The Ordway new era., 1922-12-22
CHAPTER Xxx

|
and headed back to the sheriifs S ONCE
where waited Anita and Harry, VINO
had completed his last duties In re-
gard to the chalkyfaced Maurice Ro-
daine. The telephone tangled. 1t was
| Denver. Mason talked moment over
the wire, then turned to his fellow
| officer.
"They've got Barnham. what's more,
he had close to million dollars In
currency strapped around him. Guess
we'd better stir up some horses now
and chase along, hadn't wef' =
"Yes. and get gentle one for me-"
cautioned Harry.
"That goes for me. too" laughed
Falrchild.
"And mel like automobiles bet
ter" Anita was twisting her long hair
into braid, to be once more showed
under her cap. The start was made.
A detour, then the tracks led the
way to the Ohadi road, and behind
them came the pursuers, heads down
against the wind. horses snorting and
coughing as they forced their way
through the big drifts, each following
one another for the protection 1t af-
forded A long, silent, cold-gripped
two hours-then finally the lights of
OhndL
But even then the trail was not diff
cult. The little town was asleep;
hardly track showed in the streets
beyond the footprints of a horse lead
ing up the principal thoroughfare and
on out to the Georgeville road. On
ward until before them was the bleak,
rat-ridden old roadhouse which formed
Lauras home, and light was gleam-
Ing within.
Silently the pursuers dlsmounted
and started forward, only to stop
short scream had come to them,
faint in the bluster of the storm, the
racking scream of n woman in tenn
pest of anger. Suddenly the light
seemed to bob about in the old house;
1t showed first at one window-then
another-as though some one were
running from room to room. Once two
gaunt shadows stood forth-of
crouching man and woman, one
hand extended in the air, as she
whirled the lamp before her for an
instant and brought herself between
Its rays and those who watched.
Again the chase and then the
scream, louder than ever, accompa-
MED by streaking red flame which
spread across the top floor like wind
blow spray. Shadows weaved before
the windows, while the flames seemed
to reach out and enwrap every por-
ton of the upper floor. The stagger-
ing figure of man with the blaze all
about him was visible; then n woman
who rushed past him. Cropping as
though blinded, the burning form of
the man weaved moment before the
window, clawing in a futile attempt
to open it, the flames, which seemed
to leap from every portion OF his body,
enwrapping him. Slowly, torch-like,
stricken thing, he sank out of sight,
and as the pursuers outside rushed
forward, the figure of woman ap-
peared on the old veranda, half naked,
shrieking, carrying something tightly
locked in her arms, and plunged down
the steps into the snow.
Fairchild, circling far to one side,
caught her. and with all his strength
resisted her squlrming efforts until
Harry and Bardwell had come to his
| assistance. 1t was Crazy Laura, the
contents of her arms now showing in
the light of the flames as they licked
every window of the upper portion of
the house-five heavy, sheepskin-
bound books of the ledger type,
wrapped tight in grasp that not even
| Harry could loosen,
Don't take them from mev the
insane woman screamed. "He tried
1t, didn't he? And where's he now
up there burning! He hit me-and
1 threw the lamp at him! He wanted
my books-he wanted to take thern
away from me-but 1 wouldn't let
him. And you can't have them-hear
me-let go Of my arm-let go!"
| She bit at them. She twisted and
butted them with her gray head. She
screamed and squirmed-at last to
weaken. Slowly Harry forced her
arms aside and took from them the
precious contents-whatever they
might be. Grimly old Sheriff Mason
wrapped her in his coat and led her
TO horse, there to force her to mount
ana rue with him into town.The house
with Squint Rodaine-was gone.
Back in the Office of Sheriff Bard
wen the books were opened, and Fair
child uttered an exclamation.
Harry! Didn't she talk about her
books at the coroners inquest? See
there's any entry along early in
July-about the time of the inouestn .
bardwell turned the closely written
pages. At last he stopped.
testified today at the inquest
ne read. I lied. Roady made me do