The Holly chieftain., 1923-09-06
CHAPTER xIx-con.inued.

CHAPTER xix.-continued.
-1eN
Molly cast an Involuntary glance at
the opening door. watched 1t close
after the pair of blackguards and
braced herself. The issue was Y,
hand.
Plimsoll slid q bolt on the door,
brought over one of the makeshift
chairs and placed 1t in front of Mol
", seating himself. His alcoholIaden
breath reached her nauseatingiy and
she turned her head aside. As II
trigger had been released Pllmsolrs
face became infamed with a passion
ate fury.
"D-n you'll" he said. Don't you
turn your head away from me. I'll
train you to better manners before
I'm through with you. You'll be
jumping to do what you think want
you to before long. You'll 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 disdain; that she must try to
leash the devils that had broken loose
In his brain.
"Just what do you wantr' she
asked, and her voice seemed not to
belong to her as she uttered the words
that showed no tremor.
| "Youi Not for love, my beauty
Because you are good to look at-yes.
But I'll take my time. I'll sip at the
dish. my dear. I've got big score
to settle and I'll do 1t properly. Wen
70 over some Of the items"
He got up and emptied a bottle that
still held 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 back. Perhaps she could get
bis own gunf Plimsoll laid familiar
finger On her knee and instantly loath-
Ing showed in her eyes. He laughed.
"Using that busy LII brain of
yours, eh7 Figurin' I'll get drunk.
Nothjn' doin', M dear. made that
booze and I know Just how 1t treats
| mo, SaOoy NOW, tnon.
''Your guardian angel Sandy chis-
sled me out Of my share in the Molly
mine belongin' to me count of grub
stakin' your father"
'That's lie."
That's easy to say when It nets
you fortune. Easy to 60 back on a
dead mans Agreement. Tour-fushing
Sandy Bourks -
Molly suddenly slipped back into
the primitive. Something seemed to
click and the refinement she had
learned aud used SO far fell like a
cloak that Is dropped for freedom in
battle. With the malignmsnt of San
dy and her father she was Molly
Casey, daughter of q desert rat. once
more.
"That's another d-n le," she said.
"Hsven't forgotten how to swear,
have your
i've heard how Sandy Bourke
chased your rotten hearted Jumpers
out of 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
galloping OF while the whole camp
laughed at you. Sandy a four-fush-
ef! A coyote'll fight when It's cor
nered, but you :"
Plimsoll grew slowly livid. Heard
all about 1t. did your he said slowly,
'sThsn you know some of the score.
And can wipe on what owe Sandy
Bourke through you. And there are
more items. There was the first time
we met. I haven't forgotten that.
There was the kiss you said you tried
to bite out after you'd burned the
doll gave you. You told about that
the next time kissed you In the ham
mock at Three Star. You tried to
rub out that kiss. too. Maybe the
asxt ones will stay put"
"That was the time Mormon man
handled you" She saw the blue
snskes 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
taunted him to provoke him to an
uncalculated move Molly knew her
own litheness. her strength. II she
could get inside his arms, II even to
endure moment Of his beastly en-
brace, and could get 4 grip on the
gun7
But there was something In Plimsoll
that delighted in playing with a VIC
tim he felt sure of. It soothed his
broken vanity.
"So," he said. I'm going to get
even with Sandy and with Mormon
and that bow-legged fool Sam Man
ming, who call you the Mascot of the
Three Star. all at once; while l get
even with you. And get what should
have been mine at the same time.
Wen have you tucked away while we
mail the letter that will bring your
ransom Never mind the details of
handling the money. I'll attend to