The Adair County news., 1922-07-04

pulled MIN out OF the 0alneS- SelZlng
him in her arms, she began madly beat
ing out the fire that was licking his
clothes and hair. She tore OF his blaz-
ing coat and with 1t extinguished
them. Then, holding his head against
her breast, she staggered toward the
door through the thick smoke, Nc
Donald at her side.
AS she neared 1t Hackett leaped for
ward. He pushed the factor violently
back and slammed it. An instant later
there sounded the click of the key
in the lock.
"The window The window" shout
ed the factor.
But that side Of the room was a liv-
ing wall of fire, and they seemed to
be trapped hopelessly. The heat was
becoming intolerable.
Molly ran behind the blazing divan,
picked up the rife, and drove smash
ing blow against the back wall. 1t
cracked; again and again she dashed
the stock against it, until section of
the pine planks gave way under her
assault
Together they carried Wilton through
into room behind. Outside it was
quite light; a gust of wind came
through an open window and famed
the flames to fury. With a roar the
fire leaped up the outer walls, and the
whole front of the camp was ablaze.
Molly scrambled to the sill, clung
there. and dropped. The factor, lean
ing out, lowered Wilton's body. And
he himself dropped to the ground be-
| side the girl.
AS he dropped she perceived, with
out realizing II, 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 a leap for the vehicle.
LET us in, d-n your Chambers
yelled.
Bowyer dealt him a blow with the
wnipstoek that sent him staggering.
With a vile oath HAckett sprang for
the step. BOwyer dashed 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 q few yards above
where she crOuched with the factor.
But they passed on, and turned up
toward the camp, which blazed furi-
ously, a 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, 1 tried to save your liner
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, lassI" he whispered
eagerly. Hell get well, Come! It's
our chance-a grand chance for u.s."
"What do you mean?" she whis
pered back.
''Dinna ye see? They think we're
dead. Tom BOwyer'll think we're dead
In the fire. He'll never trouble us
again. Come, lass! He Wilma come
to no harmp'
AS he spoke, Molly perceived two
horsemen riding along the road. They
were policemen; they moved at a 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 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 thp constable