Graham guardian., 1922-09-12
SYNOPSIS

CHAPTER I.-Looking over Zig Mus
keg. seemingly impossible swamp In
the path ct the Missatibj railroad, Joe
Bostock. builder OF the line. and Wilton
Carruthers chief of engineers, are con"
nidering the di, .culues. A rife shot In
stantE kills Bo.,9sk and break. Car
ruthers Determines to carry the body TO
= station OF the Hudson's Bay company.
where ono Mcdonald 10 the factor.
CHAPTER Ii--Mcponsld's daughter,
Molly. secs czrrvthers struggling In the
eauskag and drags him from the swamp.
with his burden. Unaccountably, her
father objects 70 her saving carruthsrs.
CHATTER IrI.--wsakened by his wound
and exsrtionA Cxrrrthers In disturbed by
the appearance OF Tom Bowyer Bostock's
sss ss v no ssa uss.
him. After Bower leaves. Carruthsrs
declares his love for Molly. She prom
isss 10 be his wife.
CHAPTER Iv.--Carruthers has 70 reach
the town OF Clayton to attsnd q meeting
at which Bostock's enemies plan to wrest
control of the Misaatibi from him. Molly
determines 10 30 with him.
CHAPTER v.--Attacked by his dogs.
Csrruthers' life II saved by Molly. who is
forced ~ Kill the animals They set out
CArrvthers In an almost dying condition,
Helis in time TO foil Bostock's enemies
and keep control Of the line for Mrs.
Bosfoek.
CHATTER vL-cayuthsrs learns that
Bostock has hypothecated Ave hundred
shares OF the Missatibi. jeopardixing his
control OF the line.
CHAPTER v1I.-Les Cnambers, expert
engineer. hitherto associated with Boy,
yer asks Carruthers for work. saying he
has broken with Bowyer, carruthers
takes him on. Kitty Bostock. Joe's
widow. deeply in love with Carruthers,
> though he does not realize II, comes to
1--we At the Big Muskeg. Circumstances
force her TO ayow her love, Carruthers
tells her of Molly and gently tspulses her
N~wDl=wnl burned! :" gasped Molly,
looking at him with eyes of horror
,"Irs gospel truth cried Chambers.
"Hea can't rest till you go to him."
"rhen why did you tell US an an'
srpthf" asked the girl, searching his
face as II to read to the bottom of his
soul.
Because we wanted to break IT
gently" shouted Hackett. He seized
her by the arm. I'VE haven't no time
10 waster" 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 your We won't go
You're lying! Let me go"
She pushed her father back into the
store and tried to bolt the door In
their faces, but they set their shout
ders against 1t and broke through.
Molly ran to her room; they were
there almost as soon rs she. She
screamed. She heard McDonaid's
feeble shout cut off as Chambers
grasped him by the throat. And then
she was struggling madly In Hacketts
arms.
Course you" he shouted. with a
string Of vile oaths, Selling her by tho
hair and dashing his fist into her face,
She fought back like tigress. broke
frem him. and. snatching up the water
pitcher, smashed It 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
until his fingers frightened on her
throat and the room swan blackly
around her.
She was family conscious OF gag
thrust into her mouth, Of being car
ried, struggling. out of the store. Of
being lifted Into the rig. Then she re-
vived to find herself huddled upon the
floor, her father bending over her with
bis wrists tied, and mumbllng In her
ear, The engineer. seated In front Of
them, was driving furiously along the
trail southwark. Hackett, with one
leg thrust out on either side Of the
vehicle, was wlping the blood from his
face.
Desperate as she was. Molly would
have tried TO leap from the rig but
for her father. She heard him con-
tinue mumbling; and at length the
meaning Of his words reached her
brain, and the horror of them numbed
her and repressed all thought Of fight
ing.
It'll be all right. my lass" the old
man was muttering. ''They won't hurt
ye no more. They're taking us to Tom
Bowyer, reckon. He's bested us,
Wen have to give In. Wen make the
most Of It."
The old man shook with fear, but
he laid his hand caressingiy upon
her head. And aftarward Molly re.
called that gesture, and remembered
that II was his right one.
At the time she thought nothing
She lay back with her head against the
seat, resolved to husband her strength
for q more desperate struggle later, Il
!. need be. Her dress was rent, her hal,
fell TO her waist. Rain had begun Il
fall; the horses, lashed incessantly
tore madly through the darkness, and
the rig swayed dangerously from sid'
10 side.
Molly's thoughts ran on as fercely
They were taking her to Bowyer. then
But Bowyer was at Cold junction, ant
surely he could not harm hst there
And he was taking her father. She
zSnst remain at his side. and nrotec