The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-08-25

you weren't to blame, WILL" sobbet
the girl land the men weren't. l don't
think they would have done me any
harm. 1t was the sight of you, Will,
and the fght-I thought they had
stabbed YOU"
Il shall be in camp as long as it's
OPEN" answered Wilton. Don't be
afraid any more. I'll see that no
more Of this stuff finds its way here.
And tomorrow III make an example
Of the worst Of them hat won't be
forgotten"
He soothed her and soon brought
her back TO her normal condition. AS
he grew cooler he began to realize
that, as Molly had said, the men were
not TO blame. In the morning few OF
them would have more than the vagu-
est remembrance Of the affair. II
was the alcohol, acting rs a physical
and moral poison N them.
"How did it happen?" he asked
presently. and how long have those
two outlaws been in the campo"
"They came here a week ago, WILL"
she answered. "They were very in.
solent, and said that trouble was com.
ing; they made all sorts OF vague
threats against you. They seemed to
want to make trouble for u.s."
"Thcy're here for some object, Mol.
ly," said Wilton. ITS to hinder the
work, Of course, but-there's more
TO it than that"
II think they want to brighten us
away from the portage, WILL" said
Molly. Tom Bowyer has been here
since | returned. He told me that my
father was very III that he vas using
his influence TO get him pensloned,
and that the best thing we could do
would be to leave the portage a soon
as possible.
"He wanted me to go to Winnipeg
and study stenOgraphy, or anything
else chose. But I told him I couldn't
take any steps without consulting
you"
"Good for you, Molly, dear" said
Wilton.
"He hadn't guessed how things Were
between us, for he changed instantly.
He began to threaten me. He swOre
that I should never marry you, and
that he'd drive us from the portage.
He went away mad with rage When
those two men came I connected their
appearance with him."
you were right" said Wilton. "But
I don't think they'll show their faces
here again. And I'll see you every
write to me? l hoped for a letter
every day. Why didn't you writer"
II wasn't quite sure-yOu'd want
me to-" she answered shyly. "You see,
viii, tour engagement-came about
after I nursed you. And I thougfE,
after you got back to Clayton
/ thought-that I'd just wait"
"You thought that I might change,
Molly?" cried Wilton.
She nestled close to him. "Not real
~, viii. But II don't know, but
somehow WANTED TO wait. | hated
so to come back here, with you lying
so i'll, and l was so worried when
Kitty didn't answer my letters
"Kitty didn't answer yOu?"
"Only once, when you were nearly
ont Of danger. Perhaps that made me
feel that-that I'd better not write TO
you. VIII. But, Of course, all her time
was taken up with caring for YOU"
"She ought to have written YOU"
said Wilton. THAT doesn't sound like
Kitty. And-Molly, dear" he CON
tinued, thinking Of Kitty's projected
stay at Big Muskeg, "Tve got a sur
prise for you next month. Just about
the thing that would please you best
in the world"
And as she looked at him In inquiry,
he drew her into his arms and kissed
| her again. promise me, dear, that
you will never doubt my love for you,"
he pleaded.
81 promise. Will" she answered,
looking at him with shining eyes.
"Never-never, dear!"
"Tll have to go. Molly" said VIII
ton. "Only until tomorrow, dear. And
sleep quietly, because I'll give those
men the lesson OF their lives In the
morning"