The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-06-10
CHAPTER w
ain the Kings Name!"

seemed impossible.
1--WE got to go, Molly" was all
Wilton could say.
"Then," she said with sudden deci-
sion, ST shall go with you. You can't
travel alone Your men may be faith
ful enough, but it Is my right to go.
And you'll never get to the meeting
without some one to take care Of you
on the way. That's my condition.
Promise me-or else I'll lock the store
door, VIII, and I've got paddock that
even you couldn't force"
Molly seemed to be animated by
resolution as feverish as his own.
Jules Halfhead had not fulfilled his
intention of absenting himself, prob
ably on account Of the storm, which
had made the security Of the store
seenr preferable to life In the forests.
He was faithful to the factor, and
had never deserted him In need. He
could take care of him during the four
or five days of her absence.
Wilton was forced to yield.
"But you must make sure that Jules
will stay" he said.
Hell understand He'll stay. an
swered the girl. Hes. never run
away when / was gone to Moose
Lake or Winnipeg
Molly went up to the factors room
with the faint hope Of reaching some
understanding-of plumbing her IA
Tiers feeling against Wilton and over
coming it.
"Mr. Carruthers is getting ready to
CO." she said. HE Is very i'll. He Is
too weak to travel alone, but he must
take Joe Bostock's body back to Clay
ton"
"Oh, ayei" said the factor, sneering.
HE needs care and attention during
the journey. So am going with him"
The factor sat up In bed, transhxing
her with look of fury. "You, lass
you will go with Wilton Carruthers to
| Claytonl" he cried. Eye Wilma come
hame, then! Mark me, now, I've done
with you for ayeI Molly, lass. ye Wilma
| gol" he pleaded, with sudden change
] Of tone. '1Think Of your good name In
Clayton! I havena reared We to have
| ye desert me in my old age and sick.
ness, Molly"
She turned quickly away to keep
her tears from falling. "Jules can
take care of you for few days, IA
ther," she said. "It's not as IL you
were helpless. And his life L. al
stake"
AAnd mebbe he'll die IL you don't
stay with him when ye get to Clayton
eh, lassf" rasped out the factor In
whitening scprn.
That scorn nerved her; to his weak
ness she had almost yielded. She went
down and dressed herself for the jour
ney,a She helped Wilton on with G
mackinaw, and put caribou robe II
Harvesting the dogs, struck by sud
den thought, she stopped and begar
to examine the tracks Of the snow
shoes about the edge Of the portage
They ran confusedly IN all directions
for the marks had been made by sever
different pairs-those of Bowyer an,
Chambers and their Indian; those o
Wilton and his two half-breeds; thos
J of the deaf-mute,
OF these Wilton's we're blurred an.
almost indistinguishable, made by hi
dragging feet as she pulled him u
from the swamp. But even had tn
vague purpose In Molly's mind bee
, clear to her, there would have bee
no need to examine those. The REF
were all similar In one respect-non
had q broken string.
Wilton and Molly had arranged tha
he was to travel In the sleigh, to who
a second had been attached, bearin
: Ioe's body In a roughly made cof1
constructed by the men. The dog
were harnessed. and they started,
It was a little more than fifty mile
to Clayton. Travelling along Ii
; cleared road, the distance could /
covered easily In two days. II
dogs ran well, the weather WI
clear and fine, and Wilton felt we
enough to walk good deal. The
dinner was almost like q picnic.
4 evening the railhead had come In
n sight In the distance, the empty cam
!. the long sheds with the miscellany
3, supplies, the locomotive shops, and Z
great ballast pits beside the line.
d AS the dogs climbed the last b
d there came yelping from the clear
way behind them. Looking back, tn
b.. perceived a sled approaching. FV
n men walked beside 1t, and the dos
ID sighting Wilton's, yelped in challeni
" which was taken up In an outburst
:. answering growls.
The sled drew In toward them, a.
- the men resolved themselves into
1t sergeant and constable Of the mouI
sspe ed police. Wilton had stopped
r dogs, but the newcomers did not ha
= and went on, with curt greeting
r toward the cache.
&c A little surprised at their abruptne
"a Wilton let the sled precede his sleil
:h AS the dogs were eager for their me
he sent Papillon ahead with them, a
followed more leisurely with Mol
They arrived at the cache few m
It | utes after the half-breeds, to find
- two policemen waiting for them, VIII
ty the two men were embarrassing
We dogs. Andersen. the old Swedish ca
q. taker, was standing beside Joe's col
M with a stunned look on his face. 7