The Holly chieftain., 1923-05-17
CHAPTER III
Molly.

Molly.
Molly came down next morning in
the faded blue gingham. Sandy
marked how worn 1t was and marked
an item in his mind-clothes. He
smiled at her with the sudden show
| ing of his sound white teeth that
made many friends. She was much
too young, too frank, too like boy
to affect him with any of his woman.
shyness.
| Molly had snubby nose, q wide
far apart and crystal clear, freckles
and lot Of brown hair that she wore
in long braid wound twice about her
well-shaped head. She was combi.
nation of curves and angles. of we'll
rounded neck and arms and legs with
! collar-bones and hips over-apparent,
immature but not awkward.
Grit. entering with her, divided his
attentions among the men, showing q
moist nose at last into Sandy's palm
and lying down obedient, his tail
humping amicably.
go a sheepdawg," said Mormon,
"he sure shapes fine"
Molly's eyes flashed. "He don't
know he's a sheepdawg," she protest
ed. Hes never even seen one, less
| 1t was a mountain sheep, way up
against the skyline. Don't you like
himY'
II like him fine" Mormon answered
hurriedly. "Finew
"Ef you-all didn't, we cu'd shack
on somewheres. cu'd git work down
to the settlemints, reckon. don't
aim to put you out any. I've been
thinkin' erbout that. Less you should
happen to want woman to run the
house. don't know much about
housekeepin', but cu'd l'arn.' It's
woman's job, chasin' dirt. can
cook-some. Dad used to say my
camp-bread an biscuits was fine.
cu'd earn what 1 eat, reckon. An
what Grit nd eat. We don't aim to
stay unless we pay-someway."
There was touch Of fire to her
Independence, chip on the shoulder
Of her pride the three partners rec
ognized and respected.
"See here. Molly Casey"-sandy
used exactly the same tone and man.
ner he would have taken with boy
that's yore way Of lookin' at 1t. Then
there's our side. You figger yore dad
was pritty good miner. reckoni
The last two words he says was
Molly and mines give him my
word then and there, like he would
have to me, to watch out for yore
interests My word is my pardners'
word. I'm willin' to gamble those
claims Of his'll pan out some day.
Until they do, ef you-all II stay on at
the Three Star, stop Mormon stompin'
In from the corral with dirty boots.
ride herd on Sam an me the same
way, mebbe cook us up some Of them
biscuits once in while, why. it'll be
flnei Then there's yore schoolin'.
Yore dad 'ud wish you to have that.
don't suppose you've had heap.
An you sabe, Molly, that you swear
mo- often than gel usually swears."
She opened her eyes wide. "But ]
don't cuss when l say 'em. An !
don't use the worst ones. Dad
wu'dn't let me. can read an write,
spell an cipher some. But Dad need.
ed me more'n needed learnin.'"
"But you got to have It," said Nor.
mon earnestly. "S'pose them claims
pan out way rich and you git ALFRED
wealthy? Bein' a gel. you sabe
clothes. di'monds. silks, satins an
feather fuss. You'll want to learn the
pianner. You'll want to know what
to git an how to wear IT."
"If you did that-took my Daddys
place." she said, "why, we'd be pard.
ners. same as him an me was. When
the claims pan out. half Of it'll have
to be yores. won't stay no other
way"
The glances Of the three partners
exchanged conclusion, mutual ap.
proval.
"That goes" said Sandy, putting
out his hand. "Eo' all three Of Us.
When the mines are payin' dividends,
we split, half on count of the Three
Star. half to you. Providin' you fall
in line with the eddication, SOS to do
yore dad yo'se'f an US, yore pardnerz
due credit when the money starts
comm in. Saber