The L'Anse sentinel., 1922-10-27
CHAPTER xII-continued.

this country. A mans thochts turn 10
his old age to his homeland. To Aber-
deen!'
Molly was awed by the old mans
fanatical enthusiasm. -"When shall we
go?" she asked.
"This autumn, lass - before the
SHOWS fall. But" he clutched her
by the arm-"ye'll say nought about
itr
"But you must arrange with the COM
pany for new factor, and, If he isn't
trained"
His clutch became convulsive. "Not
q word~ he cried fiercely. "Havena /
done weel by the company 1t won't
be the sufferer. II they thocht l was
going away they'd-not a word, lass
Promise me! Molly, lass, ye Wilma go
back on me now?'
"No. l won't go back on you," she
answered.
But she did not like the Idea of
stealing away, although the company
would suffer little. And then there
would be the forfeiture Of his pension.
But she dared not bring up that sub
ject In view of his evident obsession.
After while they began to make
preparations. They spoke Of the jour
ney as being weeks. instead of months
away. Then came a night when the
factor tapped at Molly's door. She
dressed quickly and went out Of her
room, to see the whole skyline ablaze.
Clouds of smoke were whirling down
on them. Suddenly a rig with two
horses came dashing across the portage
and drew up at the door.
Molly recognized Lee Chambers and
Hackett, and turned and faced them,
though her heart was beating with
fear.
"we've come for you, Miss McDon-
ald," shouted Lee Chambers. 'sThe
fires across the muskeg, and there
won't be anything left OF this store In
twenty minutes. Come alongp'
He shouted and gesticulated wildly,
and seemed hardly master of himself.
Mcdonald started and looked out
through the smoke clouds. But as
they approached the girl she drew
herself away.
ats not true" she cried. "The
fires on the other side. Why should
you come for. us?"
81 tell you you'll be burned to a Gin
der inside Of fifteen mipates!" yelled
Chambers. "We've got no time to
waste. We're going to drive you out
of danger. Come alongr
II won't comew cried Molly. "Don't
90 with them, father. He's not speak,
ing the truth Look at his facer
Hackett pushed Chambers out Of his
way and strobe up to the door. "I
guess that's true enough, what you
said, Miss Mcdonald" he said. "The
fire amt this side-but Will Carruth-
ers is dying. They pulled him out of
his shack. He's In bad way. Mebbe
he'll just live till morning. He's call
ing for YOU"
"will-WIll burnedw gasped Molly,
looking at him with eyes of horror
"It's gospel truthr cried Chambers.
"He can't rest till you 60 to him."
''Then why did you tell us IN un-
truth?" asked the girl. searching his
face as II to read to the bottom Of his
soul.
Because we wanted to break 1t
gently" shouted Hackett. He seized
her by the arm. 1--WE haven't no time
to waste 7" he shouted. HE may die
any minute while we're talking here. ;
"He didn't send you," cried Molly
with sudden conviction. "Why should
he have sent you? We won't gol
You're lying Let me gop'
She pushed her father back into the
store and tried to bolt the door In
their faces, but they set their sfroul-
ders against 1t and broke through.
Molly ran to her room; they were
there almost as soon as she. She
screamed. She heard McDonald's
feeble shout cut or as Chambers
grasped him by the throat. And then
she was struggling madly in Hacketts
arms.
"Curse your he shouted, with
string Of vile oaths, SELLING her by the
hair and dashing his fist into her face
She fought back like tigress. broke
from him, and, snatching UP the water
pitcher, smashed 1t across his head,
cutting his face with the fragments OF
porcelain. He grasped her by the
throat. She clung to the bed. the
table, to the door, screaming the while