The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-08-18
CHAPTER V-Continued.

~Tm going on to Clayton. I'm feel
frE 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
ana the pains less. We can go on.
We've got to 90 on"
walk, WHIP
"NVell 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.
"Well go on" said Wilton.
And, going out Of the shack, he I'M
fastened the cord of the sleigh that
held Joe's body, and took it in his
wounded hand.
"Will, it's impOssible"
"It may be. But I'll try. l can't
face Kitty otherwise"
over the new snow the jOurneying
was not so difficult in their
shoes. but the drag of the sleigh-rOpe
up the hills and across the ~corGuroys
proved almost impossible. Their
progress was enthusiastically slow. The
night came down and shut them in.
And the nightmare of delirium clouded
Wilton'S brain, peopling the world
with pllantoms. He lived over again
scenes Of the past, and always Joe
was Of them. 1t was q night Of unmit-
igated horror to Molly.
At every cache, at each shack, they
would stop, feeling tle sheer impossi-
bi!ity of going on, and sit huddled in
their blankets under the lee, with the
drifting snO about them.
Yet always they went on again I'M
I'll at last the never-ending night lifted.
The snow ceased to fall the dun
hCriron was streaked with fire. And
slowly Wilton came back to full con
seriousness.
They had toiled up their highest
hill, and IS they reached the summit
they saw the sweetest sight that they
had ever seen. Fol- far away was Clay
ton, over the plain, with it's ugly
streets and bare, new houses. and the
gAlnt station buildings, r~oundhouses
and locomotive shops.
They were white rs shrouded bodies,
tesmeared with CRIME, and Wilton was
cakcd 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 re slipped to the
ground and leaned his shoulders
against the sleigh.
"Seven miles yet, and The meetings
at nine," he said. II can't make it,
Molly. I've tried. I've fallen short
Just short. A little later, Molly, I'll
try again. Tn going to--sleep In the
sunshine"
Molly stopped oyer him. and ii was
a harder thing than she had ave done
to try TO drive the driven man fur
Their. But she knew that, having
staked all, Wilton would be content
~ith no less than the sacrifice of all.
Remember Joe, DEAR" she said,
sand Kitty"
He tried to rise to his feet, but could
not. WiltOn's mind was quite clear,
hut his body. driven by his will, had
collapsed suddenly like a WORKOUT
horse.
Threa hOrsemcn were riding over
the plain toward them. They watched
them in n dull apathy. Even Molly
hardly cared any more, except for VIII
ton. Md he had done all that q man
could do.
As the men came nearer II could be
seen hat !hey We're of the Mounted