The Hope pioneer., 1922-12-21
CHAPTER Xxx

CHAPTER Xxx
IT.
J Quietly, as though nothing had hap
pened, the three men went down the
stairs, passed the sleeping night clerk,
and headed back to the sheriff's office,
where waited Anita and Harry, who
had completed his last duties in re-
gard to the chalky-faced 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 WEI"
ayes, and get gentle one for me-"
cautioned Harry.
"That goes for me, too," laughed
Fairchild.
"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 it af-
forded. a long, silent, cold-gripped
two hours-then finally the lights of
Ohadt.
But even then the trail was not diff.
cult. The little town was asleep:
hardly track showed in the streets
beyond the footprints Of 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
Laura's home, and light was gleam-
ing within.
Silently the pursuers dismounted
and started forward, only to stop
short. A scream had come to them,
faint in the bluster of the storm, the
racking scream Of woman in a 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
4running from room to room. Once two
sgaunt shadows stood forth-of a
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-
;tion of the upper floor. The stagger-
ing figure of man with the blaze all
about him was visible; then a woman
who rushed past him. Cropping al
though blinded, the burning form of
the man weaved moment before the
window, clawing in a futile attempt
to open 1t, the flames, which seemed
to leap from every portion of his body,
'enwrapping him. Slowly, torch-like,
stricken thing, he sank out of sight,
Ind as the pursuers outside rushed
forward, the figure of a 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 squirming 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 ilouse-fve heavy, sheepskin-
bound books Of the ledger type,
wrapped tight in grasp that not even
Harry could loosen.
) "Don't take them from met" the
insane woman screamed. "He tried
1t. didn't he? And where's he now
up there burningl He hit me-and
I threw the lamp at him! He wanted
my books-he wanted to take thern
away from me-but I wouldn't let
him. And you can't have them-hear
me-let 60. 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
IN H.
and ride with him into town. The house
with Squint Rodaine-was gone.
Back in the Office of Sheriff Bard
well the books were opened, and Fair
child uttered an exclamation.
"Harry Didn't she talk about her
books at the cOrOner's inouest2 500