The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-06-28

said. "I1ease let him get up. and put
away your pistol"
"Git up" said Sam, IAN go pick NJ
them letters"
Keith gathered up the envelope,
and presented them, with a bow. to
the ~governess. He had recovered
partial poise and his face was pale
as wax, his eyes evil.
I'll mail them, Miss Nicholson
said Sandy. "Let's CO." He took
Sam aside as the car swung round
and up to the porch. Sammy" San.
dy's eyes twinkIed, ~ didn't sabe you
an Miss Nicholson was so well ac,
q%uainted."
Same looked his partner In the eyes
and used almost the same words for
which he had just tanned Keith. But
he said them with u smile.
"You 20 plumb to h-l!"
Creel, president OF the Hereford
National bank, a 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 mire has petered
outT' he asked Keith, with palpnbIe
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. 81 wish | could
doubt It. Under the circumstances.
consulting with Mr.. Bourke, who rep
resents the majority stock, we con-
cluded there was no other action for
us to take but to recall the shares,
although the money had actually
passed"
"Humph !" Keith's suavity did not
appear entirely to smooth down
Creel's chagrln at losing what he had
considered a good thing. He smelt a
mouse somewhere. There are only
two reasons for re%purchasing such
stock" he said crisply. "The course
you take Is rarely honorable and sug-
gests great credit. The second rea-
son would be a strike OF rich ore
rather than a failure"
II will guarantee the failure. Creel,"
said Sandy. 'If, ut any time. a strike
Is made In the Molly, ! shall be glad
to transfer to you personally the
same amount of shares from my W
holdln's. I'll put that In writin'. If
you prefer It,"
mo-" said Creel. at amt neces.
sary." He glumly made the retrans-
fer. Sandy viseed Kelth's accounts
and took Kelth's check for the. bal
ance, placing II to a 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 II was only
mld-afternoon when they arrived.
Molly and Donald Keith were stlll alb
sent. there was no sign Of Brandon.
.
Keith stayed In his car, smoking,
ignoring the very existence of the
ranch and Its 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 al a
gallop. carrying double. Behind him.
clinging tight. was Donald Keith. woe
begone. almost exhausted. his trim
riding clothes snagged and soiled. his
shining puttees scufred and scratched.
He staggered as he slid out OF the
saddle and clung TO the cantle, head
sunk On arms until Sandy took him
by the arm. Keith sprang from his
car and came v Sam and Nor
hurried up.
whats thisY' demanded Keith
angrily. suspicion rife in his voice.
II picked him up three mile hack.
hoofin' It. He was headin' To- Bitter
Flats hut Re wanted the ranch" said
the cowboy to Sandy. ignoring Keith.
"We burned wind an leather comm
In. seein' jim Plimsoll an some OF
his gang have made or with Miss
"where'd this happen?" demanded
"Sam. 60 GIT Pronto To- me
an saddle Up"
THAT'S the HI Of H." said the
rider. "The pore d-n fool don't
know. Plumb locoi Scared to death.
Been wanderin' round sence afore
boon"
Donald Keith sagged sudleiay and
Sandy picked the lad up In his arms.
strobe with him TO the car and laid
lin on the cushions.
"Glt some water" he ordered
Keith. We've got no ticker on the
Keith ,benf. opened a shallow
beneath the seat and produced
silver flask. He unscrewei the ton
ND poured scais siauaT into 81. San-
raised fhe boy's head and lifted
he whisky &c Ms paliid lips. gray as
lis face where the flesh matched the |
'vwdery sikaIi that covereu u.
The cordial trickled down and non. |
Ids eyes opnnei. AInosf immediate
) roInr rama hack lIufo his rhaoSa