The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-03-22
AHthor of n Man 20 Hi Mate" efe.
Copyright. 1872. by J Allan Dunn

III iOOh out tOI tHdL, pdluhSi Soiu
Sandy.
The eyelids fluttered, the old hands
fell away. the jaw relaxed, serenity
came to the lined face, and no little
dignity. For the first time the girl
gave way, lying prone. sobbing out
aside. The bay horse began to groan
and writhe.
Got TO kill that ~cavallo," said Sam
in a whisper.
"Wait a minute" The girl had qui-
eted. was kneeling with clasped hands,
lips moving silently. Prayer, such as
II was. over, she rose. her fists tight
| closed, striving to control her culver
ing ~chin-doing ii.
1--WE got to bury him, count Of them
d-n buzzards."
"We'l tend to that" said Sandy.
'.Ef you-all II take the dawg on up
to the hawsses :"
MOT helped to bury Jim Clancy.
out In the desert I'm goin' to help
bury Dad. It's galn' TO be lonesome
out here" She twisted her mouth.
setting teeth into the lower lip sharp
ly as she gazed at the desolate cliffs.
the birds swinging their tireless, ex
pectant circles In the throat Of the
gorge.
"See here, miss" said Sandy. while
Sam crnwled into the wagon In search
Of the dead miners pick and shovel
that n instead .nF tftantyariYln rirhnc
would dig his grave. "how old air
your"
Fifteen. My names Margaret
Molly for short-same as my Ma. She's
been dead twelve years"
"Well Miss Molly, suppose you-all
come on to the Three Star TO a spell
with my two pardners an me? You
do that an mebbe we can fix things
up and arrange about yore daddy.
Wen come back an ct him an Wen
make a place fo' him under our big
c~ottonwoods below the big spring"
Molly Casey gazed at him with
such a sudden glow of gratitude in
her eyes that Sandy felt embarrassed
He had beer comforting a girl. a boy
ish girl, and here a looked at
him. with understanding.
"Yo're sure a white man." she said.
I'm sit even with you some time II |
work the bones of my fingers through
the flesh TO you. Thanks don't
amount to a d-n 'thout somethin
back of 'em. I'll come through"
She put out her roughened little
hand. man-fashion, and Sandy took II
as Sam emerged from the wagon with
the tools. The bay mare groaned and
gave a shrill cry, horribly human.
Sam drew his gun, putting down pick
! and shovel.
Sandy picked up the tools and moved
toward Sam as the bay collapsed 10
the merciful bullet. The girl washed
away as best she could the stains Of
blood and travel from the dead face
while Sandy sounded with the pick
for soil deep enough for a temporary
grave.
The body would have TO lie on the
ledge overnight. nothing but burial
could save II from %marauding coyotes.
though the wagon might have bafled
the buzzards. The two set to work
digging a shallow trench down to bed
rock, rolling up loose powders for a
cairn. Lizards flrted In and out OF
the crevices as the miner was laid
In his temporary grave. the girl dry.
| eyed again.
She had brought a little workbox
from the wagon, Of mahogany stud
ded with disks of pearl In brass
mountings. Out of this she produced
a handkerchief OF soft China silk bro
cade, Its white turned yellow with age.
This she spread over her fathers fea-
lures. showing strangely distinct in
the failing light.
II don't want the dirt pressin' on
his face" she said.
From the dead mans clothes Sandy
and Sam had taken the few personal
belongings. from the inner pocket OF
the vest some papers that Sandy knew
for location claims.
want to take some buds eriong
10 the ranch?" he asked Molly. I'VE
can bring In the rest of the stuff
later. Got TO shack erlong. It's gittin'
dark. Brought an extry hawss with
us. Can you rider
"Seme. I amt had much chence."
Don't know how the march, stand
yore skirt. II she won't Pintom pack
you"
.f.t. a That. she carThs=sd into
the wagon. Before she came with
her bundle they piled the calrn. q
mask OF broken rim-rock heavy
enough to foil the scratching Of the
coyotes.
II looked 10 Sandy as II the girl had
changed Into a hoy. The slender fg-
ure. silhouetted against the after
glow. softly pulsing masses Of fery
cloud above the top Of the mesa, was
dressed In Jean overaIis. wide
trimmed ha, hiding length Of hair.
II reckon | ran fool that hawss OF
yores now, she said. Il gen'aily dress
thisaway 'cept when we expect 10 g
nigh the settlements or a ranch whers
we aim o visit"
The gray mare made no bother ant
soon they were riding down iowars
the strip OF Bld lands. SANDY let ths
collie go afoot Tor the time.
II was close 10 midnight when the,