Rimrock Trail

  CHAPTER XXII

  THE VERY END

  There was a council held later that day, that was almost a council ofwar. Sandy was in the chair, Mormon and Sam present, Molly the indignantspeaker-in-chief.

  "I'm very much ashamed of all of you," she said. "An agreement is anagreement, 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'tspent all of it, Sandy tells me.

  "I've got to accept Sandy's share of it, I suppose, because it goes withSandy. As for you, Sam Manning, you'll need your third when you marryKate 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 arough-hided cuss like me."

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

  "You're sure talkin' like a matrimonial boorow, Molly," said Mormon. "Isure think a sight of Mirandy. She's different from my first three. Theyall married me, fo' me to look out fo' them. If Mirandy can be persuadedto take me it's becos she is willin' to look after me. She 'lows I needit," 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'tof insurance policy. I've allus been sort of unbalanced in my leanin'sto'ards the sex, you see. An' it sure acted as a prop an' a defense sofur."

  "Then the meeting is closed," said Molly. "I accept your apologies andyou 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