Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-10-26
CHAPTER XVI-Continued.

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is
Molly ran behind the blazing divan,
picked up the rifle, and drove a smash
Ing blow against the back wall. 1t
cracked; again and again she dashed
the stock against it, until a section of
the pine plankS gave way under her
assault.
Together they carried Wilton through
into a room behind. Outside it was
quite light; a gust of wind came
through an open window and famed
the flames to fury. With a roar the
fire IeapeG up the outer walls, and the
whole front of the camp was ablaze.
Molly scrambled to the sill, chung
there, and dropped. The factor, lean
ing out, lowered Wilton's body. And
he himself dropped to the ground be-
side the girl.
AS he dropped she perceived, with
out realizing it, that he had used both
arms and legs. The paralysis had left
him.
They ran down coward the lake,
carrying Wilton between them, and
making instinctively for the shelter of
the underground.
AS they passed the road, Bowyer
an II of the stable, pulling fierce.
ly at the horses, which were fastened
TO the rig. He had set his foot upon
the step when Lee Chambers and
Hackett broke upon him from among
the trees.
They made a leap for the vehicle
LET us in, Oh your" Chambers
yelled.
Bowyer dealt him a blow with the
whipstock that sent him staggering,
With a vile oath Hackett sprang fol-
the step. Bowyer dashed him across
the face, causing him to miss his foot.
ing, and cursing and shouting, the two
men rushed after him and disappeared
down the road, The sound Of the gal
Looping horses died away. Molly
kneeled at Wilton's side, bathing his
face with water from the lake. The
factor held his wrist.
His pulse beats sound" he said
He'll come back to himself soon
Let's ava, lass; let's AVA"
The girl hardly heard him. PitcOuSly
she scanned Wilton's face for some
signs of returning consciousness. But
Wilton did not stir, though he was
breathing easily.
Presently, with a hideous clamOr
the two outlaws returned. Molly held
her breath as they came back along
the road, only a few yards above
where she crOuched with the factor
But they passed on, and turned VI
toward the camp, which bIazed furi.
ously, a flaming parallelOgram against
the glow of the eastern sky, into which
the rim of the sun just projected from
the horizon.
Even as she watched the girl saw
the blazing walls tumble inward. The
men leaped back, and then, shouting
~drunkenly, made their way toward the
stables.
Come AVA, lass" muttered Nc.
Donald, pulling at Molly's arm.
He took Wilton by the legs, and to.
gether they crept with him cautiously
further into the bushes beside the
lake.
Suddenly Wilton opened his eyes
And his first words fell like an icy
chill on the girls heart.
kitty, l tried to save your line! =
he muttered.
He was thinking Of the fire. He
stared into Molly's eyes without rec.
ignition, and his own closed again
Once nor the factor pulled at the
girls sleeve.
Come ava, lass!" he whispered
eagerly. Hell get we'll, Come! It's
our chance-a grand chance for u.s."
What do you mean?' she wills
pered back.
"Dinna ye see? They think we're
dead. Tom Bowyer'll think we're deat
in the fire. He'll never trouble US
again. Come, lass! He Wilma com
to no harm ~
AS he spoke, Molly perceived two
horsemen riding along the road. They
were policemen they moved at a slow
walk, and they carried their rifles OF
their arms.
When they were within two hun
dred yards Of the camp they dis
mounted, tied their horses to a tree
and began to run forward swiftly
along the road. The uproar in tn,
stable had not ceased.
Lee Chambers came staggering out
a bottle in his hand. And suddenly
a hundred yards away, he saw QUAR-
and the constable.
lie bolted back with a scream O.
terror. Then followed Hackett's bel
lowing roar, and the two men ap
peared at the door with rifles in thei
hands.
The policemen ran toward them
Qucin led the way. drop those
Hands up! We've got you" HI
shouted.
Molly saw Hackett drop to one kne,
and draw a careful bead upon the in
spectOr.
A. tboA pal1no-k .Lx .z..s.tt. 49,