The Adair County news., 1922-06-06

| drifting snow about them.
Yet always they went on again; un-
til at last the never-ending night lifted.
The snow ceased to fall; the dun
horizon was streaked with fire. And
slowly Wilton came back to full con-
SciOuSnesS.
They had toiled up their highest
hill, and as they reached the summit
they saw the sweetest sight that they
had ever seen. For far away was Clay
ton, over the plain, with its ugly
streets and bare, new houses, and the
! gaunt station buildings, roundhouses
and locomotive shops.
They were white as shrouded bodies,
beSmeared with CRIME, and Wilton was
caked with the blood that had oozed
from his wounds and frozen.
"One last try, Molly" he said, land
then they can do what they like with
me. But it's you who pulled that
trick, girl of mine!"
But as he spoke he slipped to the
ground and leaned his shoulders
against the sleigh.
| OCNCh yOl3 LhOClAhS
| at nine," he said. II can't make ii,
Molly. I've tried. I've fallen short
just short. A little later, Molly, I'll
try again. I'm going tO-sleep in the
sunshine"
Molly stopped over him, and it was
a harder thing than she had ever done
to try TO drive the driven man fur
ther. But she knew that, having
staked all, Wilton would be content
with no less than the sacrifice of ALL
Remember Joe, DEAR" she said,
land Kitty"
He tried to rise to his feet, but could
not. WiltOn's mind was quite clear,
but his body, driven by his will, had
collapsed suddenly like a worn-out
/ horse.
Three hOrsemen were riding over
the plain toward them. They watched
| them in a dull apathy. Even Molly
hardly cared any more, except for Will
ton. And he had done all that a man
could do.
AS the men came nearer it could be
seen that they were of the Mounted
Police. In the foremost Molly recog-
nized Quain. the inspector who was
in command of the detachment at Clay
ton.
The three trotted their horses up to
them, and, catching sight Of the coffin
upon the sleigh, the inspector dis
mounted. He looked hard at Wilton,
and suddenly he recognized him.
'Tt's Will Carruthers he ex-
claimed, staring into his face in bewil-
derment
Wilton got up with an effort Morn
ing, Jack" he said weariy. "Yes, it's
l. And here's Miss Mcdonald. You
know her, 1 thlnk?"
The inspector turned his puzzled
glance on the girl. Mechanically his
hand went up to his cap in salute.
Then he looked at the sleigh again.
"And this is-was Joe Bostock," said
Wilton; and all at once in the reac-
tion from the nervous tension, he felt
the tears streaming down his face, and
could hardly keep his lips steady.
my God !" muttered Quain. "An ac-
cident. Will?"
"Shot!' shouted Wilton. "SOme
sneaking dastard's bullet in the bush.
Shot at my sidei The bullet broke my
arm after it had passed through JOe's
heart, and his blood and mine were
mixed together. 1t didn't need that
for me to know that I'll hound the
murderer if it takes me to my dying
day.
"Joe-JOe dead!" whispered Inspec-
tor Quain, half unable to realize it.
Joe had been a very living personality
in Clayton. "And murdered!" he
added: Then:
"Where are your breeds?"
"Gonel But they didn't shoot Joe,
either by design or accident. That's a
story you can learn from Andersen,
at the halfway cache"
THAT'S where we're bound for"
said Quain. "We're looking for"
"And by the way" said Wilton with
a mirthless laugh, as the relative un-
Importance of the fact struck him, I'm
under arrest for having murdered
! joe"
Quain looked at him keenly, and
then turned his glance upon Molly in
inquiry. 1t was plain that he thought
Wilton was raving.
That's true" said Molly. "a ser
geant and a constable from the Pas
followed us up to AnderSen'S and
placed Wilton under arrest yesterday
morning"
The inspector rubbed his nose in
| perpleXity IF VIII had told me that
1 wouldn't have believed him, Miss
Mcdonald" he said. Describe those
policemen to me, please"
''The constable was short and dark,
stocky in build. The sergeant was fair,
with long mustache-"
''Bit of a squint?"
"a cast in his left eye. His name
is Peters. The other one is named
Myers. You know them, them"
81 do" said Quain softly. Peters
is Jim Hackett, and Myers is TOnquay,
| half -Erpnchman from tha aaStnrn