Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-10-28
CHAPTER xVI-continued.

Molly ran behind the blazing divan,
,la.ed zip the rifle, and drove smash
t., bov against the back wall. 1t
a --,.tad. again and again she dashed
.ho stock against II, until a section of
enc nine planks gave way under her
q assault
Together they carried Wilton through
8 ,,+o room behind Outside 1t was
8 o,,ite light; a gust of wind came
81 ehrorgh m open window and famed
rho flames TO fury. With a roar the
b are leaned up the outer walls, and the
n whole front of the camp was ablaze.
Molly scrambled to the sill, chung
81 there and dropped. The factor, lean
inc out. lowered Wilton's body. And
II he himself dropped to the ground be
\ side the gir'.
n AZ ne dropped she perceived, with
8 out realizing it. that he had used both
arms and legs. The paralysis had left
81 him.
N They ran down toward the, lake,
carving 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
L ~ At the horses, which were fastened
10 the rig. He had set his foot upon
the step when Lee Chambers and
81 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 a blow with the
whipstock that sent him staggering.
4 With a vile oath Hackett sprang for
the step. Bowyer dashed him across
Il 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
looping horses died away. Molly
kneeed 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"
she scanned WiltOns face for some
signs of returning consciousness. But
Wilton did not stir, though he was
breathing easily.
Presently. with a hideous clamOr,
4 the two outlaws returned. Molly held
her breath as they came back along
the road, only a 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
Chil on the girls hec t.
Kitty, | tried to save your line r
he muttered.
lie was thinking of the fire. He
stared into Molly's eyes without rec.
ignition, and his own closed again
once more the factor pulled at the
girls sleeve.
Come ava. lass !" he whispered
eagerly. He'll get well, Come! It's
our chance-a grand chance for us!"
What do you mean?" she whis-
pered back.
b4nna We see? They think we're
ue8e Tom Bowyer'lI think we're dead
ID The fire. He'll never trouble us
again Come, lass He Wilma come
20 no harmlr
As he spoke, Molly perceived two
horSenen riding along the road They
we're policemen; they moved at slow
~ais' and they carried their rifles on
their arms.
NDen they were within two hun
ofeH yards Of the camp they dis
mounted, tied their horses to a tree
ana began to run forward swiftly
4oHg the road. The uproar in the
s'aoie had no. ceased.
Lee Chambers came staggering out
aottle In his hand. And suddenly
'9ndred yards away. he saw Quain
and the constable.
ne oolted back with a scream of
.eTor Then followed Hackett's bel.
,'N'ng roar, and the two men ap-
.eared at the door with rifles In their
hands
The poll ,amen ran toward them.
Daain led the way. Drop those
a8ads up! We've got your he
shouted.
Molly saw Hsckett drop to one knee
s'o 'raw a careful bead upon the in.
spector.
." that moment the constable fred
- "e outlaw toppled head over heels
us a Ahot nk5biL and never stirred