Catoctin clarion., 1923-05-17

allow Old Air You, Molly Casey"
Molly, if you-all want to skip out ar
tend to them chickens, hop to it,"
Molly started for the door. rh
woman checked her with IA question
"How old air you, Molly Casey"
The girl turned, her eyes blank. he
manner charged with Indifference tina
unbent to be polite.
Fifteen" And she went out.
Him." said Miranda Bailey, "fif
teen Worse'n | imagined"
Sandy's eyebrows went up. The
breath that carried his words nigh
have come from a refrigerator.
You goin' back in the fiivver?' hi
asked. cor was you Amin to keep q
loOkin' To- that red-an'-white heifer?
Miranda shifted.
"I'm goin'. soon's I've said some
thin In the way Of word Of advice
an warnin, seem as how happened
this way. It's wOman's matter or
wouldn't meddle. l amt much time
an amt goin' to waste it to mince
. IL
an, livin' with you three bachelor
men"
'Tve been married. ventured Nor.
mon.
$50 I understand. Where's yore
wifer'
"One Of ems dead. one of ems
divorced, an I don't rightly sabe
where the third Is. nor / amt losln'
weight concernin that neither"
More shame to you. You're one
Of these women-haters, s'pose?"
"No MN, I amt. That's been my
trouble. I admire the sex, but I've
been bad picker. I'm Jest woman
dodger."
Miranda's sniff turned into snort.
II amt heard nothin' much ag'in
you men. I'll say that" she conceded.
II reckon you-all think I've Jest come
hOrnin' in on what amt my affair
Mebbe that's so. If you've fggered
this out same way l have tell me
an I'll admit I'm jest an extry an
beg yOre pardOns."
Miss Bailey" said Sandy, his man.
ner changed to courtesy, II believe
you've come here to do us q service
an Molly likewise. SO fur's I sabe
there's been some remarks passed con-
cernin' her stayin' here thout
chaperon, so to speak. Anyone that
'ud staht that sort of talk Is a blood
relation to centipede an mebbe I
can give a guess as to who 1t is. !
reckon / can persuade him to quit"
"Mebbe, but you can't stop what's
started any more'n hern-toad can
stop a landslide, Sandy Bourke. You
can't kill scandal with gunplay. The
girls too young, in one way, an not
young enough In another, to be stayin'
on at the Three Star You oughter
have sense enough to know that. Eff
one Of you was married, or had a
wife that 'ud stay with you. 1t 'ud be
different. Or If there was a woman
hOusekeeper to the outfit"
The flivver horn sQuawked outside
Miranda pointed her finger at Sandy.
There's chores waitin' TO- me. l
didn't come off at daylight Jest to be
spyin', whatever you men may think.
You either got to get grown woman
here or send the gel away, To- her
own good, fore the talk gifts 50 It'll
shadder her life. Now. I've said my
say, yOu-all talk 1t over"
Sandy went to the door with her,
helped her into the machine. He
came back with his face serious.
"She's right" he said. 1--WE got to
send her away. Me, I'm goin' into
Hereford tonight. aim to interview
Jim PlimsOll an then bust his bank.
One Of you come erlong. Match To- It,"
BUST the bank with whatr asked
Sam.
Sandy produced the ten-dollar luck
piece and held 1t up.
This. Mormon, choose yore side"
Heads"
Sandy flipped the coin. 1t fell with
golden ring on the floor. Tails"
said Sandy, inspecting it. "You come,
Sam. Staht afteh noon. OIL up yore
gun"
II knowed I'd lose" said Mormon
dolefully. Dang my luck, anyway"
1t was a little after seven o'clock
when Sandy and Sam walked out Of
the Cactus restaurant, leaving their
ponies hitched to the rail in front.
They strOlled down the main street Of
Hereford and stopped outside the
place labeled Good Luck Pool Par
l0rs. ]. Plimsoll, Prop" The line
Best Liquor and Cigars was half
smeared out. Sandy patted gently the
butts Of the two Colts In the hOl-
sters, whose ends were tied down to
the fringe ornaments Of his chaps.
Sam strOked his rOpey mustache and
eased the gun at his hip. Sandy
pushed open the door and went In. A
man was playing Garfield at a table
In the deserted bar. AS the pair en-
tered he looked up with q "Howdy,