The L'Anse sentinel., 1922-11-10
CHAPTER xvI-continued.


Ing blow against the back wall. I
cracked; again and again she dashed
the stock against 1t, until section o.
the pine planks gave way under hel
assault.
Together they carried Wilton through
Into a room behind. Outside 1t wal
quite light; a gust of wind came
through an open window and famed
the flames to fury. With roar the
fire leaped up the outer walls, and the
whole front of the camp was ablaze
Molly scrambled to the sill, clunl
there, and dropped. The factor, lean
Ing oue, lowered Wilton's body. And
he himself dropped to the ground be
side the girl.
AS he dropped she perceived, with
out realizing it, that he had used both
arms and legs. The paralysis had left
him.
They ran down toward the lake
carrying Wilton between them, and
making instinctively for the shelter OF
the underground.
AS they passed the road. Bowyer
came out Of the stable, pulling fierce
ly at the horses. which were fastened
to the rig. He had set his foot upon
the step when Lee Chambers and
Hackett broke upon him from among
the trees.
They made leap for the vehicle
.Let us In, d-n you'll" Chambers
yelled
Bowyer dealt him blow with the
whipstock that sent him staggering.
With a vile oath Hackett sprang for
the step. Bowyer lashed him across
the face, causing him to miss his foot
Ing, and cursing and shouting, the two
men rushed after him and disappeared
down the road, The sound Of the gal
loping horses died away. Molly
kneeled at Wilton's side, bathing his
face with water from the lake. The
factor held his wrist.
"His pulse beats sound" he said.
Hell come back to himself soon.
Let's AVA, lass; let's AVA"
The girl hardly heard him. Piteously
she scanned Wilton's face for some
signs of returning consciousness. But
Wilton did not stir, though he was
breathing easily.
Presently, with a hideous clamor,
the two outlaws returned. Molly held
her breath as they came back along
the road, only few yards above
where she crouched with the factor.
But they passed on, and turned up
toward the camp, which blazed furi-
ously, flaming parallelogram against
the glow Of the eastern sky, into which
the rim of the sun just projected from
the horizon.
Even as she watched the girl saw
the blazing walls tumble inward. The
men leaped back. and then, shouting
drunkenly, made their way toward the
stables.
"Come ava, lass" muttered Nc
Donald, pulling at Molly's arm.
He took Wilton by the legs, and to-
gether they crept with him cautiously
further into the bushes beside the
lake.
Suddenly Wilton opened his eyes.
And his first words fell like an Icy
chill on the girls heart.
kitty, l tried to save your line r.
he muttered.
He was thinking of the fire. He
stared into Molly's eyes without rec
ognition, and his own closed again.
Once more the factor pulled at the
girls sleeve. :.
'Come AVA, lassp he whispered
eagerly. Hell get well. Come! It's
our chance-a grand chance for usp
"What do you meanT she whis-
pered back.
"Dinna We see? They think we're
dead. Tom Bowyer'll think we're dead
In the fire. He'll never trouble us
again. Come, lassl He Wilma come
TO no harmI"
AS he spoke, Molly perceived two
horsemen riding along the road. They
were policemen; they moved at slow
walk. and they carried their rifles on
their arms.
When they were within two hun
dred yards Of the camp they dis
mounted, tied their horses to a tree,
and began to run forward swiftly
along the road. The uproar In the
stable had not ceased.
Lee Chambers came staggering out,
= bottle In his hand. And suddenly,
. hundred yards away. he saw Quain
and the constable.
He bolted back with a scream Of
terror. Then followed Hackett's bel
lowing roar. and the two men ap-
peared at the door with rifles In their
hands.
The policemen ran toward them.
Quain led the way. 'Drop thosel
Hands upi We've got your" he
shouted.
Molly saw Hsckett drop to one knee
and draw careful bead upon the m
spector.
AT that moment the constable fired.
The outlaw toppled head over heels
tlks . shot NtSbit and nsvsr stirrsd