Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-08-25
CHAPTER w
"In the Kings Namel"


all night, and in the morning Molly
saw with alarm that he was in a fe-
verish condition. He should never
have left his bed, and the journey
seemed impossible.
1--WE got to go, Molly" was all
Wilton could say.
"Then," she said with sudden deci-
sion, 81 shall go with you. You can't
travel alone. Your men may be faith
full enough, but it is my right to go.
And you'll never get to the meeting
without some one to take care Of you
on the way. That's my condition.
Promise me-Or else I'll lock the store
door, VIII, and I've got paddock that
even you couldn't force"
Molly seemed to be animated by
resolution as feverish as his own.
Jules Halfhead had not fulfilled his
intention of absenting himself, prob
ably on account of the storm, which
had made the security of the store
seem preferable to life In the forests.
He was faithful to the factor, and
had never deserted him In need. He
could take care of him during the four
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. Hes never run
away when I 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 1t.
"Mr Carruthers is getting ready to
CO." she said. "He is very Ill. He is
too weak to travel alone, but he must
take Joe Bostock's body back to Clay
ton"
"Oh, ayel" said the factor, sneering.
"He needs care and attention during
the journey. SO I am going with him."
The factor sat up in bed, transfxing
her with look of fury. "You lass
you will go with Wilton Carruthers to
Clayton" he cried. aye Wilma come
hame, then! Mark me, now, I've done
with you for ayel Molly, lass, We Wilma
gol" he pleaded, with sudden change
Of tone. "Think of your good name in
Clayton I havena reared We to have
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 q few days, IA
ther," she said. "It's not as if you
were helpless. And his life is at
stake"
"And mebbe he'll die If you don't
stay with him when We get to Clayton,
Ell, lass?' rasped out the factor in
whitening scorn.
That scorn nerved her; to his weak
ness she had almost yielded. She went
down and dressed herself for the jour-
ney. She helped Wilton on with a
mackinaw, and put caribou robe In
the sleigh. Then, while the men were
Harvesting the dogs, struck by a sud-
den thought, she stopped and began
to examine the tracks of the snow
shoes about the edge of the portage.
They ran confusedly In all directions,
for the marks had been made by seven
different pairs-thOse of Bowyer and
Chambers and their Indian; those Of
Wilton and his two half-breeds; those
of the deaf-mute.
OF these Wilton's were blurred and
almost indistinguishable, made by his
dragging feet as she pulled him up
from the swamp. But even had the
vague purpose In Molly's mind been
clear to her, there would have been
no need to examine those. The rest
were all similar in one respect-none
had broken string.
Wilton and Molly had arranged that
he was to travel in the sleigh, to which
second had been attached, bearing
Joe's body in roughly made coffir
constructed by the men. The dogs
were harnessed. and they started.
It was little more than fifty miles
to Clayton. Travelling along thu
cleared road, the distance could b.