
can't cash In any till the Increase of
the herds starts to make a shown.
Not till after the fall roundup. any
way. So yore eddication'll have to be
put of bit Meantime you'll learn
to hde an rope an mebbe break a
colt or two, between meals an ridin'
herd on the dirt. When you start in,
It'll be at one of them schools In the
East where they make speshulty of
western heiresses. How's that ssundY
sounds fine. On'y, you've picked
up Dads hand to gamble with. Mebbe
1t amt yore game, nor the one you'd
choose to play II 1t wasn't forced on
you"
SISTER" said Sam. "yo're skinnin'
yore hides too close. Sandy 'ud
gamble on which way horn-toad II
spit. It's meat an drink to him. We
won this ranch on gamble-him
playin'. He CANDLES as he breathes.
An whatever hand he plays, me an
Mormon backs. Why, If we win on
this mimi deal, we're way ahead of
the game. SEEM we don't put up any
thin In cold collateral. It's a sure
fire cinch."
'Sam says It," backed Sandy. zone
good gambler"
Molly fumbled at the waistband of
her one-piece gown, working at 1t with
her fingers, producing golden eagle
which she handed to Sandy.
THAT'S my luck-piece." she said.
dad give 1t to me one time he
cleaned up good on a placer claim.
Mex time you gamble, will you play
that-for me? Half an half on the
winnin's l sure need some clothes"
The CLINT Of the born gamblers SUI
perstition showed in Sandy's eyes as
he took the ten dollars.
II sure will do that he said. AN
mighty soon. Now, then, talks over.
all agreed. Sam an me has got some
work to do outside. Won't be back
much before shutdown. Mormon. he's
goln' to be middlln' busy, too. Molly.
you jest acquaint yOrese'f with the
Three Star Riders won't be back till
dark. No one about but Mormon. Pc
dro the cook. an Joe. Rest ND all
you can. I'm goin' to bring yore dad
In"
Tears welled in Molly's eyes as she
thanked him. Again Sandy saw the
girlid, frankness change to the CRATE
fulness Of woman's spirit, looking
out at him between her lids. It made
him little uneasy. The men went
out together, walking toward the
corral.
"Sam an mes goin' to bring in
what's left Of Pat Casey, Mormon.
Well take the blackboard, with n tarp'
to stow him under. Up to you to
knock together coffin an dig a grave
under the cottonwoods an below the
spring. Git Joe to help you. No sense
In lettin' the gel see you, of course. "
Mormon rounded up the half-breed
Joe, TO help him dig the grave, first
locating Molly in hammock he had
slung for her In the shade of the trees
by the cistern.
The soil was soft and clear from
stone. An hour sufficed to sink a
shaft for Pat Casey's last bed. Nor
mon carefully adjusted the headboard
he had fashioned from thick plank
to be carved later when the lettering
was decided upon. This done. he
buckled on the belt he had discarded
from which his holster and reyolye,
swung. Sandy carried two guns. hi.
partners one, habits of earlier. more
stirring days, toting them as inev
':ably as they wore spurs, though
there was little occasion to use then
on the Three Star, save to put a burt
animal out Of misery, or kill rattle
snake.
Moisture streamed from Mormon's
face. patched his clothes as the heat
and his exertions temporarily melted
some of his superfiuous adiposity He
wiped his face with his bandanna.
Suddenly his big body stiffened. He
heard Molly's voice from the cistern.
frightened, then, storming In anger.
Mormon ran at asprinter's gait from
the cottonwoods, along a side of the
corral. through the trees bordering
the cistern. The girl was out of the
hammock, facing a man in riding
breeches and puttees, his face con.
cealed for the moment by his hands.
A sleeve of the girls frock was torn
away. the outworn fabric In stream
ers. The mans hands came down
and Mormon recognized him for Jim