the turf on the green mound. "I'm sorry,
Daddy, for you, it didn't pan out bigger. But I guess what you wanted
most was my happiness--and I've got that." She turned to Sandy. The big
bell of the ranch boomed brassily. Molly put her hand in Sandy's. "It
may be most unromantic, Sandy dear," she said, "but I'm hungry. Let's go
in to breakfast."

CHAPTER XXII

THE VERY END

There was a council held later that day, that was almost a council of
war. Sandy was in the chair, Mormon and Sam present, Molly the indignant
speaker-in-chief.

"I'm very much ashamed of all of you," she said. "An agreement is an
agreement, and we were to share as we arranged. We shook hands upon it.
I've had three times as much as any one of you, as it is. I haven't
spent all of it, Sandy tells me.

"I've got to accept Sandy's share of it, I suppose, because it goes with
Sandy. As for you, Sam Manning, you'll need your third when you marry
Kate Nicholson."

Soda-Water Sam gasped.

"Marry Miss Nicholson?"

"Certainly. She expects you to."

"She--Molly, it ain't no jokin' matter with me. She wouldn't look at a
rough-hided cuss like me."

"You ask her, Sammy. Mormon, I suppose you'll have to hang fire until
you find out about that third wife. I hope the fourth time will be the
charm. It will if you marry Miranda Bailey."

"You're sure talkin' like a matrimonial boorow, Molly," said Mormon. "I
sure think a sight of Mirandy. She's different from my first three. They
all married me, fo' me to look out fo' them. If Mirandy can be persuaded
to take me it's becos she is willin' to look after me. She 'lows I need
it," he added sheepishly. Then he chuckled.

"I've knowed the whereabouts of my third fo' some time back," he said.
"She got a divorce six years ago. I've kept the matter secret as a so't
of insurance policy. I've allus been sort of unbalanced in my leanin's
to'ards the sex, you see. An' it sure acted as a prop an' a defense so
fur."

"Then the meeting is closed," said Molly. "I accept your apologies and
you keep your money."

Mormon and Sam rose. With a glance at each other that ended in a wink,
they left the room. Molly turned to Sandy.

"You didn't give me back my luck-piece, Sandy."

"What does a mascot want with a luck-piece?"

"She would like it made into an engagement ring, Sandy."

"Why not a weddin' ring, Molly, Molly mine?"

THE END

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