Catoctin clarion., 1923-06-28
Author Of
A Man To His Nate, Etc.
Illustrations by
Irwis, Nye,~

ulated,. plunged, been persuaded to In
vest heavily. He was beginning to
have a 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 1t in Okla
homa and Texas.
The engine uncoupled and painted
off, leaving the car Mt rest on the
spur-track. The foX-faced secretary
came out held the door open. Some
one followed Molly Casey. Sandy
surmlsed 1t must he Donald Keith, but
he had sight for nothing except the
slender figure whose radiant face. be-
tween n Panama hat and dustcoat
Of pongee silk, shone straight at him.
1t was Molly, hut glorified Molly,
woman. not girl The freckleS had
gone. the snub nose had become de-
fined, the eyes Of Irish blue seemed
to have deepened in hue back Of their
smudgy lashes. The wide mouth was
the same, scarlet and soft as cactus
blossom, smiling, opening in glad
cry.
Sandy" Her arms went out
toward him in greeting over the brass
railing. Then Grit, catapulting from
ground to platform, with frantic yaps
Of welcome, fairly bowled over the
darky with his mounting block and
boupded up into Mollys embrace.
There was confusion on the platform
for moment with Grit as the nu-
cleus. Another person had come out,
evidently Miss Nicholson. She had
the general appearance of white
rabbit and the manners of a mater
nally intentioned but none too eff
cient hen.
Keith descended first, Molly darted
by his extended hand and ran straight
to Sandy, who had dismounted.
I'm going to hug you, and Mormon
and Sam, as soon as we get home to
the ranch," she cried. "HOme I'm
so glad to be here. Pronto, you
beauty and my own bay, Blaze! Do
you remember the trip over the mesa,
Blaze? How did you know l wanted
to ride to Three Star instead of
driver"
''Took a chance" said Sandy. do
your The old woman-shyness had
come over him. fighting with his
knowledge Of the child who had
changed into a woman. And the pom.
gee duster deceived him.
do II Didn't l write you l was
aching to fork saddlei Lookl"
She unbuttoned the duster with
swift fingers and stripped 1t off, stand
ing revealed in riding togs Of smallest
black and white checks, coat flaring
out from tine trim waist, slim, straight
legs in breeches and riding boots, a
white stock about the slender, round
ed neck. She gave one hand to Nor
mon, the other to Sam, gazing at her
In admiration that was radiant and
goggle-eyed. Sandy, looking down at
her, saw her eyes crinkle at the cor
ners in the old way. Keith and his
son Joined them, coming from the car,
Miss Nicholson lowering behind in
gratiatingly.
"Glad to see you, Bourke," he said.
"And you, Manning. You, too, Peters.
Meet my son. Donald"
The three partners shook hands
gravely with the boy, appraislng him
without his guessing 1t.
"Glad to see you out west" said
Mormon. "We'd sure admire to have
you visit us TO- SPELL"
II was hoping for bid" said young
Keith. "Thanks. The car Is here, or
will be within an hour or two. Father
shipped 1t ahead. Sims wired us 1t
was at the junction. He will drive 1t
over for us to 60 on to Casey Town
as soon as he overhauls it. Then I'll
run in from the mines, as soon as
Dad can spare me.
Donald has to get acquainted with
real mining property" said Keith
affably. "Molly was certain you
would have horse for her, Bourke.
Don't wait round for us. We have to
get some supplies and we'll wait in
my car till the machine comes. Err"
he looked around, and Miss Nicholson
fluttered up-''this Is Molly's compan-
Ion, Miss Nicholson. She goes with
you to the ranch. How ~
Sandy indicated the fiivver and in
troduced Miranda Bailey, who had
been directing the stowage of the
grips and the proper subordnation Of
the porter, who had not seemed ap-
preciative Of the fiivver.
Molly held out a gloved hand for
the reins Of the fretful Blaze. Young
Keith advanced with the proffer Of a
palm for her mounting. She shook
her head at him.
"Blaze wouldn't know what you
were trying to do, Don," she said.
She turned the stirrup, set In her foot,
Rrasped- name and horn and raised