The Lamar register., 1922-10-04


and seemed hardly master of himself
Mcdonald started and looked uui
through the smoke clouds. But as
they approached the girl she drew
herself away.
It's not true she cried. ''Ths
fires OH the other side. Why should
you come for us?''
Il tell you you'll he burned TO n Elm
der inside of fifteen minutes" yelled
waste We're going to drive you out
of danger. Come alongi"
Il won't come!" cried Molly. Don't
go with them. father. He's not speak.
ing the truth, Look at his facew
Hsckett pushed Chambers out Of his
way and strode up TO the door II
guess that's tru. enough. what you
said Miss Mcdonald" he said. The
fire ain't this side-but VIII Carruth.
-rs is dying. They pulled him out Of
his shack. Hes in a bad way. Mebbe
he1l just live tiil morning He's call.
ing f"r you
'Will-will burned gasped Molly,
looking al him with eyes OF horror
It's gospel truth - cried Chambers.
He can't rest till you 20 to him."
Then why did you tell us an an
.rtt a~eed the girl. searchu-
tacr 80 ir 10 read 70 the bottom rr u.>
soul
Because we wanted to break IL
gently" shouted Hackett. He seized
her hy the arm I'VE haven't no time
to WASTE he shouted. He may die
any minute while we're talking here.
He didn't send you" cried Molly
with sudden conviction. -why should
h- have sent your We won't GO
You're lying! Let me got"
She pushed her father back into the
store and tried to bolt the door In
their faces, but they set their shoul-
ders against II and broke through.
Molly ran to her room: they were
there almost as soon as she. She
screamed. She heard McDonnld's
feeble shout cut OF as Chambers
grasped him by the throat. And then
she WAS struggling madly IA Hackett's
arms
string Of vile oaths. seizing her by the
hair and dashing his fist into her face.
She fought back like II rgress. broke
from him. and. snstching up the water
pitcher. smashed II across his head,
cutting his face with the fragments Of
porcelain. He grasped her by the
throat She clung to the bed, the
table. to the door. screaming the while
until his fingers frightened on her
throat and the room swan blackly
around her.
She was family conscious OF = gag
thrust into her mouth. Of being car
ried. struggling. out Of the store. OF
being lifted into the rig. Then she re-
vived to find herself huddied upon the
floor, her father bending over her with
his wrists tied, and muubling in her
ear The engineer seated In front of
them. was driving furiously along the
trail southward Hackett with one
leg thrust out on either side of the
vehicle. was wiping Ihe blood from his
face
Desperate rs she was. Molly would
have tried to leap from the rig but
FOR her father She heard him con
tinnr munbling: and at length the
meaning of his words reached her
brain. and the horror Of them numbed
her and reprrssed all Thought OF fight
ing
"It'll be all right my lass" the old
man was mutterIng They won't hurt
ye no more. They're taking US to Tom
Bowyer, | reckon He's bssted us
Well have to give In Wen make the
most Of it."
The old man shook with fear bur
he laid his hand carrssingly upon
her head. And afterward Molly re,
called that gesture. and remembered
that II was his right one
At the time she thought nothing
She lay back with her head against the
seat, resolved to husband her strength
for a more desperate struggle later II
need be. Her dress was rent her hair
fell TO her waist. Rain had begun TO
fall; the horses lashed necessarily,
tore madly through the darkness and
the rig swayed dangerously from side
TO side.
Molly's thoughts ran on as iercely
They were taking her to Bowyer then
But Bowyer was at Cold Junction. and
surely he could not harm her there