Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-10-06

picked up the rifle, and drove smash
ing blow against the back wall. 1t
cracked; again and again she dashed
the stock against it, until a section of
the pine planks gave way under her
assault.
Together they carried Wilton through
| into a 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, chung
there, and dropped. The factor, lean
ing out. lowered Wiltons 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, Bower
came out of the stable, pulling fierce
~ at the horses, which were fastened i
to the rig. He had set his foot upon
the step when Lee Chambers and I
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 blow with liz
whipstock 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
Looping horses died away. Molly
kneeled at WiIton'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 Wiltons 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
made their way toward the
stables.
"COme ava, lassi" muttered Nc
Donald, pulling at Molly's arm.
He took Wilton by the legs, and to-
yether they crept with him cautiously
further into the bushes beside the
axe.
Suddenly Wilton opened his eyes.
And his first words fell like an Icy
hill on the girls heart. .
kitty, I tried to save your line"
lie muttered.
He was thinking of the fire. He
tared into Mollys eyes without rec
gnition, and his own closed again.
)nce more the factor pulled at the
iris sleeve.
"Come ava, lassl' he whispered :
agerly. Hell get well, Come! It's i
ur chance-a grand chance for usI"
"What do you mean?" she whis-
cred back.
"Dinna We see? They think we're
cad. Tom Bowyer1l think we're dead
4 the fire. He'll never trouble us
gain. Come lassl He Wilma come :.
D no harm!" {
AS he spoke, Molly perceived two !,
orsemen riding along the road. They o
ere policemen; they moved at slow 7
ak, and they carried their rifles on q
leir arms. b
When they were within two hun 81
red yards of the camp they dis d.
Iounted, tied their horses to a tree, o.
nd began to run forward swiftly =
long the road. The uproar in the c
able had not ceased