The Adair County news., 1922-06-06

e glad te get out into the air.
Wilton made his way to the cache, un-
locked it, and took out some frozen
fish for the dogs, which we're giving
tongue vigorously inside the stable.
''Here, Papillon !" he called. II can't
men, lying in their blankets at this
hour. with the dogs bowling for their
breakfast" he said to Molly indig-
nantly. ''They must have known I'd
feed them before starting on a run like
the one we've got before us. l suppose
they heard the row and got scared back
to bed," he added.
But no answer came to his call, and
suddenly Molly uttered a cry and
pointed. On the other side of the
stable were the tracks of a sleigh, OBJ
liberated at the entrance by the falling
snow, which had drifted against the
building.
Wilton wrenched the door open. His
sleigh and the dogs were gone, togeth-
er with the rifle, shotgun and transit
compass. The half-breeds had deserted
during the night.
''They must have guessed that those
men meant to arrest you, or else they
heard them talking" said Molly.
But Wilton had hurried to the horse
stalls, separated from the dog stable
by stout door. He breathed a deep
sigh of relief The second sleigh was
there. For a moment the thought of
possibilities had made his heart almost
stand still.
He came back grim and resolute.
''There's something pretty deep in all
this business" he said. 81 know why
the men ran away. The sergeant gave
them the tip to. l saw him talking to
PapillOn last night. And that's the
reason why they wouldn't sleep in the
shack-because they meant to run.
suppose the policemen were afraid
that they would make trouble, or try
/ to help us. But 1 can't fathOm it.
| Those men acted like criminals. That's
not the way of the police"
He clenched his fist and swOre un-
der his breath.
I'll have those fellows broke for
| this, If l have to go to Ottawa" he
said. "And I'm going to run down
those breeds, if it takes me a lifetime.
1 tell you this, Molly: it's all bound
up with Joe in some way or other, and
Tom BOwyer's at the bottom of it."
But frst-remember Kitty" said
Molly softly, laying her hand on Will
tons shoulder.
Even the slight touch made him
vince, for the pain of his broken arm
was becoming unbearable. He realized
that in all probability he was in for a
long spell of illness. he knew that
the bore would have to be reset. His
head felt strangely light, and the
ground seemed to slope dOwnhill from
him in all directions. But he shut his
teeth hard, and would not let Molly
guess. And a feverish energy took
possession Ot him. He must hold out
for the journey, until after the share
holders meeting-until he had told
Kitty!
"We'H take the police sled and start
at once" he said to Molly. "It looks
| dS IL SlOTIH WAS UT0WluS. Ill Icll
Andersen to let those fellows go about
noon, and I'll leave the revolver with
him."
Inside the shack they found the po-
licemen eating their breakfast on the
floor, with the caretaker diligently
serving them. They were still bound,
but their hands were free.
Turn them loose at noon, Ander-
sen," Wilton said. Give them enough
slap-bang to carry them on their way.
Just turn them loose and see that they
haven't any dangerous weapons to do
you mischief with"
you bet 1 take care for that, u
grinned the Swede.
Wilton let Andersen harness the
dogs, to save his strength for the jour
ney. In a few minutes the sled was
ready, with the sleigh carrying Joe's
body attached behind, and the huskies
harnessed, sitting docile in the snow
awaiting the command to mush.
The sun was just showing above the
horizon when Wilton and Molly start
ed on the second stage of their jour
ney to Clayton.
CHAPTER v.