Catoctin clarion., 1923-05-10
Thunont Frederick County, Maryland Thursday May 10, 1923

mo! helped to bury Jim Clancy
out in the desert; I'm goin' to hell
bury Dad. It's goin' to be lonesome
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 crawled into the wagon in search
of the dead miners pick and show el
that now, instead Of uncovering riches
would dig his grave, show old air
yOu?"
"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 fo' 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 git him an Wen
make place TO- him under our big
cOttonwoods below the big spring"
Molly Casey gazed at him with
such sudden glow of gratitude in
her eyes that Sandy felt embarrassed.
He had been comforting girl, a boy
ish girl, and here woman looked at
him, with understanding.
"Yo're sure a white man." she said.
"Ill git even with you some time If I
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 1t
as Sam emerged from the wagon with
the tools. The bay mare groaned and
gave Il 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 to
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 temporary
grave.
The body would have to lie on the
ledge overnight, nothing but burial
could save 1t from marauding coyotes,
though the wagon might have baffied
the buzzards. The two set to work
digging shallow trench down to bed
rock, rolling up loose powders for
cairn. Lizards flirted in and out of
the crevices as the miner was laid
in his temporary grave, the girl dry
eyed again.
She had brought little workbox
from the wagon, Of mahogany stud
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.
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 duds erlong
to the ranch?" he asked Molly. 1--WE
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
"Some. l amt had much chance"
II hnxx kln
yore skirt, If she won't Pinto'll pack
you"
"I'll fix that" She clambered into
the wagon. Before she came out with
her bundle they piled the calrn,
mask of broken rim-rock heavy
enough to foil the scratching Of the
coyotes.
1t looked to Sandy as If the girl had
changed into boy. The slender fig-
ure, silhouetted against the after
glow, softly pulsing masses Of fiery
cloud above the top of the mesa, was
dressed in jean, overalls, a wide
trimmed hat hiding length of hair.
81 reckon I can fool that hawss of
yores now," she said. II gen'ally dress
thisaway 'cept when we expect to go
nigh the settlements or ranch where
we aim to visit"
The gray mare made no bother and
soon they were riding down toward
the strip of Bad lands. Sandy let the
collie go afoot for the time.
1t was close to midnight when they
reached the home ranch, riding past
the outbuildings, the bunkhouse Of the
men where light twinkled, the cook
shack, the corrals, up to the main
house. There they alighted. Sandy
lifted Molly from the saddle and carried
her up the steps, across the porch,
kicking open the door Of the living
.,uILLL4tIIE44I IIIM4tT M T7I7Jtynmu.