The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-07-12
CHAPTER xIx.-continued.


hand.
Plimsoll slid a bolt on tie door,
brOugh: over u Of the makeshifi
chairs and placed II In front of Mol
~, seating himself. His alcohol-laden
breath reached her nauseatingly and
she turned her head aside. As II a
trigger had been released PlImsoll's
face became infiamed with a passion
ate fury.
"D-n youl" he said. "DOn't you
turn your head away from me. III
train you to better manners before
Tn through with You. You'll be
Jumping 10 do what you think | want
you 10 before long. Yor'l be begging
me for favors. You may think you're
too good for me now. You won't
presently"
She saw that she had gone too far
in her disdaln; that she must try to
leash the devils that had broken loose
In his brain.
"Just what do you want?' she
asked. and her voice seemed not to
belong 10 her as she uttered the words
that showed no tremor.
"You! Not for love, my beauty
Because you are good 10 look at--yes.
But I'll take my time. I'll sip at the
dish, my dear. I've got a big score
to settle and I'll DO II properly. Wen
go over some OF the Items"
lie got up and emptled a bottle that
still held a 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 hack. Perhaps she could get
his own gun? Pllmsoll laid familiar
finger on her knee and Instantly loath-
ing showed In her eyes. He laughed,
"UsIng that busy 1T brain Of
yours, Ell? Figarin' I'll get drunk.
Nothin' doin', m dear. l made that
booze and | know just how II treats
me. sabe2 Now, then.
"Your guardian angel Sandy CHS
eled me ont of my share In the Molly
mine b~elongln' to me count Of grub
stakin' o II father"
That's a lie"
That's easy TO say when II nets
you a fortune. Easy to go back on q
dead mans agreement. Four-fushiny
Sandy Bonrke :"
Molly suddenly slipped back mo
the primitive. Something seemed to
click and the refinement she bad
learned and used so far fell like a
cloak that Is dropped for freedom In
battle. With the m%aIlgnment OF fan.
dy and her father she was Molly
Casey. daughter OF a desert rat, once
more.
THAT'S another d-n lie,'' she said.
Haven't forgotten how to srear.
have your"
1--WE heard how Sandy B1,rke
chased your rotten-hearted Jumpers
out off 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
gnlloping Off while the whole camp
laughed at you. Sandy a four-iush-
err! A coyoteTl fight when It's corr
nered, but you :"
Piimsoli grew slowly livid. Heard
all about 1t. did your" he said slowly.
"Then you know some Of the score.
And I ran wipe or what I owe Sandy
Bourke through you. And there are
o items. There was the flrst time
we met. haven't forgotten that.
There vas the kiss you said you tried
20 bite ou after you'd burned the
doll I gave you. You told about that
the next time I kissed you In the ham
mock at Three Star. You tried to
rub out that kiss. TOO Maybe the
next ones will stay pat"
'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
tainted him to provoke him to an
uncalcuiated move. Molly knew her
own iitheness. her strength. II she
could get inside his arms. II even to
endure q moment OF his beastly EN-
brace. and could get q grip on the
guna
But there was something In Piimsoll
that delighted In playing with a vic
si..he felt sure Of. 1t soothed his
broken vanity.
$50" he said, SIN going TO gel
even with Sandy and with Mormor