The Holly chieftain., 1923-05-24
CHAPTER lli-contInued.

CHAPTER lIi-continued.
II don't sabe the eddication part of
it." she answered. "Jest what does
that mean? I don't want to go to
school with a lot of kids who'll laf
at me-"
'You don't have to. AS pardners,"
Sandy went on earnestly, II don't
mind tellin' you that the Three Bar
has put all Its chips into the kitty
an, while we flgger sure to win, we
can't cash in any till the increase Of
the herds starts to make showin'.
Not till after the fall roundup, any
way. So yOre eddication'll have to be
put off bit. Meantime you'll learn
| to ride an rope an mebbe break
colt or two. between meals an ridin'
herd on the dirt. When you start In,
It'll be at one of them schools In the
East where they make speshulty Of
western heiresses. How's that soundr'
sounds fine. On'y. you've picked
| up Dads hand to gamble with. Mebhe
1t amt yore game, nor the one you'd
choose to play II 1t wasn't forced on
you"
Sister" said Sam, ''yo're skinnin'
yore hides too close. Sandy 'ud
gamble on which way horn-toad IL
spit. It's meat an drink to him. We
won this ranch on a gamble-him
playin'. He CANDLES as he breathes.
An whatever hand he plays. me an
Mormon backs. Why, II we win on
this mimi deal, we're way ahead Of
the game. SEEM we don't put up any
thin in cold collateral It's sure
nre cinch."
"sam says It," backed Sandy. "one
good gamble!"
Molly fumbled at the waistband of
her one-piece gown, working at 1t with
her fingers, producing golden eagle
which she handed to Sandy.
That's my luck-piece," she said.
sDad give 1t to me one time he
cleaned up good on a placer claim.
Mex time y0p gamble, will you play
that-for mey Half an half on the
winnin's. sure need some clothes"
The CLINT Of the born gamblers su-
perstitioh showed in Sandy's eyes as
he took the ten dollars.
II sure will do that" he said. "An'
mighty soon. Now, then, talks over,
all agreed. Sam an me has got some
work to do outside. Won't be back
much before sun-down. Mormon, he's
goin' to be middlin' busy, too. Molly,
you Jest acquaint yorese'f with the
Three Star. Riders won't be back till
dark. No one about but Mormon, Pc
dro the cook, an Joe. Rest up all
you can. Tn goin' to bring yore dad
In"
Tears welled in Molly's eyes as she
thanked him. Again Sandy saw the
girlish frankness change to the CRATE
fulness of woman's spirit. looking
out at him between her lids. 1t made
him little uneasy. The men went
out together, walking toward the
corral.
"sam an mes goin' to bring in
what's left Of Pat Casey, Mormon.
Well take the blackboard. with tarp'
to stow him under. Up to you to
knock together coffin an dig grave
under the cottonwoods an below the
spring. Git Joe to help you. No sense
in lettin' the gel see you, Of course"
Mormon rounded up the half-breed
Joe, to help him dig the grave, first
locating Molly in hammock he had
slung for her In the shade of the trees
by the cistern.
The soil was soft and clear from
stone. An hour sufficed to sink a.
shaft for Pat Casey's last bed. Nor:
mon carefully adjusted the headboard
he had fashioned from a thick plank,
to be carved later when the lettering
was decided upon. This done, he
buckled on the belt he had discarded,
from which his holster and revolver
swung. Sandy carried two guns, his
partners one, habits of earlier, more
stirring days. toting them as inev-
ftably as they wore spurs, though
there was little occasion to use them
on the Three Star, save to put hurt
animal out Of misery, or kill rattle
snake.
Moisture streamed from Mormon's
face, patched his clothes as the heat
and his exertions temporarily melted
>oms Of hts superfuous adiposity. He