Brand Blotters

Melissy waited in dread expectancy to see what would happen. Of quick,

warm sympathies, always ready to bear with courage her own and others'

burdens, she had none of that passive endurance which age and experience

bring. She was keyed to the heroism of an occasion, but not yet to that

which life lays as a daily burden upon many without dramatic emphasis.

All next day nothing took place. On the succeeding one her father returned

with the news that the "Monte Cristo" contest had been continued to

another term of court. Otherwise nothing unusual occurred. It was after

mail time that she stepped to the porch for a breath of fresh air and

noticed that the reward placard had been taken down.

"Who did that?" she asked of Alan McKinstra, who was sitting on the steps,

reading a newspaper and munching an apple.

"Jack Flatray took it down. He said the offer of a reward had been

withdrawn."

"When did he do that?"

"About an hour ago. Just before he rode off."

"Rode off! Where did he go?"

"Heard him say he was going to Mesa. He told your father that when he

settled the bill."

"He's gone for good, then?"

"That's the way I took it. Say, Melissy, Farnum says Jack told him the

gold had been found and turned back to Morse. Is that right?"

"How should I know?"

"Well, it looks blamed funny they could get the bullion back without

getting the hold-up."

"Maybe they'll get him yet," she consoled him.

"I wish I could get a crack at him," the boy murmured vengefully.

"You had one chance at him, didn't you?"

"José spoiled it. Honest, I wasn't going to lie down, 'Lissie."

Again the days followed each other uneventfully. Bellamy himself never

came for his mail now, but sent one of the boys from the mine for it.

Melissy wondered whether he despised her so much he did not ever want to

see her again. Somehow she did not like to think this. Perhaps it might be

delicacy on his part. He was going to drop the whole thing magnanimously

and did not want to put upon her the obligation of thanking him by

presenting himself to her eyes.

But though he never appeared in person, he had never been so much in her

mind. She could not rid herself of a growing sympathy and admiration for

this man who was holding his own against many. A story which was being

whispered about reached her ears and increased this. A bunch of his sheep

had been found poisoned on their feeding ground, and certain cattle

interests were suspected of having done the dastardly thing.