The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-08-02

| 1ce""sc sou are Boou 10 look at-yeS.
But I'll take my time. I'll sip at the
dish, my dear. I've got big score
to settle and I'll do 1t properly. Well
go over some of the items"
He got up and emptied bottle that
still held generous measure. He
staggered slightly and fumbled the
chair as he sat down again. Molly
watched him intently. II only he got
sufficiently drunk. Before the rest
came back. Perhaps she could get
his own gum Plimsoll laid familiar
finger on her knee and instantly loath-
ing showed In her eyes. He laughed.
"Using that busy III brain of
yours. ehf Figurin' I'll get drunk.
Nothin' dom, m dear. l made that
booze and know just how 1t treats
me. sabe? Now, then.
"Your guardian angel Sandy CHS
eled me out of my share in the Molly
mine belongin' to me count Of grub.
stakin' your father"
THAT'S lie."
THAT'S easy to say when II nets
you fortune Easy to go back on
dead mans agreement. Four-fushing
Sandy Bourke :"
Molly suddenly slipped back into
the primitive. Something seemed to
click and the refinement she had
learned and used so far fell like a
cloak that is dropped for freedom In
battle. With the malignment of San
dy and her father she was Molly
Casey. daughter of desert rat once
more.
That's another On lie," she said
Haven't forgotten how to swear.
have your
1--WE heard how Sandy Bourke
chased your rotten-hearted Jumpers
out of the claim and gave you until
sunup to sneak out of town. I've
heard how you were afraid to look
at him through the smoke but went
galloping of while the whole camp
laughed at you. Sandy a four-flush-
eri coyote'll fight when it's cor
nered. but You -
Plimsoll grew slowly livid Heard
all about 1t. did your" he said slowly.
Then you know some of the score.
And can wipe Off what | owe Sandy
Bourke through you. And there are
more items. There was the first time
we met. l haven't forgotten that.
There was the kiss you said you tried
to bite out after you'd burned the
doll gave you. You told about that
the next time kissed you In the ham,
mock at Three Star You tried to
rub out that kiss, too. Maybe the
next ones will stay put"
THAT was the time Mormon man.
handled YOU" She saw the blue
snakes crawl on his purpling skin,
and she kept her eyes on them, though
her mental vision was on the holster
beneath his vest She deliberately
taunted him to provoke him to an
nncalculated move. Molly knew her
own litheness, her strength. II she
could get inside Ills arms. If even to
endure a moment of his beastly EN-
BRACE and could get grip on the
gun?
But there was something In Plimsoll
that delighted In playing with a vic
tim he felt sure of. 1t soothed his
broken vanity.
49," he said, I'm going to get
even with Sandy and with Mormon
and that bow-legged fool Sam Man.
ming, who call you the Mascot of the
Three Star, all at once; while l get
even with you. And get what should
have been mine at the same time.
Wen have you tucked away while we
mall the letter that will bring your
ransom. Never mind the details OF
handling the money. I'll attend to
that. But well bleed you dry. The
price Of all your stock and that OF
the three suckers at the Three Star
at par--and all they can borrow on
the ranch-that will be the price for
you, my lady. With three days 70
deliver in"
"You talk like a crazy man, or
drunken one. II you lay a finger on
me they'll trail you to HI. Jim Plim-
soil. and the devil himself won't stop
them from skinning you alive"
PlimsoIl shrugged his shoulders, but
his eyes fllckered and for q second
his cowardly soul shrank.
"Tll look out for that" he said. II
YOU are delivered back to them as
damaged goods they'll never know 1t
till YOU tell them. Maybe you won't
he oyer-anxlous to do that" His eyes
grew moody. his manner sullen. he
was passing into another alcohoiic
phase. Molly sensed imminent danger.
"ru take those kisses now" ne
cried. and lunged for her. catching
her about the waist as she rose from
the chair. "And more to boot ne
added thickly as he drew her to nim'
one hand at the back Of her head, mn
gers twining In her hair, twisting her
face forward, upward. She had both
arms inside of his, her hands on MS
chest. With all her strength she
strained and pushed away. her right
hand slid up to the holster, cropping.
The gun was not there. Plimsoll
had reloaded It during the meal ana
left II on the table. His breath sick
ened her. She got her arm clear ana
struck him viciously on the mouth
breaking the lips against his teeth.
Fighting like cave-woman, she
scored his cheek with nails that aug
deep from the corner of his eyelid
and brought the blood. AS he shifted
-. TIA .ho ,yronchad loose leaving
strands OF brown hair In his fingers,