Catoctin clarion. [volume], June 28, 1923, Image 1

About Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940

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Volume LIII.
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A Family Newspaper—lndepenilent in Politics—Devoted to Literature, Local and General Nows.
Thurmont, Frederick County, Maryland, Thursday, June 28, 1923
Allan
BYNOPBIB
CHAPTER I.—To the Throe-Bar ranch,
Arizona, owned Jointly by Sandy Bourke,
"Mormon" peters and "Soda-Water Sam"
Manning, a dog maxes Its way, In the
laet staKcs of exhaustion. Ins rlptlon on
Its collar says Its name Is Grit, "property
o£ P. Casey." Scenting a desert tragedy,
Bourke and Sam mount and let the dog
lead them.
CHAPTER ll.—The two find a dying
man, Patrick Casey, pinned under an
overturned wagon, und a young girl, his
daughter. They get him out, but he dies
almost Instantly, murmuring “Molly—
mines." Sandy takes the girl, Molly, to
the ranch.
CHAPTER III.—It Is agreed that Molly
staye as "mascot" of the ranch. Sandy
insists, though, that she must have an
education. Jim Pllmsoll, gambler, visiting
the ranch. Insults Molly. He claims he
grubstaked Casey, which made him the
old man's partner. Mormon drives him off.
CHAPTER IV.—Starting with a gold
eagle, Molly's luck piece. Sandy, with
Sum, plays faro at rflmsoU'B place, win
ning In the neighborhood of 110,000.
CHAPTER V.—lt Is arranged that Molly,
to whom the half of Sandy's winnings be
long, shall go East to be "eddlcated."
- CHAPTER VI.—A neighbor, Mlrands
Bailey, warns the ranchers that Jim Pllm
soll, 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, Harbara Red
ding, for advice as to Molly's going East.
The three men, with the girl, set out.
CHAPTER Vll.—Pursued by the sheriff,
the ranchers separate. Mormon and Sam
returning, and Sandy and Molly going on.
CHAPTER VllT.—Tsie two nre caught
In a pass by a cloudburst, during which
Sandy saves Molly's life. They reach the
town of Caroca, their objective.
CHAPTER IX.—At Caroca Sandy meets
a friend, who helps the pair elude the pur
suing sheriff, anil 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.
CHAPTER XI.—A party of riders head
ed by a man named Brandon visits the
Three-Bar, announcing their suspicions of
Jim Plimsoll s conduct of his horse ranch.
They have all lost stock, and believe
Pllmsoll to be the thief, but are unable
to prove It. Gold Is struck at Dynamite,
where Molly's claim Is located, the usual
rush following. Pllmsoll claims the
Casey mine, by virtue of his alleged
"grubstake.” Determined to protect her
Interests, Sandy (who realizes he Is much
more than materially interested In
her) and his two friends, with Miranda
Bailey, proceed to Dynamite. They find
Pllmsoll conducting a gambling place.
Sandy rescues a young assayer. Clay
Westlake, from a bully.
CHAPTER Xll.—Westlake says Indica
tions are that the strike will pan out
well. As anticipated, Pllmsoll has Jumped
Molly’s claims, but the three partners
drive off the gunmen he has left In
charge, and Sandy gives Pllmsoll until
sun-up next day to leave the town, or
the two will "shoot It out."
CHAPTER XIII,—An attempt to injure
the three ranchers Is frustrated.
CHAPTER XIV.—A capitalist from the
East, announcing himself as Wilson
Keith, arrives at Dynamite. Pllmsoll,
knowing he Is no match for Sandy In
a gun tight, shows his yellow streak and
leaves town.
CHAPTER XV.—Keith, it appears, has
been negotiating with Pllmsoll for the
purchase of Molly's claims. Sandy tells
the truth about the mine, announcing
that he, his partners* and Molly*, have
•qual shares in the property. Next day
papers are drawn up, giving Keith 40
per cent of the shares of a company
which he is to organize, the rest belong
ing to Molly and the three cowboys
Brandon writes Sandy that he has set a
trap for Pllmsoll. Molly sends word of
her forthcoming visit, with Keith, Ills
son Donald, and her governess-compan
ion, Kate Nicholson, to the Three-Bar.
CHAPTER XVl.—'The party arrives,
Molly very different from the girl who
had left her protectors a few months ago.
T7Te trnln rolled In majestically, the
private car gleaming with varnish
and polished glass and brnss, with a
white-routed (larky flashing white
teeth on the platform as the fussy
local engine took the detached luxury
to the side-track designated for Its
Hereford location. The flivver was
parked and Miranda, Mormon nnd
Sum made one group a little ahead
of the others, recognized by the crowd
as privileged.
If Wilson Keith, clad In tweeds
(nil >red on Fifth avenue, a little
portly, square-faced, confident, a trifle
condescending. typified the East,
Snndy was the West. A good horse
Is the incarnation of symmetry, grace
nnd power. Sandy, erect In the saddle,
lean and keen, matched all of Pron
to’s fitness. Man and mount both
eminently belonged to the land, shim
mering with sage, fnr-stretclilng to
the mountains, a land thut demanded
and bred such a combination.
Keith stood by the railing of his
platform, the darky ready with the
dismounting stool. He surveyed the
crowd affably, with the poise of a
successful candidate assured of wel
come. waving his hand In deml-snlute
to Snndy, Sam nnd Mormon, lifting
his lint graciously to Miranda Bailey.
The man nnd the car emanated pros
perity. Yet, for all the booming of
Casey Town, the finding of pay-ore,
the sale of shares, Keith’s present
financial status was not all that he
trusted It might he within a short time.
It was part of the technique of his pro
fession to assume a mask and manner
of financial success, and of late he had
worn these until at times they jaded
him. hut they were well designed,
well worn, nnd no one doubted but
that Wilson Keith was a man of ready
millions.
Keith had dallied with oil, had apeo
ulated,. plunged, been persuaded to In
vest heavily. He was beginning to
, have a vague fear of not being so
> certain as he would have wished as
, to which end of the line he had taken,
} that of the halted hook, or the end
[ that was attached to the reel that au
i tomatlrally plnys the fish.
He sold gold nnd he wns buying oil.
r Others, pnrtners with him In new en
[ terprlßes In the petroleum field, were
i making sudden fortunes. His turn
J had not come yet, but they assured
him that hls ventures promised even
more than those that had enriched
them. Faster than gold came out of
1 Casey Town Keith used It In Okln
i linmn nnd Texas.
1 The engine uncoupled and panted
off, leaving the car at rest on the
1 spur-track. The fox-faced secretary
came out, held the door open. Some
one followed Molly Casey. Snndy
surmised It must he Donald Keith, hut
lie had sight for nothing except the
slender figure whose radiant face, be
tween a Panama hat and a dustcoat
of pongee silk, shone straight at him.
i It was Molly, hut a glorified Molly,
woman, not girl. The freckles had
gone, the snub nose had become de
fined, the eyes of Irish blue seemed
to have deepened In line hack of their
smudgy lnslies. The wide mouth wns
the same, scarlet and soft ns cactus
blossom, smiling, opening In n glad
cry. . . .
“Sandy!" Her arms went out
toward him In greeting over the brass
railing. Then Grit, catapulting from
ground to platform, with frantic yaps
I of welcome, fairly howled over the
dnrky with hls mounting block and
bounded up Into Molly's enihrnce.
There was confusion on the platform
for a moment with Grit as the nu
cleus. Another jierson had come out.
evidently Mlns Nicholson. She had
the general appearance of a white
rahldt and the manners of a mater
nally (mentioned but none too effi
cient hen.
Keith descended first, Molly darted
by Ills extended hand and ran straight
to Sandy, who hud dismounted.
"Pm going to hug you, and Mormon
and Sam, as soon ns we get home to
| the ranch,” she cried. "Home! Pm ,
'so glad to he here. Pronto, you
beauty, nnd my own bay, Blaze! Do
i you remember the trip over the ntesu,
Blaze? How did you know I wnnted
to ride to Three Star Instead of
drive?"
"Took a chance,” said Sandy. “Do
you?” The old woman-shyness had
come over him, fighting with hls
knowledge of the child who had
changed Into a woman. And the pon
gee duster deceived him,
"Do I? Didn’t I write you I was i
aching to fork a saddle? Look 1"
She unbuttoned the duster with
swift fingers and stripped It off, stand
ing revealed in riding togs of smallest
black and white checks, coat flaring
out from the trim waist, slim, straight
legs in breeches and riding hoots, a
white stock about the slender, round
ed neck. She gave one hund to Mor
mon, the other to Sam, gazing at her
In admiration that was radiant and
goggle-eyed. Snndy, looking down at
her, saw her eyes crinkle at the cor
ners In the old way. Keith und hls
son Joined them, coming from the car.
Miss Nicholson hovering behind In
gratiatingly.
"Glad to see you, Bourke," he said.
“And you, Manning. You, too, Peters.
Meet my son, Donald.”
The three partners shook hands
gravely with the hoy, appraising him
Without his guessing It.
"Glad to see you out west," said
Mormon. "We’d sure admire to have
you visit us fo’ a spell."
"I was hoping for a bid,” said young
Keith. “Thanks. The car is here, or
will be within an hour or two. Father
shipped It ahead. Sims wired us It
was at Hie junction. He will drive It
over for us to go on to Casey Town
as soon as he overhauls it. Then I'll
run In from the mines, as soon as 1
Dad can spare me.
"Donald has to get acquainted with
a real mining property," said Keith
affably. "Molly was certain you
would have a horse for her, Bourke. .
Don’t wait round for us. We have to :
get some supplies and we’ll wait In
my car till the machine comes. Er —"
he looked around, and Miss Nicholson .
fluttered up—"this Is Molly’s compan
ion, Miss Nicholson. She goes with
you to the ranch. How ...?’’ |
Sandy Indicated the flivver and In
troduced Miranda Bailey, who had
been directing the stowage of the
grips and the proper subordination of
the porter, who had not seemed ap- .
preclatlve of the flivver.
Molly held out a gloved hand for'
the reins of the fretful Blaze. Young
Keith advanced with the proffer of a
palm for her mounting. She shook
her hend at him.
“Blaze wouldn’t know what you
were trying to do, Don,” she said.
She turned the stirrup, set In her foot,
herself lightly, holding Ker body close
to the hay’s withers for a second as
he whirled, then lifting to the saddle,
firm-seated, with a laugh for Blaze’s
plunglngs.
“I see they didn’t unteach you rldln’
back east,” said Mormon admiringly.
Miss Nicholson clambered Into the
flivver beside Miranda Bailey. Sam,
Mormon and the grips packed the
tonneau, and Keith and his son were
left standing by the private car.
Keith was soon surrounded with a
crowd, making himself popular, flat
tering them until they finally went
away convinced that they had all con
stituted a first-class reception com
mittee to meet the Illustrious, the en
ergetic, good-fellow-well-met promoter
and engineer of other people’s for
tunes.
There was not much spoken be
tween Molly and Sandy on the way
There Was Not Much Spoken Between
Molly and Sandy on the Way Back
to the Ranch.
hack to the ranch. She seemed con
tent to breathe In deep the herb
scented air and gaze at the moun
tains.
Sandy, riding a little to one side, a
little back of her, so that he could see
lier better without appearing to stare,
echoed, for the time, her happiness.
This was Molly, the girl who had
sworn when she told them of her
father's death. He could recall tha
tone of the words at will.
"The d —d road Jest slid out from
under. He didn't have a h—l-chance!"
Molly, who hud put arms about hls
neck and kissed him good-by when she
went to school —how long ago that
seemed —and said, "Sandy, I don’t
want to go. but I'll he game.”
This was hls Molly! The knowl
edge swept over Sandy and left him
tingling. Love came to him, the first,
clean white flame of first love, burn
ing like a lamp In the heart of a man.
It was for this, he knew, that he had
been woman-shy, that he had cher
ished hls own thought of womanhood
as something so rare a thought might
tarnish It. First love, shorn of boy
fallacies, strong, Irresistible, protec
tive, passionate.
Game and dainty, tender, true, a
girl-woman, partner —what a partner
she would make, western-bred . . . 1 1
He checked himself there. She was
western born, but what had the trans
planting done? Would she ever now
be satisfied with western ways? She
would come to him, Sandy knew that.
Whatever he asked her she would not
refuse. But would that be fair to
her? And he did not want her to
come to him out of gratitude. He
wanted her nature to fuse with his. j
It seemed no time since he had j
taken her from her saddle and car- i
ried her, a tired, heartsore child, in
hls arms. She must have a fair
chance to see if the East, with all It
could offer her of amusement and In
terest, would not outbid the claims
of the West. He must wait and watch
and hold himself in hand though hls
love and hls knowledge of It thrilled
through him, charging him as If with
an electric current that strove to
close all gaps between him and Molly,
struggling ever, In mind and body, to
complete the circle.
They got to the ranch ahead of the
flivver by a scant margin. Miranda
Bailey Inducted Molly and her chap
eron governess into the quarters she
had helped prepare for them, Molly
giving little cries of delight at the
Improvements she saw downstairs.
Miranda came down first and Joined
the partners.
"Molly Is certainly sweet," she said.
"She’s grown Into a woman an’ she’s
grown away from the old Molly.
Can't say as how she's affected none
an’ her speech an’ manners Is sure
fine. That gel’s natcherally got a
grand disposition.
"The Nicholson person—her first
name Is Clarice—ls well-mennln’
enough. She ain't shlf'less, but she
ain't what you’d call practical. I
reckon she does fine In teachln’ Molly
some things, but she’d be plumb
wasted out west. I’ll say she never |
washed out anything bigger than a
hankychlf or cooked a thing larger’n
an egg. An’ she c'udn't boss a sick
lizard. But she’s easy to git along
with, I suppose.
"That Donald la a good-lookin' lad,"
went on Miranda. “It must take him
an awful waste of time to fix hls
clothes every time he puts 'em on. I
don’t know how smart he Is Inside,
but he's got some of them movin'-
picture heroes beat on appearance.
I'm wonderful what Molly thlpJts L
about "him. ’ As for "hls father, he k s
smart enough Inside an' out. But he
talks too much like a politician to
suit me. I'm mighty glad we got cash
for our claims. Keith’s too slick an’
smooth an' smilin' to suit me.”
It wns a lengthy diatribe from Mi
randa Bailey, accustomed ns they
were to hear her state opinions freely.
The trio at Three Star had univer
sally come to respect her decisions
and also her Intuitions, and none of
them had felt especially cordial
toward Keith as a man, though they
considered him good In Ids profession.
"The writer, Klplln’," said Sandy,
"wrote a poem about East an’ West,
sn.vln’ that never the two c’ud meet.
Ef Keith tries to flamjlgger Molly out
of anything that’s cornin’ to her by
rights, why, I reckon that’s one time
the West an’ East Is goln’ to meet—
an’ mehhe lap over a bit. So fur, he’s
put money In our pockets. Here's
Molly . . ."
“I’m goln’ home," said Miranda, as
the girl entered the room. 'Tve got
you started an' I’ll run over once In
a while to see how Pedro Is makln’
out.”
She said good-by to Molly, who had
swiftly changed out of her riding
clothes Into a gown that looked
simple enough to Sabdy, though he
sensed there were touches about It
that differentiated It from anything
turned out locally. With the dress
Rhe looked more womanly, older, than
In the boyish breeches. Miss Nichol
son had made some changes also, but
she had a chnmeleon-llke faculty of
blending with the background that
preserved her alike from being criti
cized or conspicuous. As she shook
hands with Miranda the two present
ed marked contrasts. Miranda was
twentieth-century-western, of equal
rights and equnl enterprise; Miss
Nicholson mld-Vlctorlan, with no more
use for n vote than for one of Sandy’s
guns. Yet likable.
“I’m going to Daddy’s grave," said
Molly, when Mlrandn had fllvvered
ofT. 'T wish the three of you would
come there to me In about ten min
utes. Miss Nicholson, everybody’s at
home here. Please do nnytldng you
want to, nothing you don't want to.”
At the end of the ten minutes the
three men wulked together toward
the cottonwoods. Grit was lying on
the grave, and they saw Molly kneel
ing by the little railing. They ad
vanced silently over the turf and
stood In a group about her with their
hats off and their heads bowed. Grit
made no move and Molly did not look
up for two or three minutes. Then
she greeted them with a smile. There
were no tear-signs on her face though
her eyes were moist.
"I wanted to thank you all," she
said, "and to tell you how glad I am
to be hack. I have met lots of people,
of all sorts and kinds, hut not one of
them who could hold a cnndle to any'of
you three kind, true-hearted friends.
I wanted to do It here where Daddy
Is In the place you gave him and
made for him under the trees, close
to the running water. I was only a
girl—a kiddle —when I went away. I
think I am a great deal older now,
perhnps, than other girls of my age.
And I realize all you have done for
me. The only thing Is, I don't know
how to begin to thank you."
She went to Mormon and took hold
of both hls hands, her head raised,
lips curved to kiss him. Mormon
stooped and turned hls weathered
cheek, but Molly kissed him full on
the lips. So with Sam, despite the
enormous mustache. Then she came
to Sandy, taller than the others, hls
face grave, under control, the eager
ness smothered In hls eyes, desire
checked by revertnee for the pure af
fection of the offered salute. He fan
cied that her Ups trembled for a mo
ment as they rested softly warm, upon
hls own. But the tremor might have
been hls own. He knew hls heart was
pounding against the slight tonch of
her slenderness that was manifest
with womanhood. Hls arms ached
with the restraint he set upon them,
In the presence of Mormon and Sam.
“I’ve brought some things for you,"
said Molly. "Just presents that 1
bought In shops. But I wanted to
He Fancied That Her Lips Trembled
for a Moment ae They Reeted Softly
Warm Upon Hit Own.
thank you out here where Daddy, lies."
She sought their glances, searching to
see If they understood, satisfied.
"We're sure glad to git back the
Mascot of the Three Star,” said Mor
mon.
"Ah' the sooner you xrlt through
Terms $1.06 in Advance.
bein’"" eSdlcated aa' corns back To'
keeps, the better," amended Sam.
Sandy said nothing but smiled at
her and Molly smiled back again.
"I think you have been my mascot
rather than m<£ yours. I've still got
my luck piece," and she pulled out
of her neck, suspended by a fine chain
of gold, the gold piece with which
Sandy had won the stake that had
started her east. "Now show me all
the Improvements. We’ll get Kata
Nicholson. She's a first-class scout If
you ever get her out of the Bhell she
crawled Into a long time ago when
her folks suddenly lost everything
they had. If we had a piano, Sam,
she’s play the soul out of your body.
Walt until she gets at the harmonium
tonight. You and she will have to
play duets, Sam, you on the three
decked harmonica I got for you.”
"Aw, shucks I” protested Sam. “I’m
no musician.”
“You are," she said gayly. "You
are my Three Wise Men of the West
You are all magicians. You took me
out of the desert, you have made Ufa
beautiful for me. Don’t dispel the
illusion, Soda-Water Sam. I’d rather
hear you play ’EI Oapltan’ than
listen to the Philharmonic orchestra."
"Whatever that is," answered Sam.
CHAPTER XVII
Westlake Brings News.
In the week that followed, the part
ners of the Three Star managed to
find many hours for holiday-making.
The ranch ran well on Its own rou
tine, and Molly was a princess to be
entertained. Kate Nicholson emerged
from her chrysalis and became almost
a butterfly rather than the pale gray
moth they had fancied her. Even
Miranda revised her opinion. The
Nicholsons, It came out, had been a
family of pome consequence and a
fair degree of riches in South Caro
lina before an unfortunate specula
tion had taken everything.
Kate Nicholson, left alone soon
afterward, had assumed the role of
governess or companion with more or
less success and drifted on, sub
merged In the families who had used
her services, until Keith had secured
her for the post with Molly when
tilings had seemed particularly black.
Now, riding with Molly, with Sam und
Sandy for escorts, over the open range
or up into the canyons, on picnics, the
years slid off from her. She laughed
and talked spontane
ously. Evenings, when they would
return to the disconsolate Mormon,
who bewailed openly his lack of
saddle ease, they found, two nights
out of three, Miranda Bailey, self
charioted In her flivver with offerings
of cake and doughnuts to supplement
Pedro’s still uncertain efforts.
Molly chuckled once to Sandy.
“Miranda’s a dear," she said. “I
wish she'd marry Mormon. But Kate
Nicholson is a far better cook than
she Is. Only she won’t do anything
for fear of hurting Miranda’s feel
ings.”
Yet the governess did cook on occa
sion, trout that they caught In the
mountain streams, and camp biscuits
and fragrant coffee when they made
excursions, so deft a presiding genius
of the camp-fire that Sam declared
she belonged to Sageland.
"I love It," she answered, sleeves
tucked to the elbow, stooping over the
fire, her face full of color, tucking a
vagrant wisp of hair Into place.
• ••••••
Sam had stopped playing, w*i
[Continued on page 4]
The
Fredericktown
Savings
Institution
Established March. 1828
LOANS TO
PROPERTY OWNERS
This Institution invites applica
tions for Real Estate Loans.
Our desire is to be of the utmost
assistance to present or pros
pective Property Owners who re
quire additional funds for im
provement or development pur
poses.
Just step into the Bank and
make known your needs.
We are interested in your prog
ress.
No. 16