Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-09-29

For aye, he exploded. Il thOch
I'd die here and be laid beside you
mother. And I've held onl God, how
I've held on But I'm done with tina
hope. Would We leave the portage
Molly" he asked wistfully.
Eyes, father 1 wish we could.
wish we could go somewhere together
where we'd never have cause to re
member It,"
"Aye, never to remember itp he
echoed.
"To Winnipeg7" she suggested tim
idly.
He seemed to tremble at her words
He turned fiercely upon her. etc
Scotland I" he shouted. "Tm done with
this country. A mans thochts turn in
his old age to his homeland. To Aber-
deenw
Molly was awed by the old mans
fanatical enthusiasm. "When shall we
go?" she asked
''This autumn, lass - before the
SHOWS fall. But" he clutched her
by the arm-"ye'll say nought about
it?"
"But you must arrange with the COM
pany for a new factor, and. If he isn't
trained"
His clutch became convulsive. mot
a word l' he cried fiercely. "Havena
done weel by the company? 1t won't
be the sufferer. If they thocht I was
going away they'd-not a word, lass !
al min no
back on me now?"
"No, 1 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.
But she dared not bring up that SUBJ
ject in view of his evident obsession.
After a while they began to make
preparations. They spoke Of 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 of her
room, to see the whole skyline ablaze.
Clouds of smoke were whirling down
on them. Suddenly a rig with two
horses came dashing across the portage
and drew up at the door.
Molly recognized Lee Chambers and
Hackett, and turned and faced them,
though her heart was beating with
fear.
"We've come for you, Miss McDon-
add" shouted Lee Chambers. "The
fires across the muskeg and there
won't be anything left of this store in
twenty minutes. Come alongw
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.
"It's not truep she cried. "The |
fires on the other side. Why should |
you come for us?"-
81 tell you you'll be burned to Gin
der inside of fifteen minutesl" yelled
Chambers. we've got no time to
waste. We're going to drive you out
of danger. Come alongl"
81 won't come p cried Molly. Don't
go with them, father. He's not speak
ing the truth! Look at his face"
Hackett pushed Chambers out of his
way and strobe up to the door. ~
guess that's true enough, what you
said, Miss Mcdonald" he said. 1.-THE
fire amt this side-but VIII Carruth-
ers is dying. They pulled him out of
his shack He's in bad way. Mebbe
he'll just live till morning. He's call
ing for you"
"Will-Will burned" gasped Molly,
looking at him with eyes of horror
"Its gospel truth !" cried Chambers.
"He can't rest till you go to him."
"Then why did you tell us an un-
rruth7y asked the girl, searching mis-
face as If to read to the bottom Of his
soul.
Because we wanted to break 1t
gently" shouted Hackett. he seized
her by the arm. 1--WE haven't no time
to waste |" he shouted. "He may die
any minute while we're talking here.
"He didn't send YOU" cried Molly
with sudden conviction. "Why should
he have sent your We won't go!
You're lying Let me goT
She pushed her father back into the
store and tried to bolt the door In
their faces, but they set their shout
ders against 1t and broke through.
Molly ran to her room; they were
there almost as soon as she. She
She heard McDonald's
feeble shout cut off as Chambers
him by the throat. And then
she was struggling madly In Hacketts
arms.
Curse you'll" he shouted, with
string of vile oaths, selling her by the
hair and dashing his fist into her face.
She fought back like a tigress, broke
rom him, and, snatching up the water
pitcher, smashed it across his head,
.utting his face with the fragments OF
porcelain. He grasped her by the
throat, She clung to the bed, the