The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-06-28

10 year.
Abashed. the partners gave her full
sway. The ranch-house was secured
from top to bottom. Miranda's car
brought over curtains for the win
dows, flowers for tho wlndow-sills,
odds and ends that made the place
look homely, cheerful, inviting. Pedro
was given lessons at the stove that
he at first took sulkily, but, being
praised and his wages raised. took
pride In.
Hell do" vouchsafed Miranda at
lest, the evening before the arrival.
Hes no hand at cookies or dough-
nuts an never will be, but I'll bring
them over from time to time. He can
make pie an biscuit an he can broil
meat. I've taught him to mash his
pertaters with milk stead Of water
an to put butter In his hot cakes. I'm
stayin' over till supper termorrer to
see everything has a good staht
There's room for five-supposed to
be-in my car. An there's four Of
us an six to come back. The other
cars In use. How We goln' to man
age itr'
.Mollyn ride in with me-" said
Sandy. "Pm goin' over early on
Pronto an take the white blazed bay
along that Molly rode over the Goats
pass"
"Ride in? She won't be dressed for
II, travelln' on the train" said MI.
randa.
i've got bunch she WILL" Sandy
answered simply. "They got their
own private car. II she amt. why.
Sam can ride the bay back. But me
an Pronto, the bay an Grit are goin'
hathaway"
There were certain tones Of Sandy's
voice that gave absolute finality to his
statements. He used them on this
occasion. The argument dropped. In
way Sandy was making the matter
q test Of Molly. II she was as anxious
as she wrote to fork broncho." II
she understood Sandy and he her. she
would feel that he would be waiting
with her mount for her to return to
the ranch western fashion. If not. 1t
meant that she was out of the chrys-
ais and had become. not the busy
bee that belongs to the mesquite and
the sage, but gaudier. less raspon-
sible fiutterer among eastern flower
beds
Miranda's caravan started an hour
after Sandy left. she driving. Mormon
and Sam in the back. each dressed In
his best minus chaperajos and spurs,
but otherwise most typically the cow
boy and therefore out Of place-and
feeling it-as they sat stiffly In the
tonneau. Miranda
was in starched linen, destitute Of all
dark red ribbon at her
throat the only touch Of color, look
ing extremely efficient and, as Sam
whispered to Mormon. "a bit stand
offish."
The train rolled In majestically. the
private car cleaning with varnish
and polished glass and brass, with
darby flashing white
teeth on the platform as the fussy
local engine took the detached luxury
to the sidetrack designated for its
Hereford location. The flivver was
parked and Miranda, Mormon and
Sam made one group little ahead
Of the others, recognized by the crowd
as privileged.
II Wilson Keith, clad In tweeds
on Fifth avenue. little
portly. square-faced, confident, a trifle
condescending, typifed the East,
Sandy was the West. A good horse
Is the incarnation Of symmetry. grace
and power. Sandy. erect in the saddle.
lean and keen, matched all Of Prom
to's fitness. Man and mount both
eminently belonged to the land. SHIN
mering with sage, far-stretching to
the mountains, a land that demanded
and bred such combination.
Keith stood by the railing Of his
platform. the darby ready with the
dismounting stool. He surveyed the
crowd affably, with the poise Of a
successful candidate assured Of vel
come. waving his hand IN demi-saiute
to Sandy, Sam and Mormon. lifting
his hat graciously to Miranda Bailey.
The man and the car emanated pros
perity. Yet, for ali the booming Of
Casey Town, the finding Of pay-ore,
the sale of shares. Keith's present
financial status was not all that he
trusted II might be within short time.
It was part Of the technique Of his pro-
fession to assume a. mask and manner
Of financial success, and of late he had
worn these until at times they faded
him, but they were well designed,
well worn, and no one doubted but
that Wilson Keith was man Of ready
millions
Keith had dallied with OIL, had spec
ulated. plunged. been persuaded to In
vest heavily. He was beginning to
have vague fear Of not being so
certain as he would have wished as
to which end Of the line he had taken,
that Of the baited hook, or the end
that was attached to the reel that au-
tomatically plays the fish.
He sold gold and he was buying oil.
Others partners with him In new en-
terprises In the petroleum field, were
making sudden fortunes. His turn
had not come yet. but they assured
him that his ventures promised even
more than those that had enriched
them. Faster than gold came out Of
Casey Town. Keith used It in Okla.
homa and Texas.
The engine uncoupled and painted
of. leaving the car at rest on the