Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-11-10
the faint imprint Of feet. A woman's

the faint imprint Of feet. A wonian's
foot
That was all the clue Belts got, but
1t satisfied him. He cast about him,
northward and eastward, going into
every Indian encampment and talking
with the inhabitants. But it was a
week before he got his second clue.
Molly and ner father left Wilton be-
side the road and crept stealthily into
the underground. When they were
sufficient distance from the camp they
made a wide detour, crossed the road,
and took the trail back toward the
portage, encountering nobody on the
way.
There the factor got $500. and
made up pack Of food sufficient
for two weeks journey. They put
on their snowshoes and started east
ward.
Molly had noticed that the factors
paralysis had completely left him. She
said nothing to him about 1t, however,
fearing to bring it to his attention.
They travelled for eight days. On the
eighth Mcdonald showed signs of
weakness; he had overtaxed his
strength.
They were following an Indian track
that led to little Moravian mission,
twelve miles farther on. When they
reached it at nightfall, Mcdonald was
In raging fever and half-delirious.
The brother in charge welcomed
them; he put the factor to bed and
nursed him assiduously through a
sharp attack of pleurisy. Mcdonald,
In his delirium raved necessarily. All
the ghosts of the past tortured him.
Night after night he raved, while
Molly tended him in his anguish But
at last the delirium left him, and con-
science. screaming into the sick mans
soul, could no more pass the seal upon
his lips.
He was in a fever to be gone. He
wanted his rifle; he cleaned and oiled
1t. He asked for his snowshOeS. and
began examining the strings. AS Molly
gave them to him she suddenly per
ceived that one of the strings was
broken. And there flashed into her
mind the memory of her discovery be-
side the portage on that day when she
saved Wilton.
She would not let the dark thought
in her heart come into consciousness.
But she kneeled at the factors side,
her arms around him. "What is trou-
bling you" she pleaded. '"Tell me-"
Mcdonald was shaking like an
aspen. "It's naething, lass" he bab-
bled. IF I've repaid, it's for wrong
that was done me and mine"
what have you done? Whom have
you repaid? You must tell me-"
He clutched at her. II warned him
what would be If he came between me
and mine. And when he sent VIII
Carruthers to steal you from me-for
he was at the back of that shot
him"
"Whom?'
Molly's gray eyes searched into his
SOUL
"JOe Bostockl"
After long time Molly took the fac
tors hands in hers. "We'll go on" she
said in hard voice. "Thank God,
no innocent man has been suspected,
I'll stay with you. I'll never speak of
this again But II ever the guilt Is I'M
Justly placed on anyone, you will go
back to Clayton and confess the truth,
or I'll denounce you"
"Aye, I'll go back, Molly" he cried.
"No man shall hang for me. l swear
tiff yell stay by me till then, Molly"
She left him, and, with singular
clarity of mind as If there were moth
ing more to fear or hope, and no room
for further feeling, she went to the
door and looked out across the snow
bound wilderness.
She saw figure tramping through
the snow toward the mission. And
thus Jim Belts found her.
Continued Newt WooE