The Adair County news., 1922-07-04
CHAPTER Xxx
The Guilty Man!

on the day after the fire, that there
were no human remains under the
charred timbers Of the camp. Notwith-
standing this, when the attempts made
to trace Mcdonald and his daughter
failed, it was generally believed that
they had been lured there by the out
laws, and had either died in the flames
or had been murdered and their bodies
disposed Of.
Jim Belts had nothing more substan-
tial than anyone else on which to base
his search. He was resolved to free
Wilton, and, having failed with Kitty,
he determined to discover the other
woman who, he felt sure, had been
mixed up in Wilton's life-if she
still lived.
Jim Belts built up the theory that
Wilton had arrived at the camp too
late to save the girl from BOwyer, and
that, half-crazed, she had fled with her
father into the wilderness. He went
to the fishing camp and spent d day
prowling among the ruins, but he
learned nothing there. Then he went
to the store 1t was still empty, for
a new trading post was being estab-
lished nOrthward, and the company had
not replaced the factor, perhaps would
not do so. Belts broke in.
Everything was as II had been on
the night of the fire. But Belts quick
Is discovered that someone had been
there since. For in the dust that COW
cred the floor of Molly's bedroom were
the faint imprint Of feet. A wOman's
foot!
That was all the clue Belts got, but
It satisfied him. He cast about him,
northward and eastward, going into
every Indian encampment and talking
with the inhabitants. But it was a
week before he got his second clue.
Molly and her father left Wilton be-
side the road and crept stealthily into
the underground. When they were a
sufficient distance from the camp they
made a wide detour, crossed the road,
and took the trail back toward the
portage, encountering nobody on the
way.
There the factor got $500, and
made up a pack of food sufficient
for two weeks journey. They put
on their snowshoes and started east
ward.
Molly had noticed that the factors
paralysis had completely left him. She
said nothing to him about IT, however,
fearing to bring it to his attention.
They travelled for eight days. On the
eighth Mcdonald showed signs Of
weakness; he had overtaxed his
strength.
They were following an Indian track
that led to a little Moravian mission,
twelve miles farther on. When they
reached it at nightfall, Mcdonald was
In a raging fever and half-delirious.
The brother in charge welcomed
them; he put the factor to bed and
nursed him assiduously through
sharp attack of pleurisy. Mcdonald,
in his delirium raved necessarily. All
the ghosts of the past tortured him.
Night after night he raved, while
Molly tended him in his anguish But
at last the delirium left him, and con-
science. screaming into the sick mans
soul, could no more pass the seal upon
his lips.
He was in a fever to be gone. He
wanted his rifle; he cleaned and oiled
IL. He asked for his snOwshOes. and
began examining the strings. AS Molly
gave them to him she suddenly per-
ceived that one of the strings was
broken. And there flashed into her
mind the memory of her discovery be-
side the portage on that day when she
saved Wilton.
She would not let the dark thought
in her heart come into consciousness.
But she kneeled at the factors side,
her arms around him. "What is trOu-
bling yOu?" she pleaded. Tell me-"
Mcdonald was shaking like an
aspen. ITS naething, lassl" he bab-
bled. "If I've repaid, it's for wrong
that was done me and mine"
What have you done? Whom have
you repaid? You must tell me-"
He clutched at her. 81 warned him
what would be if he came between me |
and mine. And when he sent Will |
CarrutherS to steal you from me-fOr |
he was at the back of that shot |
him."
"WhOm?'
Molly's gray eyes searched into his
soul.
"JOe BOstOckr'
After long time Molly took the fac |
tors hands in hers. "WeIl go on" she |
said in a hard voice. Thank God, |
no innocent man has been suspected, |
I'll stay with you. I'll never speak of |
this again. But if ever the guilt is un-
Justly placed on anyone, you will go |
back to Clayton and confess the truth, |
Or I'll denOunce you"
"Aye, I'll go back, Molly" he cried.
No man shall hang for me. 1 swear
t-if yen stay by me till then, Molly"
She left him, and, with a singular
clarity of mind, as if there were moth
ng more to fear or hope, and no room
for further feeling. she went to the
1oor and looked out across the snow
pound wilderness.