Middletown transcript., 1922-07-29
CHAPTER V-Continued.

CHAPTER V-Continued,
-
I'm going on to Clayton. I'm feel
Ing better. No, listen, Molly! l didn't
tell you, but my arm was swollen from
the bandages. They had tightened and
stopped the circulation. I'm better
without them. I'm feeling stronger
and the pains less. We can go on.
We've got to go on"
Walk, Will?"
"Well walk" said Wilton, rising
with great effort. The dying animals
had ceased TO whimper, and stared at
him out of their glazing eyes. Outside
the snow was drifting down through
the leafless branches, but the wind
was dying away. 1t was late in the
afternoon, though no sign of the sun
came through the heavy, lowering
cloud.
We'll go on" said Wilton.
And, going out of the shack, he un-
fastened the cord of the sleigh that
held Joe's body, and took it in his
wounded hand
'Will, it's impossible!"
ut may be. But I'll try. l can't
face Kitty otherwise"
Over the new snow the jOurneying
was not so difficult in their snow
shoes, but the drag of the sleigh-rope
up the hills and across the corduroys
proved almost impossible. Their
progress was infinitesimally slow. The
night came down and shut them in.
And the nightmare of delirium clouded
Wilton's brain, peopling the world
with phantoms. He lived over again
scenes of the past, and always Joe
was of them. 1t was night of unmt-
igated horror to Molly.
At every cache, at each shack, they
would stop, feeling the sheer impossi-
bility of going on. and sit huddled in
their blankets under the lee, with the
drifting snow about them.
Yet always they went on again; un-
til at last the never-ending night lifted.
The snow ceased to fall; the dun
horizon was streaked with fire. And
slowly Wilton came back to full con-
Sciousness.
They had toiled up their highest
hill, and as they reached the summit
they saw the sweetest sight that they
had ever seen. For far away was Clay
ton, over the plain, with its ugly
streets and bare, new houses and the
gaunt station buildings, roundhouses
and locomotive shops.
They were white as shrouded bodies,
besmeared with CRIME, and Wilton was
caked with the blood that had oozed
from his wounds and frozen.
Zone last try, Molly" he said, "and
then they can do what they like with
me. But it's you who pulled that
trick, girl of mine!"
But as he spoke he slipped to the
ground and leaned his shoulders
against the Sleigh
"Seven miles yet, and the meetings
at nine" he said. 81 can't make 1t,
Molly. I've tried. I've fallen short
just short. A little later Molly, I'll
try again. I'm going to-sleep in the
sunshine"
Molly stopped over him. and it was
harder thing than she had ever done
to try to drive the driven man fur
ther. But she knew that, having
staked all, Wilton would be content
with no less than the sacrifice of all.
Remember Joe, DEAR" she said,
"and Kitty"
He tried to rise to his feet, but could
not. Wilton's mind was quite clear,
but his body. driven by his will, had
collapsed suddenly like worn-out
horse
Three horsemen were riding over
the plain toward them. They watched
them in a dull apathy. Even Molly
hardly cared any more, except for VIII
ton. And he had done all that a man
could do.
AS the men came nearer 1t could be
seen that they were of the Mounted
Police. In the foremost Molly recog-
nized Quain, the inspector who was
in command of the detachment at Clay
ton.
The three trotted their horses up to
them, and. catching sight of the coffin
upon the sleigk the inspector dis.
mounted. He looked hard at Wilton,
and suddenly he recognized him.
ats Will Carruthers!" he ex-
claimed, staring into his face. In bewil-
derment
Wilton got up with an effort. Morn
ing. Jack" he said wearily. Eyes. It's
l. And here's Miss Mcdonald. Yon
know her.J think r. e 4 X I !, |.