Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-08-11
THE BIG MUSKEC
VICTOR ROUSSEAU
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tin panuikinS, which they had evident
ly brought d~eSlgnedly from the cook
house, and filling them from a hogs
head Of liquor that stood in the center
Of the room.
The old factor, wedged In behind
the counter, his right arm limp at his
side, was pushing his left into the
faces of the grinning HunkieS.
Molly, at the door Of her room, her
lips parted, her eyes dilated with fear,
was surrounded by a ring Of men. one
Of them had his huge paws on her
shoulders, and, standing a little be
hind, was trying to bend her back
ward toward him.
Wilton took in the scene instan-
tancouSly through the thick haze of
sinking tobaCco-Smoke. Everything
swan before his eyes. With a hoarSe
roar OF rage he leaped into the center
of the crowd, caught the man who had
his hands on Molly, and, spinning him
round, dashed his fists into his face
again and again until he was unrec-
equitable from the blood that covered
his broken features.
Screaming with pain. the man broke
from him. Before the ~astonished
Hunkies could collect their wits Wilton
was in their midst again. He drove
them before him he snatched up a
bottle containing a guttered candle
end, and, armed with this terrible
weapon, brought It smashing down on
their heads till he held only the
splinters in his bleeding hands.
Stupehed by this onslaught, the men
ran for the door. But, jamming In
the entrance, the rear-most turned and
faced him. Three men set on him,
dealing savage kicks, and rushing at
| him, head down, like battering-rams.
One caught him In the pit Of the
stomach and sent him topping against
the counter.
Instantly the whole mob was upon
hinc with knives, screaming with rage.
Wilton leaned against the counter, sick
and weak for the moment, and unable
to defend himself. But suddenly the
mob was flung violently away, and
he saw Digby, his fists flying like fails,
striking out right and left, and telling
a man at every blow.
The respite enabled him to regain
his feet, snatch up another bottle,
and go to the Englishman's assistance,
The Hunkies had no stomach for any
more. This time they made the door
way, and ran Mt the top OF their speed
toward the portage, leaving Wilton
and his assistant painting and ex'
hausted in their wake.
Wilton was about to go back t.
Molly when suddenly he caught sight o
two men who looked like Canadians
Sinking into the kitchen, which opened
upon the side Of the store. He rccog
nized them instantly as the two fake
policemen, Hackett and Tonguay, anc
It vas evident enough that they had
brought the liquor to the portage.
Shouting to Digby, he rushed after
them. Bnt they were through The
kitchen and had gained the open be
fore he could get within a dozen PAGES
Digby had evidently not understood
Wllton's shout.
Good work, what?" he CALCULATED
"D'you have much Of this sort, Alr
CarruthersT
~ don't know" answered Wilton
It'll be part Of u business to SCI
that there isn't any more"
ut wasn't on our school curriculum,
said the Englishman thoughtfully.
wilton only glanced at him, ant
went into the store. Molly was on he.
knees before her father, who had SUM
into a chair. The old mans face wa.
ashen white, but, as Wilton ap
preached, he opened his eyes AM
glared at him.
"D-n ye!" he Kissed with unimagin
able fury. This is your work! &c
out of my store and never let me Sc
your face again.
He turned, and began to shuttle
away, dragging his palsied leg, hi
right arm dangling. Wilton fell bach
and Mcdonald began to make hi
way upstairs.
Wilton went up to Molly and too
/, her In his arms.
"Molly-Molly, dear, it's all RICH
now" he said a~nxiously. "Forgiy
me! / couldn't have guessed thos
, men would have been wild beasts Xix
that. / thought Andersen could kee
them in control. Thank God, | cam
when l did,
.