Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-10-25
CHAPTER xII-continued.

Scotland :" he shouted. "rm done with
this country. A mans thochts turn IN
his old age TO his homeland. To Aber-
deeni"
Molly was awed by the old mans
fanatical enthusiasm. "when shall we
gOT' she asked.
This autumn, las- - before the
SHOWS fall. But" he clutched her
by the arm--"yeTl ga nought about
uT'
'But you must arrange with the com
pany for a new factor, and. II he isn't
trained"
His clutch became convulsIve. "Not
q word :" he cried fiercely. "Havena
done weel by the company II won't
be the sufferer. II they thocht was
going away they'd-not a word. lassl
Promise met Molly. lass. ye Wilma go
back on me nOwT
"No. won't go back on you" she
answered.
But she did not like the idea Of
Stealing away. although the company
would suffer little. And then there
would be the forfeiture Of his pension.
Hut she dared not bring mp that sub
iect 10 view Of his evident obsesSlOn.
After a while they began TO make
preparations. They spoke 81 the jour
ney as being weeks. instead Of months
away. Then came a night when the
factor tapped at Molly's door. She
dressed quickly and went out 81 her
room. 10 see the whole skyline ablaze.
Clouds Of smoke were whlrllng down
on them. Suddenly n rig with two
horses came dashing across the portage
and drew up az the door.
Molly recognized Lee Chambers and
Hackett. and turned aud faced them.
though her heart was beating with
fear.
We've come for you. Miss Melon
aid" shouted lee Chambers. "The
fires across the muskeg and there
won't be anything left OF this store In
twenty minutes. Come alOngl"
He shouted and gesticulated wildly.
and seemed hardly master OF himself.
Mcdonald started and looked out
through the smoke clouds. But as
they approached the girl she drew
herself away.
Its not truel" she cried. "The
hre's on the other side. Why should
you come for usT"
Il tell you you'll be burned 10 a Gin
der inside OF fifteen min ties :" yelled
Chambers We've goi no time to
waste. We're going 20 drive you out
OF danger. Come along !"
II won't come cried Molly. Don't
60 with them. father. He's not speak
Ing the truth Look at his facer"
Hackett pushed Chambers out Of his
way and strobe up TO the door. II
guess that's true enough. what you
said. Miss Mcdonald" he said. 1.-THE
Ere Amt this side-but VIII Carruth-
ers is dying. They pulled him out OF
his shack. He's In n had way. Mebbe
he'll just live TIN morning. He's call
Ing for you"
"will-Will burnedi" gasped Molly,
looking at him with eyes Of horror
"It's gospel truth" cried Chambers.
"He can't rest TIN you go to him."
Then why did you tell us an I'M
TRUTH" asked the girl. searching HIS
face as II TO read TO the bottom Of his
soul.
Because we wanted TO break II
gently" shouted Hackett. He seized
her by the arm. I'VE haven't no time
20 waste" he shouted. ale may die
any minute while we're talking here.
"He didn't send YOU" cried Molly
with sudden conviction. "Why should
he have sent you? We wOnt go!
You're lyingl Let me go"
She pushed her father back into the
store and tried 20 bolt the door In
their faces. but they set their shout
ders against II and broke through.
Molly ran 10 her room; they were
there almost as soon as she. She
screamed. She heard Mcnonald's
feeble shout cut or as Chambers
rrasped him by the threat. And then
was struggling madly In Hacketts
arms.
Curse YOU" he shouted. with
string OF vile Oaths. selling her by the
hair and dashlng his fist into her race.
She fought back like a tigress, broke
from him. and. snatchlng up the water
pitcher. smashed IL across his head,
cutting his face with the fragments OF
porcelain. He grasped her by the
throat. She chung TO the bed. the
table. 10 the door. screaming the while
until his fingers frightened on her
throat and the room swan blackly
around her.
She ~us family conscious OF a gag
thrust into her mouth. Of being car
ried. struggling. out Of the store. Of
being lifted into the RIG. Then she re-
vived 70 find herself huddled upon the
foOr. her father bending over her with
his wrists tied. and mumbllng In her
ear. The engineer. seated I'm front OF
them. was driving furiously along the
trail SOUTHWARK Hackett, with one
leg thrust out on either side Of The
vehicle. was wiping the blood from his