Middletown transcript., 1922-07-22
The Big Muskeg
By
VICTOR ROUSSEAU
rrwA.HT

and fell full length on the planks,
where he lay writhing in anguish, and
trying to clear his eyes Of the melted
fat and the blood that streamed down
his forehead.
Instantly Molly stopped, snatched up
the weapon, which had fallen at her
feet, and covered the constable, who
had flung himself upon Wilton again.
Myers stopped dead and threw his
hands up automatically.
"Get over there!' said Molly briskly,
pointing toward the wall behind the
sergeant.
Myers obeyed Immediately, and took
his post against the wall, the picture
of confusion. Peters struggled slowly
to his feet. Has face and pea-j Jacket
were covered with a film of grease,
over which the blood from his wound
was trickling. The tables were turned
with dramatic completeness.
"You know what this means!" splut-
tered the sergeant, trying to clear the
fat from his eyes.
II do, and I'll take my chance" an
swered Wilton gritting his teeth at the
pain from his injured arm. The wound
did not seem to have reopened, but
either his blow or the grasp of the
constable had displaced the broken
ends of the bone, and he could feel
them grating together at his slightest
movement. keep your hands up, both
Of yOu!" he ordered. "Give me the re-
volver, Molly. Got rope, Andersen"
"Well, 1 guess l have" grinned the
Swede. He stepped to packing case
behind the stove, and brought out a
short coil of manila, which, with a
kitchen knife, ne sliced into four or
| five lengths.
Il tank 1 tie them to that BEAM"
he said, indicating one of the vertical
uprights of the wooden shack.
"All right, Andersen" said Wilton.
| ''Tie 'em so that they can sit down.
They'll have some time to wait, and
they may get tired of standing"
He took the revolver from Molly and
slipped 1t into his pocket. Peters let
loose string of vicious oaths as An
dersen proceeded to truss him up, but
neither man offered any resistance.
The caretaker stepped back and looked
at his work with critical satisfaction.
Il tank you get to Clayton by to-
morrow night, all right. Mr.. Carruth-
ers," he said with droll complacency,
putting some more potatoes in the pan.
Despite their elation, Molly and
Wilton could eat but little, wash
ing down the food, which they could
hardly masticate, with gulps OF coffee
They were glad to get out into the air
Wilton made his way to the cache, un-
locked 1t, and took out some frozen
fish for the dogs, which were giving
tongue vigorously inside the stable.
Here, Papillon !" he called. II can't
make out what's the matter with those
men, lying in their blankets at this
hour, with the dogs bowling for theiI
breakfast" he said to Molly indig
nantly. "They must have known I'd
feed them before starting ON a run like
the one we've got before us. suppose
they heard the row and got scared back
to bed" he added.
But no answer came to his call, anG
suddenly Molly uttered cry ant
pointed. On the other side of the
stable were the tracks of a sleigh, OBJ
liberated at the entrance by the falling
snow, which had drifted against the
building.
Wilton wrenched the door open. His
sleigh and the dogs were gone, togeth
er with the rifle shotgun and transit
compass. The half-breeds had deserted
during the night.
"They must have guessed that thos'
men meant to arrest you, or else they
heard them talking" said Molly.
But Wilton had hurried to the hors'
stalls, separated from the dog stabl,
by stout door. He breathed deeI