The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-05-03

ing. Usually the gangling young E'
Bailey brought 1t over In the crotch
ETY. flivver. When Sandy saw til,
Bailey sented by the driver he WINGED
In spirit. This second visiratiCT
looked like merl curiosity and GOSSIP
and Offset the opinion he had begur
to form of the spinster-that she was
sound underneath her angularities
and mannerisms.
II was twilight. The three part.
ners and Molly were on the ranch
house porch after supper, and there
was no escape. Miranda nodded al
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 EN-. Now then, come on
business Sandy Bourke, you ain't
any Of you the legal guardian of that
child, air your
"Nothin Illegal in what we're dom.
reckon"
Il didn't ask you that. You-all
amt got papers?"
jest what's the idea?" Sandy
asked. Someone figgerin' on maxim
her stay AT the Three Star unpleas-
ant? Fur as jest gossip Is concerned.
1t don't have any weight with none
of us an there amt 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 It's. got 1t direct from my
brother, who's heard the talk goin
round. You've run foul of Jim Plm-
soll-or he foul of you, which is more
likely. Plimsoll an Exc Jordan, the
sheriff, are like two peas In 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 keep'n' house for
three unmarried men, leastwise three
men who amt Twin with their
Wives She looked pOintedly ut Nor
mon. They'll rouse up opinion
enough for a charge. They'd like to
app'int a guardian Of their own kid
ney. Mebbe we can block that If one
of us comes ont an offers to take her.
I'd be glad to, for one, an do the
right thing by her."
Molly walked over to San ,y's chair
and stood behind 1t, her eyes widen
ing, her breath beginning to come
quickly.
There's some talk about her fa-
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 boom. ! reckon
Plimsoll's twigged that. Lawyer
Feeder, who run for state senator an
whose records none too dainty, is In
cahoots with Jordan an Plimsoll. Ed
heard they figger on gon' before
Judge Vannlman, one of their crowd.
to get an order of court. She's a mi.
nor. They can git her away from you.
II we crowd them too hard for them
to app'int one Of their own ring-an'
they're figgerin' on Pllmsoll he claim.
in to be her fathers partner-they1l
likely hnve her put In some institu.
tion. An It's goin' to be done right
sudden"
Molly stepped out, eyes flashing
fists clenched. talking passionately
81 won't go with em. I'll run away
They can't take me. Jim Plimsoll Is
a id liar You won't let em take
me?" She turned to Sandy, her arms
stretched in appeal.
NO, Molly, / won't. VIII we, boys?"
"You can bet everything you got nm
ever hope to own we won't" said Sam
THAT goes for me-" echoed Nor.
mon, but he scratched his fringe of
hair In some perplexity.
Talk don't beat an order of the
court said Miranda Bailey. "Iebbe
| seem sort of ylnegary to you. child
but I'm not bad sort. figger If Won
came home with me today we c'ud
manage to git you placed Wit, us
There's been tattle about you stoppln'
here. You're fifteen-an' !"
"Some folks Is jest plumb rotten"
fiared Molly. "Tm no kid.
oh, If Dad was aliyei"
Sandy stood up and slid an arm
about her shaking shoulders. She
wheeled and buried her head ON his
shoulder, sobbng.
Were powerful obliged to Won
Miss Bailey, for what you told MS"
said Sandy I'm right sure you'd
give Molly a fine home, but we go,
other plans an we aim to carry 'em
out. Plimsoll's a skunk an m block
his game about the mines ef they
amount to anything. Molly's~ go,n'
east for her eddlcation. She's got
plenty money to git the best that's
goin' an she's goln' to have it,"