The Holly chieftain., 1923-06-14
CHAPTER vI-conslnusd.

-
Molly came out on the porch carry
ing small grip packed with her few
belongings. Grit beside her. Sandy
nodded to her, busy giving instruc-
tions to two riders. Mormon and Sam
waved and she went over to them,
swinging up to the rail beside them.
"Jim," said Sandy, II want you
should ride out to'ards Hereford an
hide out atop Of Bald butte. You
don't need to stay there any later
than noon. Take flash-glass with
you. II any Of the sherifr's crowd
comes erlong, anyone who looks like
he might be servin' papers, sabe, you
dash message. Make 1t a fve-fash
TO- anything suspicious, a three-flash
TO- anyone shackin' this way, even II
you flgger they're plumb harmless"
"seguro, Miguel" With the slang
phrase, Jim, an outstanding young
chap. despite his horse-bowed legs,
walked over to the bunk house for
dash-mirror and gun, came back to
his already caught-up and saddled
horse. and vent streaming of for the
Bald butte in cloud Of dust. Sandy
called to Buck Perches, oldest Of his
riders, whose exposed skin matched
the leather Of his saddle.
~Buck, ef any visitors arrives
while we're gone, you entertain 'em
same as w'ud. w'udnt be sur
prised but what Jim Plimsoll 'ud be
moseyin' erlong, with Sheriff Jordan
an mebbe one or two mo-. Mo- the
merrier. They'll be lookin' TO me an
Miss Molly with some readin' matter
that's got seal to the bottom Of 1t.
We won't be to home. You'll be the
only one to home 'cept Pedro an Joe.
They've got their instructions to know
nothin'. You-you've stayed to the
ranch to do some fixin' of yore saddle.
Started, but come back when yore
einch busted. Sabe3 All the rest
sf the riders 10 on the range 'tendin'
business. When they left, an when
you left with 'em. me an Mormon an
sam, with Miss Molly, was all here.
80 You supposed. Don't let 'em think
Eo're planted to feed 'em information.
Up to you. Buck, to act natcherul."
'Tll sure do that. I sabe the play"
''Then we'll light out soon's we're
packed. Got yors war-bag, Mollyr'
II haven't said good-by to Dad, or
Grit" she said.
Sandy nodded. Reckon you'd like
10 do that alone. Suppose you take
Grit with you to the spring an then
ioaxxa him nm In, vnv>n xooyH
'.He knows I'm goin'. I told him
last night, but he knew 1t 'thout that"
Molly spoke in monotone. She was
pale and her eyes showed lack Of
bleep, but she had fought the thing
put with herself and she was going
10 be game. She gave Sandy her grip
and walked of toward the cotton.
woods. Grit nosed along In her
shadow, his muzzle touching her skirt.
It was still cool, the dust rose about
them In eddies as the three Musketeers
and Molly crossed the slowly descend
ing slope Of the sink that presently
mounted again toward the far-off
range.
Either Mormon or Sam sat always
with neck twisted, watching for a
nash-signal from the butte. Some
lines Molly relieved them as lookout,
but hour after hour passed without
sign.
Close to noon they reached water
Ing hole, with water none too cool or
vweet, but still welcome. There the
buckskins were unhitched. rubbed
down and, after they had cooled of.
given water and grain. As they ate
cactus, Sandy suddenly gave grunt
Of satisfaction, pointing with out
stretched forefinger to the butte. Five
flashes had fickered up. They were
repeated. Jim had signaled a suspi-
cious party on their way to Three
Star. The sheriff was out with his
papers.
1--WE got five hours staht," said
Sandy. Made close to thirty mile.
They've got thirty-flve to make. Take
em mon two hours, countin' ques-
tions with Buck. Good enough. See
anything Of the boys, Sam7 They
ought to be showin' up. told 'em
loon."
ION time" announced Sam. The