The Holly chieftain., 1923-08-16
CHAPTER xv,n
Dehorned.

CHAPTER XVIII
Dehorned.
Miranda Bailey had offered to come
in for Westlake with her car. but the
train went early and he had refused.
Molly drove him in the blackboard, his
grips slowed behind, and Sandy saw
them go with the old light back In
his eyes. He gave Westlake grip
Of the hand that made him vince.
"You can rely upon my information
being correct" were Westlake's last
words, spoken aside before he climbed
into the blackboard and Molly firted
the reins over the backs Of the team
shooting of at top speed.
She came back little before neon,
her eyes wide with excitement.
"Mr. Keith's in town." she said.
"with Donald and his secretary, Mr..
Blake. He asked me If Mr.. Westlake
had been here and he seemed annoyed
when told him had Just seen him
of on the train. They all came from
Casey Town in the big car. Mr.. Keith
has some business In Hereford. he
and Mr.. Blake will stay on their pri-
vate car. He told me to tell you he
would be out tomorrow to see you.
Oh, here's telegram for you"
"Thanks." Sandy tucked the. en-
velope in his pocket. "Hop out. Mol
ly. an Til put up the team"
'rll help you. haven't forgotten
how to unhitch." Her nimble fingers
worked as fast as sandy's with
buckles, coiling traces and looping
reins.
"Goin' to take Donald Keith out 70
a real ride on real hawssY' he
asked her.
"Yes. Tomorrow. He's keen to 80.
You'll come. And Sam and Katef"
"Tve got hunch Tn goin' to be
busy ter-morrer. Keith's comm. TO-
one thing"
II forgot. wish you could come"
Molly went into the house and he
opened the telegram. It was from
Brandon, as he expected.
Thanks. Coming Immediately. Was
starting anyway. That trap worked.
May need horses for eight. VIII you
arrange7
"BRANDoN." i
ut sure looks like busy day ter
morrer," Sandy said half aloud.
"Keith and Brandon-which means
roundin' up Jim Plimsoll Sam don't
get to any picnic, either. He'll have
to tend to the hawsses"
The Keith touring car arrived in
mid-afternoon with young Keith at
the wheel. the chauffeur beside him,
grips In the tonneau. Young Keith In
spected the corrals and the stock with
eager interest and the riders with
certain measure Of awe, which he
transferred to Sandy on learning that
he had broken two colts that morning.
"Know what time yore father ex-
poets to be outT Sandy asked him.
"He didn't say. He's got some busi-
ness to attend to. Some time In the
forenoon, imagine"
Keith Senior arrived after lunch
had been cleared the next day. He
was brisk and brusque, breathing
prosperity.
IT was detained In Hereford,
Bourke." he said. Haven't much time
for anything but flying visit. Don
AIDS out with Molly. you say. I'll
leave him with you on your invita-.
tion and pick him up when we go
back East. That will be in about a
week. Sooner than expected. I'd
like to spare day to look over the
ranch. I've heard fine things about
It,"
Thanks" drawled Sandy laconlcal.
ly. "Glad to have talk with you.
Sam, Mr.. Blake might like to see the
hawsses gentled that came up this
mo'nIn'."
Keith raised his eyebrows but said
nothing. Leaving Blake, Sandy led
Keith to his office, rolled cigarette,
offered chair to his visitor and
smoked, waiting for the latter to
open the talk.
There are some papers for you to
examine, as Molly's guardian" said
Keith. "But Blake has them"
well take them up later. any
thin else?
Nothing of great Importance. I
hear Westlake has been over here.
Bourke. We had Misunderstanding.
Sorry to lose him, since you recon-
mended him. His opinion clashed
with that Of my engineer-in-charge
an expert Of high standing. westlake
was hot.headed and would not brook
being overruled. There is no doubt
but that he was mistaken Ha In \