Graham guardian., 1922-09-19

shouts to the uproar.
Molly darted across the passage and
released him. They're numbering
Witt - she cried. But the old man
staggering out, only shouted distract.
! edly. Molly ran back. eHackett had
Wilton by the throat, and, as she
entered the room, Bowyer wrenched
himself free, sraised his pistol. and
brought the butt crashing down on
WiltOn's head. Wilton toppled back
into the blazing oil.
!, Bowyer aimed. but Molly knocked
up his arm. and the shot went wild.
Bowyer turned upon Molly with a
ghastly grin.
"D--n you" he shouted, raising his
pistol TO strike her down. Mcdonald
sprang between them. Hackett pulled
ut Bowyer and dragged him to the
door. He whispered In his ear, and
! Bowyer cursed him. They clinched in
the passage.
Molly was unconscious of what was
transpiring She had rushed to Wilton,
anu, eIuspihS MN W thV shVuiuelS,
pulled him out of the flames. Seizing
him In her arms she began madly beat
ing out the fire that was licking his
clothes and hair. She tore off his blaz-
ing coat and with it extinguished
them. Then, holding his head against
her breast, she staggered toward the
door through the thick smoke, Nc
Donald at her side.
AS she neared II Hackett leaped for
ward. He pushed the factor violently
back and slammed it. An instant later
there sounded the click of the key
In the lock.
"1'he window! The Window" shout,
ed the factor.
But that side of the room was liv-
ing wall OF fire, and 'they seemed to
be trapped hopelessly. The heat was
becoming intolerable
Molly ran behind the blazing divan,
picked up the rifle, and drove smash
ing blow against the back wall. 1t
the stock against it, until section of
the pine planks gave way under her
assault.
Together they carried Wilton through
into Il room behind. Outside it was
quite light; gust of wind came
through an open windew and famed
the flames to fury. With a roar the
fire leaped up the outer walls. and the
whole front of the camp was ablaze.
Molly scrambled to the SILL clung
there. and dropped. The factor, lean
ing ont, lowered Wilton's body. And
he himself dropped to the ground be-
side the girl,
AS he dropped she perceived, with
out realizing 1t, that he had used both
arms and legs. The paralysis had left
him.
They run down toward the lake,
carrying Wilton between them, and
making instinctively for the shelter of
the underground.
As they passed the road, Bowyer
came out of the stable, pulling fierce
ly at the horses, which were fastened
to the rig He had set his foot upon
the step when Lee Chambers and
Hackett broke upon him from among
the trees.
They made a leap for the vehicle.
LET US In, d-n you!" Chambers
yelled.
Bowyer dealt him blow with the
whipstock that sent him staggering.
With vile oath Haekett sprang for
the step. Bowyer lashed him across
the face, causing him to miss his foot
ing, and cursing and shouting. the two
men rushed after him and disappeared
down the road. The sound Of the gal
loping horses died away. Molly
kneeled at Wilton's side. bathing his
face with water from the lake, The
factor held his wrist.
"His pulse beats sound" he said.
Hell come back to himself soon.
Let's AVA, lass; let's AVA"
The girl hardly heard him. Piteously
she scanned Wilton's face for some
signs of returning consciousness. But
Wilton did not stir, though he was
breathing easily.
Presently. with hideous clainOr.
the two outlaws returned. Molly held
her breath as they came back along
the road. only few yards above
where she crouched with the factor.
But they passed on. and turned up
toward the camp, which blazed furi-
ously, flaming parallelogram against
the glow Of the eastern sky, into which
the rim of the sun just projected from
the horizon.
Even as she watched the girl saw
the blazing walls tumble inward. The
men leaped back, and then, shouting
drunkenly, made their way toward the
stables.
Come ava, lass!" muttered Nc
Donald, pulling at Molly's arm.
He took Wilton by the legs, and to-
gether they crept with him cautiously
further into the bushes beside the
lake.
Suddenly Wilton opened his eyes.
And his first words fell like an icy
chill on the girls heart,