The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-02-23
Xxx

and headed back t. the sherif's office
where waited Anita and Harry, who
had completed his last duties in re
gard to the chalky-faced Maurice Ro
dame. The telephone tangled. 1t was
Denver. Mason talked a moment over
the wire, then turned TO his fellow
officer.
They've got Barnham. What's more
he had close to a million dollars In
currency strapped around him. Guess
we'd better stir up some horses now
and chase along, hadn't WEI"
Eyes, and get a gentle one for me-
cautioned Harry.
"That goes for me, too" laughed
Fairchild.
"And me- like automobiles bet.
ter" Anita was twisting her long hair
into a braid, to be once more showed
under her cap. The start was made,
A detour, then the tracks led the
way TO the Ohadi road, and behind
them came the pursuers, heads down
against the wind, horses snorting and
coughing as they forced their way
through tile big drifts, each following
one another for the protection it af.
forded. A long, silent, cold-gripped
two hours-then finally the lights of
Ohadi.
But even then the trail was not diff
cult. The little town was asleep f;
hardly Il track showed in the streets
beyond the footprints Of a horse lead
Ing up the principal thoroughfare and
on out to the G~eorgeville road. On
ward until before them was the bleak,
rat-rldden old rOadhOuse which formed
Laura's home, and a light was CLEAN
ing within.
Silently the purSuers dismounted
and started forward, only to stop
short. A scream had come to them,
faint in the buster of the storm, the
racking scream of a woman in a tenn
pest OF anger. Suddenly the light
seemed TO bob about In the old house ;
1t showed first at one window-then
a~nother-as though some one were
running from room to room. Once two
gaunt shadows stood forth-Of a
~crouching man and q woman, one
hand extended in the air, as she
whirled the lamp before her for an
instant and brought herself between
Its rays and those who watched.
Again sthe chase and then the
scream, louder than ever, accompa-
MED by streaking red flame which
Gnraod nnrncc fhn ton floor lilo yyind-
blow spray. Shadows weaved before
the windows, while the flames seemed
TO reach out and enwrap every por-
ton of the upper floor. The stagger-
Ing figure of a man with the blaze all
about him was visible; then a woman
though blinded, the burning form of
the man weaved a moment before the
window, clawing in a futile attempt
to open it, the flames, which seemed
to leap from every portion OF his body,
enwrapping him. Slowly, a torch-like,
stricken thing, he sank out Of sight,
and as the pursuers outside rushed
forward, the figure Of a woman ap-
peared on the old veranda, half naked,
shrieking, carrying something tightly
locked in her arms, and plunged down
the steps into the snow.
Fairchild, circling far to n side,
caught her. and with all his strength
resisted her squirming efforts until
Harry and Bardwell had come to his
assistance. 1t was Crazy Laura, the
anntnntc 20 hnr IN m noun chnyvinO In
the light of the flames as they licked
every window of the upper portion Of
the h%ouse-fve heavy, sheepskin-
bound books Of the ledger type,
wrapped tight in a grasp that not even
Harry could loosen.
Don't take them from me-! the
insane woman screamed. HE tried
II, didn't he? And where's he now
up there burning! He hit me-and
/ threw the lamp at him! He wanted
my books-he wanted to take thern
away from me-but / wouldn't let
him. And you can't have them-hear
me-let go Of my arm-let go!"
She bit at them. She twisted and
butted them with her gray head. She
screamed and Sauirmed-at last to
weaken. Slowly Harry forced her
arms aside and took from them the
precious contents-whatever they
might be. Grimly old Sheriff Mason
wrapped her In his coat and led her
to a horse, there to force her to mount
and ride with him into town. The house
with Squint Rodaine-was gone.
Back in the office Of Sheriff Bard
well the books were opened, and Fair.
child uttered an exclamation.
Harry! Didn't she talk about her
books pt the coroner's inquestf Sex
II there's any entry along early in
j~uly>-about the time Of the inquest
Bardwell turned the closely written
pages. At last he stopped,
"'Testifled today ut the inquest.
ne read. i lied. Ready made me d.
H.. / lever saw anybody Quarreling
Besides, / did 1t myself"
~What's she mean-did It herselff'
the sheriff looked up. Guess wei
have to 60 way back for that"
"First let's see how accurate thu
thing U.s." Fairchild interrupted. "Se'
n there's nm itcm nnder Novemher