Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-07-21
CHAPTER ~
ain the Kings Name!"

yerish condition. He should never :
have left his bed, and the journey /
impossible. u
1--WE got to 90, Molly" was all 2
Wilton could say. |
"Then," she said with sudden decl- /
sion, II shall so with you. You cam
travel alone. Your men may be falth-
full enough, but it is my right to go S
And you'll never get to the meeting I
without some one to take care or you
on the way. That's my condition.
Promise me-or else I'll lock the store
door, viii, and I've got a paddock mat
even you couldn't force"
Molly seemed to be animated ov u
resolution as feverish as ms own
Jules Halfhead had not fulfilled ms
intention of absenting himself, prop
ably on account Of the storm, Whleh
had made the security of the store
seem preferable to life in the forests,
He was faithful to the factor ana
had never deserted him in need. lie
could take care Of him during the lour
or five days of her absence.
Wilton was forced to yield.
"But you must make sure that jules
will stay" he said.
"Hell understand. He'll stay" an
swered the girl. lies never iuu
away when l was gone to Moose
Lake or Winnipeg"
Molly went up to the Factors room
with the faint hope of reaching some
understanding-of plumbing her IA
theirs feeling against Wilton and over
coming it.
"Mr. Carruthers is getting ready 10
go" she said. "He Is very Ill. lie Is
too weak to travel alone, but he must
take Joe Bostock's body back to Clay
ton"
"Oh, aye!" said the factor sneerins'
HE needs care and attention during
the journey. SO am going with him.
!, The factor sat up in bed, transfxihe
her with a look of fury. you, lass
YOU will 90 with Wilton Carruthers to
Claytonw he cried. Eye Wilma come
7 hame. then! Mark me, now, I've done
with YOU for aye! Molly, lass, We wilma
4 go" he pleaded, with a sudden chahge
II of n think of your good name in
Clayton! l hayena reared We to nave
We desert me In my old age and sick
ness, Molly"
She turned quickly away to keep
her tears from falling. Jules can
take care of you for a few days, IA
l. Their" she said. ITS not as II you
were helpless. And his life Is at
le stake"
sand mebbe he'll die II you Don
stay with him when ye get to Clayton
eh, lasS?' rasped out the factor IL
whitening scorn.
That scorn nerved her; to his weak
a ness she had almost yielded. She wen
G down and dressed herself for the jour
l new. She helped Wilton on with
mackinaw, and put a caribou robe Il
the sleigh. Then, while tie men wer'
Harvesting the dogs, struck by q SUD
den thought, she stopped m begaI
TO examine the tracks Of the snow
II shoes about the edge OF the portage
They ran confusedly in all directions
NJ for the marks had been made by e
IN different ~pairs-those of Bower an
III Chambers and their Indian; those {
" Wilton and his two half-breeds; thos
. Of the deaf-mute.
4 OF these Wilton's were blurred an
{ almost indistinguishable, made by h
II dragging feet as she pulled him u
III from the swamp. But even had Il
VII vague purpose In Molly's mind bee
II clear to her. there would have bee
y no need to examine those. The re
were all similar in one respect-nol
| had a broken string.
Wilton and Molly had arranged tn
he was to travel in the sleigh, TO viii
n second had been attached, bearll
Joe's body in a roughly made cot
constructed by the men. The do
were harnessed, and they started.
- 1t was a little more than fifty mil
p,,aa to Clayton. Travelling along
ean cleared road, the distance could
covered easily in two days. 7
dogs ran well, the weather v
~. clear and fine. and Wilton felt W
,nos enough to walk a good deal. tn
dinner was almost like a picnic.
evening the railhead had come II
inc. sight In the distance, the empty car
the long sheds with the miscellany
.oo supplies, the locomotive shops, and
!, to great ballast pits beside the line.
al AS the dogs climbed the last
post there came yelping from the clea
tho way behind them. Looking back, Il
ha- perceived a sled approaching. I
,,rs, men walked beside 1t, and the d.
cyan sighting Wilton's, yelped IN challeT
an. which was taken up In an outburs'
erred answering gr0wls.
q nv The sled drew in toward them,
,ha, the men resolved themselves Int
lust sergeant and a constable of the MOI
70 to ed police. Wilton had stopped
sav dogs, but the newcomers did not h
and went on, with curt greetii
toward the cache.
mont Alittle surprised at their abruptn
wilton let the sled precede his sic
ever. As the dogs were eager for their m
Joe's he sent Paplllon ahead with them,