Catoctin clarion., 1923-06-07
SYNOPSIS

| CHAPTER Ito the Three-Bar ranch,
Mormon" Peters and Soda Water sam
Manning, a dog makes its way, in the
last stages Of exhaustion. Inscription on
its collar says It's name is Grit
Bourke and Sam mount and let the dog
lead them.
man. Patrick Casey. pinned under an
overturned wagon and a young girl, his
daughter They get him out but he dies dies
almost instantly. murmuring MOLLY
mines" Sandy takes the girl, Molly, to
the ranch.
CHAPTER III.-It is agreed that Molly
stays as mascot" of the ranch. Sandy
insists, though. that she must have an
education. Jim Plimsoll, gambler, visiting
the ranch, insults Molly. He claims he
grubstaked Casey, which made him the
old mans partner Mormon drives him Off.
CHAPTER 1v.-starting with, gold
eagle. Mollys luck piece, Sandy. with
Sam, plays faro at PlimSolls place. win
ming in the neighborhood of $4,000.
CHAPTER V.-It is arranged that Molly,
to whom the half of Sandys winnings be-
long, shall go East to be "eddicated.'
CHAPTER VIA neighbor, Miranda
Bailey, warns the ranchers that Jim Plim-
soil. as Patrick Casey's partner" claims
guardianship of Molly. and the authori-
ties stand in with him. Sandy determines
to take the girl to New Mexico, visiting
on the way an old friend, Barbara Red
ding, for advice as to Mollys going East
The three men. with the girl, set out
CHAPTER VII.-Pursued by the sheriff,
the ranchers separate. Mormon and Sam
returning, and Sandy and Molly going on.
CHAPTER vIII-Tte two are caught
In a pass by cloudburst, during which
Sandy saves Molly's life. They reach the
town of Caroca, their objective.
a friend. who helps the pair elude the pur-
suing sheriff. and they safely board the
train on their way out of the state.
CHAPTER X.-sandy returns to his
partners, announcing that Molly has been
placed in a school recommended by Bar
bara Redding.
Sandy heard cry from Molly and
saw, through the curtain Of the fall
ing rain, the wide-flared nostrils Of
her horse. its eyes protrudng as the
brute, with the ground stopping away
beneath him, slid slowly down toward
the gulf, the girl, her weight flung for
ward on the withers, her face white
as paper, turning to him mutely for
help. 1t was a bad moment. Sandy
had no space to turn in, no chance
to whirl his larlat, even for side
throw. There was no time to spin
loop. But his hand detached the rope,
flying fingers found the free end as
he pivoted in the saddle, thighs weld
ed TO the mare.
"Take a turn about the horn" he
shouted. Hang to the end yo'sef"
He sent the line jerking back, whis-
tling as 1t streaked across the girls
shoulders. She clutched for it, with
plenty of slack, snubbed it about the
saddle horn, clung to the end, made
a blight Of 1t about her body.
Sandy spoke to the mare.
"Steady, lii lady, steady" The
rope was about his own horn; he
thanked God that he had examined the
cinches of Molly's saddle. The bay
was cat-footed; with the help Of the
mare Sandy believed he could dig and
scrape and climb to safety.
He felt Goldie stiffen beneath him,
braced against the strain she knew
was coming. The taut lariat hummed,
1t bruised into Sandy's thigh. Behind,
the bay snorted, struggling gallantly.
They were poised on the brink of
death for moment, two-three-and
then the mare began to move slowly
forward, neck curved, ears cooked to
her masters urging. while the bay
sloshed through the treacherous muck,
found foothold, lost 1t, made frantic
leap, another, and landed trembling
on the ledge. Sandy leaped from his
saddle and caught Molly, sliding from
her seat In sheer exhaustion and the
revulsion of terror clinging closely
to him.
I'm all right" she said. II was
scared an yet 1 knew you'd pull me
out. I'm plumb shamed of myself.
Jest like q ID gel to act that way"
"Shucks! You wasn't half as scared
as the bay. Wonder did he strain
himself?" He passed clever hands
over the bays legs, talking to 1t.
"Yo're all right. OIL surelegs. Right
as rain" Sandy recoiled his lariat,
gave Molly hand to her foot to lift
her to her saddle, mounted himself,
and they rode slowly down. The tur-
moil of running waters far below bur-
dened the night, but the danger from
the storm was over.
Train time was long past. Sandy
knew nothing Of the change Of sched-
ule, but he was confident Of winning
clear. He knew man in the little
town they were aiming for whose liv-
cry stable was, In the march of the
times divided between horses and ma
chimes. There he expected to put up
the horses until they could be re-
turned to Three Star, and there he
figured on hiring a car and driver
If, as he anticipated, there were no
more trains that night. He believed
that Mormon and Sam had delayed
the sheriff. Probably the latter had
given up the chase, but there was no
telling. They should lose no time In