The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-04-12
VI
IPaso cabras,

raSO SdpFdS-
They did not make butter on the
Three Star. Since the arrival of
Molly an unwilling and refractory
COW had been brought I'm from the
range and half forced, half coaxed t.
give the fresh milk that Mormon in
sisted the girl needed. Until then
e%yaporated milk had suited all hands
But butter-to go with hot cakes and
sage-honey-was an imperative need
for the riders. The butter came over
weekly from the Bailey ranch to be
Kept under the spring Owe for cool
ing. Usually the gangling young Ed
Bailey brought il over in the crotch
ETY. fiivver. When Sandy saw the
Sparsely heshed figure of Miranda
Bailey seated by the driver he WINGED
IN spirit. This second visitation
looked like mere curiosity and gossip
and Offset the opinion he had begun
to form Of the spinster-that she was
sound underneath her anguIarities
and mannerism3.
II was twilight. The three part
ners and Molly were on the ranch.
house porch after supper, and there
was no escape. Miranda nodded at
the three partners. who rose as she
came up the steps.
You sure need some new clothes,
child" she said to Molly. "You got
to have 'em. Now then, I come on
business. Sandy Bourke, you amt
any of you the legal guardian Of that
child, air your
"NothIn' Illegal in what we're doin'
reckon
II didn't ask you that. You-all
amt got papers?'
Jest what's the ideaT" Sandy
asked. Someone figgerin' on maxim
her stay nj the Three Star nnpleas-
ant? Fur as jest gossip is concerned
ID don't have any weight with non
Of us an there >ain't no sense in men
tiOnin' It,"
Pears you amt givin' me over an
above credit for sense" said Miranda.
a bit grimly. '"This amt gossip.
Here tits. I got II direct from my
brother, who's heard the talk goin'
round. You've run foul of Jim Plim,
soll-or he foul OF you, which is more
likely. Plimsoll an Exc Jordan. the
sheriff. are like two peas in a pod.
Now for the meat of the nut. They're
figgerin' on gettin' control Of the gel
away from you-all They'll use argy.
mints for the general public that she's
too young to be keepin' house for
three unmarried men. leastwise three
men who amt liyin' with their
wives She looked .p%ointedly at Nor
mon. They'll rouse up opinion
enough for a change. They'd like to
app'int a guardian of their own kid.
ney. Mebbe we can block that if one
of us m out an offers to take her.
I'd be glad to. for one. N do the
right thing by her."
Molly walked over to Sandy's chair
and stood behind IL. her eyes widen.
ing, her breath beginning to come
quickly.
There's some talk about her IA.
theirs claims over to Dynamite lookin'
up. Party OF fasteners over that
way lately, nosin' around to find out
owners, lookin' up assessment work
an so on. Talk Of a boom. ! reckon
PlimsolPs twigged that. Lawyer
Feeder. who run for state senator an
whose records none too dainty, is In
cahoots with Jordan an Piimsoll. Et
heard they tigger on goin' before
Judge vanniman, n OF their crowd
10 get an order of court. She's a mi
nor They can git her away from you
II We crowd SheiH too hard for then
to app'int one Of their own ring-an
they're figgerin' ON Plimsoll he claim
in to be her fathers partner-they'l
likely have her put In some institu
tlon. An It's goin' to be done righr
sudden.r
Molly stepped out, eyes flashing
fists cienched. talking p~assIonately
Il won't 20 with EN-. IN run away
They cant take me. Jim Piimsoll 4
a Did liar. You wos't let 'em TAX,
meg~ She turned TO Sandy. her arm
stretched In appeal.
mo. Molly, I won't. VIII we. boysr
"You can bet everything you GOT an
ever hope 10 own we won't" said Sam
THAT goes for me-" echoed Mor
mon. hut he scratched his fringe 0
hair In some perplexity.
"Talk don't beat an order Of tn
court said Miranda Bailey. "Mehb
seem sort of vinegary 10 son, chile
hut I'm no a had sarf. I figger II yol
came home with me today we Gu
manage 10 git you placed with u,
There's been taffle about you stoppIr
here. You're Hfteen-an' )"
, "Some folks In Jest plumb rotten.
Jared Molly. "rm no Kid. I
oh. n Dad was aiiver
Sandy stood uR and slid nm arr
l.about her shaking shoulders. Sh