The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-06-21

Casey.
guardian of Molly Casey, without
Mollys knowledge. Sandy read the
letter aloud to his partners.
Dear Mr.. Bourke:
81 feel that should write this letter
to you although have never met you,
rather than my husband, since the
question is one that woman can
| handle better than man--that only
woman can understand and apprecl-
! ate.
81 have seen your Molly and she has
entirely captivated me. She Is really
wonderful, with wonderful possibili-
ties. want to take her into my home,
Mr.. Bourke. l think she feels the need
of the companionship and advice Of an
older woman. rather than that of the
girls at the school.
81 wish l could talk with you per-
sonally about this. Letters are such
inadequate things. But l know, from
Mr. Keith, that you have her interests
at heart-and so have |. shall dear
ly love to have her with me, and feel
confident from what / have seen of
her, that she will be happier In home,
with some one, who, however poorly,
may take the place of the mother she
must have missed all these years.
Let me hear from you soon. If my
health and other matters permit, /
must try to come out with Molly be-
fore very long. Mr.. Keith has seen
this letter and approves of my sug-
gestion to have Molly with us.
"Most sincerely yours,
ELIZABETH VERNON KEITH"
1t was a clever letter. There were
several touches about 1t that almost
amounted to genius The mother sug-
gestion, the need Of companionship
and advice from an older woman, all
went home; though 1t was some time
before the trio entirely absorbed the
meaning Of the glossy phrases and glib
vocabulary. The letter passed about
In silence after Sandy had read 1t, Sam
and Mormon blowing through the maze
of the fashionable script.
Reckon she's right" said Mormon.
"Mollys different She had a mighty
hard time of it along with her old
man, compared to what them soft
skinned ships must have had. How
bout 1t, SamY'
Sounds good to me. What do you
think, Sandy? It's up to you as her
guardeen."
at sure sounds good" said Sandy.
"Seems like this Mrs. Keith must be
pritty fine woman to think of takin'
Molly into her own home. I'd be In
clined to put 1t this way: If Molly
cottons to the idea, let her hop to It."
"Mlrandy amt brought over the
butter yet" put In Mormon, with a
glance at his partners that was half
shamefaced "Why not git her opln-
ion? Takes woman to understand
woman. She'd sabe this letter a
heap better'n we c'ud."
Sam winked covertly at Sandy and
showed his tongue in his cheek.
That's a good idea, Mormon" said
Sandy.
"Never did find out jest what hap
pened to that last wife o. your'n did
We, Mormon?" asked Sam.
"Never did"
"That's too bad"
"Why?'
"Gen'ral principles"
"Speakin' wide, the weddn' cake of
matrimony has been mostly mlldewed
for me-" said Mormon reflectively.
sex. amt. like Sandy. Nature give
him an instinct ag'in' 'em, as pard
ners. He was BON lucky"
But Sandy had gone out Sam and
Mormon trailed him and saw him
walking toward the cottonwood grove
with Grit at his heels.
ale thinks heap of Molly"
opined Sam. II reckon he sure hates
to lose her, If he Is woman-shy.
Course Molly was jest n kid. But ]
don't fancy she'll take the back-trail
once she gifts mixed up with the
Keith outfit"
81 amt so plumb sure of that" re-
turned Mormon. "Moly's BON an
bred with the West In her blood.
She'll allus hear the call of the range,
like a colt that's stepped wild He'll
drink at the tank. but he amt for
gettin' the water-hole."
Sandy, under the cottonwoods
where the spring bubbled, so near the
old prospector's grave that perhaps
the old miner lying there could, In his
new afllnities with Nature, hear It's
flow, was thinking much the same
thing Mormon had expressed, hoping
1t might be true, Gliding himself lest
the thought be selfish.
Memories of Molly flickered across
the screen of his mind: Molly beside
her father by the broken wagon,
climbing to get the cactus blossom
for his cairn; Molly at the grave;
Molly giving him the gold piece; the
Wild ride across the pass and the race
for the train and recollection that
was freshest of all. one he had not
mentioned to his partners; the touch
Of Molly's lips on his as he had babe
her eoodby. The kiss had not been
that of child, there had been a magic
In 1t that had thrilled some chord In
Sandy that still responded to that re-
membrance.
Ito Be Continued