isappointed.

Miranda, alone in the flivver, a new car of her own, bought with money
paid by Keith for her claim, was at the ranch-house when Sandy returned.
Miranda and young Ed Bailey, accepting Westlake's advice, had sold for
cash, getting fifteen thousand dollars to divide between them, refusing
more glittering offers of stock. It was a windfall well worth their
endeavor and they were amply satisfied. Young Ed had promptly gone to
Agricultural College, putting in part of his money to buy new stock and
implements for his father's ranch, in which he now held a half
partnership. Miranda, Mormon and Sam were talking about this when Sandy
came up.

"It sure made a man of young Ed overnight," said the spinster. "He
thought it out all by himse'f an' nigh surprised us off our feet. He was
sort of ganglin', more ways than one, an' we feared the money 'ud go to
his head. Which it did, as a matter of fact, but it was a tonic, 'stead
of actin' like an intoxicant. We're plumb proud of him.

"Mr. Westlake was over day before yesterday," she went on. "Goin' on
through to the East fo' a consultation with Mr. Keith an' his crowd.
Said to say he was mighty sorry he c'udn't git out to the Three Star,
but he only had a couple of hours before his train. He says things is
boomin' up to Casey Town. There's been some good strikes, one in the
claim nex' but one to ours. Keith's goin' to start things whirlin', I
reckon."

"Mebbe he'll see Molly," suggested Sam. "Though of course she ain't to
Keith's house yet."

"How's that?" asked the spinster eagerly.

"We are waitin' fo' Sandy to show you the letter," said Sam.

Miranda read the letter through twice, folded it and held it in her lap
for a few moments.

"Want my opinion on it?" she asked finally.

"Yes," said Sandy. "If the mines are goin' to produce big she'll likely
be rich. She went east to git culchured up. Seems like the school idea
might not have been the best, after all."

"I don't know. I don't rightly git the motive back of this writin'. It
ain't been sent without one. Mebbe she's just taken a fancy to Molly,
mebbe she's a woman that likes to do kind things and thinks Molly'll pay
well for bein' taken up. I don't mean in money but, if Molly didn't have
a show of bein' rich, an' warn't pritty, which she is, I ain't certain
Mrs. Keith 'ud be so eager. I guess it's all right but, somehow, it
don't hit me as plumb sincere. Still ... I reckon my opinion is like
that gilt h