Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-09-14
CHAPTER xII-continued.

Scotland !" he shouted. "Im done with
This country. A mans thochts turn In
his old age TO his homeland. To Aber-
deem r.
Molly was aWed by the Old man-s
fanatical enthusiasm. sWhen shall we
GOT" she asked.
''1his autumn, lass - before the
SHOWS fall. But" he clutched her
by ne arm-"yeIl say nought about
it,"
But you must arrange with the com
pany for a new factor, and, II he isn't
trained"
His clutch became convulsive. "Not
a word - he cried fiercely. "Havena ]
lone weelN Ny the company? II wont
he the sufferer. II they thocht | was
going away they'd-not a word, lassl
Promise mel Molly. lass. We Wilma go
back on me now?"
mo, l wtst 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
tect In view of his evident obsesslon.
After a while they began 10 make
Weparations@fhey spoke BEehe Iaar
ney as being weeks. Instead of months
away. Then came n night when the
factor tapped at Afolly's door. She
dressed quickly and went out Of her
room, to see the whole skyline ablaze.
Clouds OF smoke were whIrllng down
on them. Suddenly a rig with two
horses came dashlng across the portage
and drew up at the door.
Molly recognized Lee Chambers and
Hackett. and turned md faced them,
though her heart DIS beating with
fear.
"we've come for you. Miss McDon-
aid" shouted Lee Chambers. "The
fires across the muskeg, md there
won't be anything left of this store In
twenty minutes. Come along ="
He shouted and gestIculated wildly,
and seemed hardly master of himself.
Mcdonald started and looked out
through the smoke clouds. But ms
they approached the girl she drew
herself away.
Its not true - she cried. THE
fires on the other side. Why should
you come for us?"
II tell you you'll he burned to a elm
der inside Of fifteen minutes - yelled
Chambers. We've got no time 10
waste. We're going to drive you out
OF danger. Come along!"
81 wont come 7" cried Molly. eDon.t
go with them, father. He's not speak,
Ing the TRUTH Look at his facelo
Hackett pushed Chambers out of his
way and strobe up 10 the door. II
guess that's true enough, what YOU
said. Miss Mcdonald" he said. The
fire amt this side-but VIII Carruth-
ers is dying. They pulled him out of
his shack. He's In a bad way. Mebbe
he'll just live TIL morning. He's call
ing for you"
"Will-Wil burned I" gasped Molly.
looking at him with eyes OF horror
Its gospel truth y cried Chambers.
ale can't rest TIN you go TO him."
Then why did you tell us an un-
asked the girl. searching his
face as If to read to the bottom Of his
soul.
, Because we wanted to break II
gently" shouted Hackett. He seized
her by the arm. 1--WE haven't no time
10 wastel" he shouted. HE may die
any minute while we're talking here. ;
He didn't send you" cried Molly
with sudden conviction. why should
have sent your We won't gol
lyingl Let me goi"
She pushed her father back into the
and tried to bolt the door In
faces, but they set their shoul-
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 OF as Chambers
grasped him by the throat. And then
was struggling madly In Hackett's
Curse your he shouted. with a
of vile oaths. SELLING her by the
hair and dashing his fist into her face.
She fought back like q tigress, broke
from him. and. snatehlng up the water
smashed 1t across his head,
his face with the fragments OF !.
porcelain. He grasped her by the
She chung to the bed, the a
table, to the door. screaming the while 4
his fingers tIghtened on her Z
throat and the room swan blackly
round her.
She was family conscious of a gag
thrust into her mouth, Of being car
ried. struggling. u of the store, OF
being lifted into the rig. Then she re-
to find herself huddled upon the }
hoor. her father bending over her with I
bis wrists tied, and mumbling In her I
ear. The engineer. seated In front Of 4
hem, was driving furiousiy along the .
trail southwark. Hackett, with one
leg thrust out on either side of the r
was wiping the blood from his
8
Desperate as she was, Molly would :
fried to leap from the rig but 4
or her father, She heard him con. b