for one of
Sandy's guns. Yet likable.

"I'm going to Daddy's grave," said Molly, when Miranda had flivvered
off. "I wish the three of you would come there to me in about ten
minutes. Miss Nicholson, everybody's at home here. Please do anything
you want to, nothing you don't want to. She rides, Sandy. And rides
well. Can you get up a horse for her to-morrow?"

Miss Nicholson's face flushed, the suggestion of a high-light came into
her mild eyes.

"I used to ride a good deal," she said. "But I have no saddle, no habit,
and I am afraid--" She hesitated looking at them in embarrassment.

"Nicky, dear, you must learn to ride western fashion. With divided
skirts, if you like. We can get you a khaki outfit in Hereford."

"I should like to try it," said Miss Nicholson, her face still flaming,
the high-light quite apparent.

"Up to you, Sam," said Sandy. "I sh'ud think the blue roan w'ud suit."

"I'll have her gentled to a divvy-skirt this time ter-morrer," said Sam
gallantly. "You've got pluck, marm--I mean, miss--an' once you've forked
a saddle, you'll never ride otherwise."

Miss Nicholson gasped at Sam's metaphor and Mormon kicked him on the
shin.

"What's the idea?" he demanded after Molly had gone out and Miss
Nicholson had ensconced herself on the veranda with a book.

"You're plumb indelicut. You ought to be ashamed of yorese'f. You got to
be careful round females, Sam Mannin', with yore expressions. Speshully
one like this Nicholson party. She's a lady."

"Who in hell said she ain't?" demanded Sam. "Me--I guess I know how to
treat a lady, well as the nex' man. I don't notice you ever made a grand
success of it with yore three-strikes-an'-out."

Mormon disdained to reply. They went outside and, at the end of the ten
minutes, walked together toward the cottonwoods. Grit was lying on the
grave, and they saw Molly kneeling by the little railing. They advanced
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 back. I have met lots of people, of all sorts and kinds, but not
one of them who could hold a candle to any of you three kind,
true-hearted friends. I wanted to do it here where Daddy is in the place
you gave him a