River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1923-08-09

Catching Kate Nicholson's gaze, the
admiring look of woman who has
never before been championed, con-
scious of the fact that he had blurted
out her Christian name and disclosed
the secret of that touch of intimacy
between them, Sam grew crimson
through his tan. Kate Nicholson's
face was rosy; both were embar-
raised.
"Thank you, Mr.. Manning" she
said. "Please let him get up. and put
away your pistol"
"Git up" said Sam, IAN go pick up
them letters
Keith gathered up the envelopes
and presented them, with a bow, to
the governess. He had recovered
partial poise and his face was pale
as wax, his eyes evil.
.Tll mail them, Miss Nicholson
said Sandy. Lets CO." He took
Sam aside as the car swung round
and up to the porch. Sammy" San
dy's eyes twinkled, II didn't sabe you
an Miss Nicholson was so well ac-
quainted."
Same looked his partner in the eyes
and used almost the same words Tor
which he had just tanned Keith. But
he said them with a smile.
"You go plumb to h-l!''
Creel, president Of the Hereford
National bank, banker keen at a
bargain, shot out his underlip when
Keith. with Sandy in attendance,
rendered him the money for all shares
of the Molly mine sold in Hereford,
including his own.
"You say the mine has petered
outY' he asked Keith, with palpable
suspicion. Keith glanced swiftly at
Sandy sitting across the table from
him In the little directors room back
! of the bank proper. Sandy sat sphinx
like. AS If by accident, his hands
were on his hips, the fingers resting
on his gun butts.
"That is the news from my superin-
tendent," said Keith. II wish l could
! doubt it. Under the circumstances,
consulting with Mr.. Bourke, who rep
resents the majority stock, we con-
Guided there was no other action for
us to take but to recall the shares,
although the money had actually
passed"
"Humph!" Keiths suavity did not
appear entirely to smooth down
| Creers chagrin at losing what he had
considered good thing. He smelt a
mouse somewhere. There are only
two reasons for repurchasing such
stock" he said crisply. "The course
| you take is rarely honorable and sug-
gests great credit. The second rea.
son would be strike of rich ore
rather than a failure"
II will guarantee the failure, Creel,
said Sandy IF, at any time, a strike
is made in the Molly, shall be GLAD
] to transfer to you personally tht
same amount of shares from my owr
holdin's. I'll put that in writin', Il
you prefer it,"
"No," said Creel, sit amt neces
sary." He glumly made the retrans
fer. Sandy viseed Keith's accounts
and took Keith's check for the bal
ance, placing it to personal account
| for Molly. The check was on the
Hereford bank and it practically ex
hausted Keith's local resources.
Keith's powerful car made nothing
/ of the few miles between Hereford
and the Three Star and 1t was only
mid-afternoon when they arrived
Molly and Donald Keith were still alb
sent. there was no sign of Brandon.
Keith stayed in his car, smoking
ignoring the very existence of the
ranch and it's people. The afternoon
wore on with the sun dropping grad
ually toward the last quarter of the
days march. At four o'clock one OF
the Three Star riders came in at q
gallop, carrying double. Behind him
| clinging tight, was Donald Keith, woe.
begone, almost exhausted, his trim
riding clothes snagged and soiled, his