Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-08-23
CHAPTER ~
ain the Kings Namels

verish condition. He should never
have left his bed, and the Journey
seemed impossible.
"rye got 10 20. Molly" was all
Wilton could say.
Then" she said with sudden deci-
sion, Il shall go with you. You can't
travel alone. Your men may be faith
tul enough, but IL is my right to 20.
And you'll never get to the meeting
without some one 10 take care OF you
on the way. That's my condition.
Promise me-or else I'll lock the store
door, WIN, and I've got a 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
seem preferable 20 life In the forests.
lie was faithful 10 the factor. and
had never deserted him In need. He
could take care Of him during the four
or i've days OF her absence.
Wilton vas forced TO yield.
"But you must make sure that Jules
win stay" he said.
~Heu 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
understandlng-of plumbing her IA
Tiers feeling against Wilton and over
coming il.
mir. Carruthers is getting ready 10
60" she said. "He is very IN. He is
too weak 10 travel alone but he must
take Joe BOstOck's body back TO Clay
ton"
"Oh. aver said the factor, sneering.
~He needs care and attention during
the journey. So am going with him."
The factor sat up In bed. transfxing
her with a look OF fury. "You. lass
you viii 20 with Wilton Carruthers TO
Clnytonl" he cried. "Ye Wilma come
hame. thenl Mark me, now. I've done
with you for aye Molly, lass, ye Wilma
got" he pleaded. with a sudden change
OF tone. Think OF your good name in
Clnytonl ! havena reared ye 10 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 a few days. IA
Their" she said. sits not as II you
were helpless. And his life is at
stake"
~And mebbe he'll die II you don't
stay with him when ye get to Clayton,
en-. lassT' rasped out the factor In
whitening scorn.
That scorn nerved her; TO his weak
ness she had almost yielded. She went
down and dressed herself for the Jour
ney. She helped Wilton on with a
mnckinaw, and put a caribou robe In
the sleigh. Then. while the men were
Harvesting the dogs. struck by sud
den thought. she stopped and began
10 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. seven
different pairs-those OF Bowyer and
Chambers and their Indian; those OF
wilton and hts two half-breeds; those
OF the deaf-mute.
OF these wilton's were blurred and
almost indlstinguishable. made by his
dragging feet as she pulled him up
from the swamp. But even had the
vague purpose In Molly's mind been
clear 20 her. there would have been
no need 10 examine those. The rest
were all similar In one respect-none
had a broken string.
wilton and Molly had arranged that
he was 10 travel In the sleigh. TO which
n second had been attached, bearing
Joe's body In a roughly made coffin
constructed by the men. The dogs
were harnessed. and they started.
II was a little more than fifty miles
70 Clayton. Travelling along the
cleared road. the distance could be
covered easily In two days the
dogs ran well, the weather was
clear and fine, and Wilton felt wei
enough 10 walk a good deal. Their
dinner was almost Ike a picnic. BY
evening the railhead had come into
sight In the distance. the empty camp,
the long sheds with the miscellany OF
supplies. the locomotive shops, and the
great ballast pits beside the line.
As the dogs climbed the last Hill
there came yelpIng from the cleared
way behind them. Looking back, they
percelved a sled approaching. Two
men walked beside IL. and the dogs
sighting wnton's. yelped in challenge.
which was taken up IN an outburst OF
answering growls.
The sled drew IN toward them. ana
the men resolved themselves into
sergeant and a constable Of the mount
"a police. Wilton had stoppes his
dovs but the newcomers did not halt
ana went on. with curt greetings,
toward the cache.
little surprised at their abruptness'
w~~araNn hfG sleigh.