The Adair County news., 1922-06-06
caches which had 6eea established
along this part OF the road.

caches which had been established
along this part Of the road.
At one o'clock they came to an
empty, cache and horse stable, which
had been built in anticipation Of win
ter development work, and had formed
the hub of many radiating reconnois-
sance roads. They had come no more
than six miles, and it was still good
fifteen into Clayton. BY this time the
blizzard had increased to an intense
violence, driving great sheets Of snow
along the road. 1t was impossible to
face such a hurricane any longer.
"We'n have to wait till this let's up
a bit, Molly" said Wilton.
The little shack, hardly more than
four walls and a roof, was unoccupied.
Wilton broke down the door and went
in. He found the key of the stable,
unlocked it, and embarrassed the dogs
He drove them in and shut the door.
Then he took the blankets out of the
sleigh and went into the shack.
To build a fire was impossible, but
they ate biscuit and timed beef, wash
ing it down with water.
It'll have to let up soOn," said Will
ton. "If it doesn't, We'll just have
to face it again."
A dozen times he had regretted hav-
ing yielded to her insistence to ac-
company him. Travelling in that
weather was hard on a man, let alone
girl such as Molly. He looked at
her in wonder as he saw her apparent
unconcern, the courage with which she
faced the difficulties of the journey.
But his fears were centered chiefly
on Kitty. Suppose he couldn't go on!
Suppose he couldn't be at the share
holders meeting on the morrow!
Toward the middle of the afternoon
the wind seemed TO have lessened.
though the driven snow still swept in
binding clouds along the road. 1t
might be possible to reach Clayton
soon after nightfall.
81 think we might try again, Molly"
he said.
Il think so, WILL" she answered.
He caught her to him. you are the
bravest woman know" he said, kiss
ing her. 1--WE must succeed-for Kit
ty's sake"
She kissed him back. "Of course
we shall, viii, DEAR" she answered.
Wilton went into the stable and
called the dogs. They were lying with
their noses together, and at his en-
trance sprang to their feet with men
acing grOwls. They knew very well
what his advent portended, and it was
plain that their wolf1sh temper was
thoroughly aroused.
Wilton had handled a refractory
pack once before. He knew that quick
action was necessary. He stepped
forward, and, as the cleaning jaws
gaped at him, and the animals pre-
pared to spring, snarling and culver
ing with rage, he brought his whip
| across the leaders nose with all his
strength.
Immediately, with maddened yells,
the pack leaped at him. Wilton swung
right and left with the whip, and then,
retreating till his back was against
| the wall of the shack, he laid about
him with the shortened stock.
With gaping jaws and wicked, blood
shot eyes, the pack came on again and
| again, leaping at him, tearing at his
clothes; one sank its fangs into his
right hand, and, as he freed himself
with a smashing blow, the others were
upon him sideward.
In an instant he was struggling with
his one hand against the heavy bodies
that bore him back, shielding his
throat, thrusting the whipstock into
the red. cavernous jaws, while the an
guish from his wrenched shoulder al
most made him scream with pain.
| Everything was swimming round
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