The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-09-21
CHAPTER v--continued.

"Tm going on to Clayton. I'm feel
ing better. No, listen. Molly l didn't
tell you, but my arm was swollen from
the bandages. They had frightened and
stopped the circulation. Tm better
without them. I'm feeling stronger
and the pains less. Wa can go on.
We've got to go on"
walk, WHY"
"We1l walk" said Wilton, rising
with great effort. The dying animals
bad ceased to whimper, AMI stared at
him out Of their glazing eyes. Outside
the snow was drifting down through
the leafiess branches but the wind
was dying away. II was late In the
afternoon, though nc sign OF the sun
came through the heavy, lowering
cloud.
Wen go on said Wilton.
And, going ont ~ the shack. ne IN
fastened the cord Of the sleigh that
held Joe's body, aud took 1t In his
wounded hand.
"Wiii, it's impossible !"
ri wAy be. Dat III try. I can't
face Kitty otherwise"
Over the new snow the j~ourneying
was not 70 difficult In their snow
shoes, but the drag Of the sleigh-rope
up the hills and across the c~orduroys
proved almost impossible. Their
progress was infinitesimaI.y slow. The
night came down and shut them In.
And the nightmare of delirium clouded
Wilton's brain, peopling the world
with phantoms. He lived over again
scenes Of. the past, and always Joe
WAS Of them. II was a night Of unmit-
igated horror TO Molly.
AT every cache, at each shack, they
would stop, feeling the sheer impossi-
bility OF going on, and sit huddIed I'm
their blankets under the lee, with the
drifting snow about them.
Yet aisays they went on again; I'M
I'll at last the never-endlng night lifted.
The snow ceased TO fall the dun
horizon was streaked with fire. And
slowly wilton came back to full con-
seriousness.
They had toiled up their highest
AAt anu 40 hHCg ItHNiCu the Suiiltlklk
they saw the sweetest sight that they
had ever seen. For far away was Clay
ten. over the plain, with It's 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.
zone last try, Molly" he said, 'and
then they a do what they like with
me. But It's you who pulled thar
trick, girl Of mine
But as he spoke he slipped to the
ground and leaned his shoulders
against the sleigh.
"Seven miles yet. and the meetings
at nine." he said. II can't make Il.
Molly. I've tried. I've fallen short
Just short. A little later, Molly. I'll
try again. I'm going ~to--sleep Ia the
sunshine.
Molly stopped over him and u WAS
a harder thing than she had ever done
10 try to drive the driven man fur.
thcr. But she knew that. having
staked all. Wilton would he content
with no less than the sacrifice Of all.
"lsememher Joe. dear she said.
~and Kitty
He tried to rise to his feet. bur could
NOT. WiIton's miEd was quite clear.
hut his body. driven by his win. had
collapsed suddenly like . worn-out
10 rse.
Three fbrsemen we're riding over
he plain toward them. They watched
hem hi q dun apathy. Even Molly
|ardly cared any more, except for VII
on. And he had done all that q mai
ould ID.
AS the men came nearer 4 could br
that they we're Az The Mounted