The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-11-09
CHAPTER xii--continued.

He seemed to tremble at her words.
He turned fiercely upon her. ITO
Scotland !" he shouted. I'm done with
this country. A mans thochts turn 10
his old age to his homeland. To Aber-
deem"
Molly was awed by the old mans
fanatical enthusiasm. "When shall we
gop" she asked.
This autumn, lass - before the
SHOWS fall. But" he clutched her
by the arm-''ye'l say nought about
ft?"
But you must arrange with the COM
pany for a new factor. and, If he isn't
trained"
His clutch became convulsive. mot
q word" he cried fiercely. "Havena |
done weel by the company? II won't
be the sufferer. If they thocht I was
going away they'd-not a word, lass !!
Promise me! Molly, lass, We Wilma go
back on me now2"
mo, | won't 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
ject In view of his evident obsession.
After a while they began to make
preparations. They spoke Of the jour
ney as being weeks. instead Of months
away. Then came a night when the
factor tapped at Molly's door. She
dressed quickly and went out of her
room, to See the whole skyline ablaze.
Clouds Of smoke were whirling down
on them. Suddenly a rig with two
horses came dashing across the portage
and drew up at the door.
Molly recognized Lee Chambers and
Hackett, and turned and faced them,
though her heart was beating with
fear.
"We've come for you. Miss MELON
aid" shouted Lee Chambers. 'The
fires across the muSkeg. and there
won't be anything left o. this store In
twenty minutes. Come alongl"
He shouted and ~gesticulated wildly,
and seemed hardly master Of himself.
Mcdonald started and looked out
through the smoke clouds. But as
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?"
~ tell you you'll he burned ( o Gin
der inside Of fifteen minutes. :" yelled
waste. We're going to drive you out
Of danger. Come along!"
81 won't Gomez" cried Molly. Don't
go with them, father. He's not speak
ing the truth! Look at his face! !"
Hackett pushed Chambers GU of his
way and strobe up to the door. II
guess that's true enough. what you
said. Miss Mcdonald" he said. 1.-THE
fire amt this side-but Will Carrufh
ers Is dying. They pulled him out of
his shack. He's IN n had way. Mebbe
he'll just ike till morning. He's call
ing for YOU"
"Will-WHl burned" gnsped Molly.
looking at him with eyes Of horror
ITS gospel TRUTH cried Chambers.
ale can't rest till you go to him"
"rhen why did you tell us nm I'M
TRUTH" 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. I'VE haven't no time
to waste I" he shouted. "He may die
any minute while we're talking here. :
He didn't send you" cried Molly
with sudden conviction. "Why should
he have sent Won? We won't go!
You're lying! Let me go!"
She pushed her father back into the
store and tried to bolt the door IN
their faces. but they set their Shout
ders against II and broke through,
Molly ran to her room: they were
there almost as soon as She. She
screamed. She heard McIDonnld's
feeble shout cut OF as Chambers
grnsped him by the throat. And then
she was struggling madly In Hackett's
arms.
Course youi" be shouted, with n
string OF vile oafhs. SELLING her by the
hair and dashing his fist into her face.
She fought back like a tigress. broke
from him. and. %snatching up the water
pitcher. smashed II across his head.
cutting his face with the fragments ~
porcelain. He sraspeti her by the
throat. She chung to the bed, the
table. to the door. screaming the while
until his fingers frightened on her
throat and the room swan blackly
around her.
She was family conscious Of q gag
thrust into her mouth. Of heing car.
ried. struggling. out Of the store. of
being lifted INTO the rig. Then she re
vivel to find herself huddled upon the
floor, her fathrr bending over her with
his wrists fied, and mumbling In her
ear. The engineer. seated In front or
ID m. was driving furiously along the
trail southwark. Hackett. with one
Neg thrust "s' IN either side 81 the
vehirie. was wiping the blood from his
face.
Desperate as she was. Molly wouia
have tried to leap from the rig hut
for her father. She heard him con
tinue mumhiIng: and M length The
U,nonfn0 ~ hts v,ara, .ao.hoy -