The Dolores star., 1923-01-05
CHAPTER Xxx

rI'.ir. passed the sleeping night clerk,
"a headed back TO the sheriff's office.
.,e waited Anita and Harry. who
"a conpleted his last duties In re-
-.rd 10 the chalky-faced Maurice Ro-
..rs The telephone tangled. 1t was
n.,,er Mason talked moment over
ma wire, then turned to his fellow
officer,
nTbev'ye got Barnham. What's more,
=. had close to n million dollars in
currency strapped around him. Guess
,,sH better stir up some horses now
and chase along. hadn't WEI"
ayes and get gentle one for me-"
cautioned Harry.
rThot goes for me. too" laughed
FsIrchlld.
and me- like automobiles bet
Tor Anita was twisting her long hair
into braid, to be once more showed
rnder her cap. The start was made.
detOur, then the tracks led the
WAY to the Ohndi road. and behind
Them came the pursuers. heads down
,,snst the wind. horses snorting and
courhlng as they forced their way
through the big drifts, each following
ope another for the protection 1t af-
torded. A long, silent, cOld-gripped
two hours-then finally the lights of
OhadI
But even then the trail was not diff
cul,. The little town was asleep:
hardly a track showed in the streets
teyond the footprints of horse lead
ing up the principal thoroughfare and
on out to the Georgeville rond. On
ward until before them was the bleak,
ratrldden old roadhouse which formed
IAura's home. and light was gleam-
lDg within.
Silently the pursuers dismounted
and started forward. only to stop
short. scream had come to them.
faint in the buster of the storm, the
ncking scream of woman In tenn
pest OF anger. Suddenly the light
seemed to bob about In the old house
1, showed first at one window-then
snother-ns though some one were
running from room to room. Once two
gaunt shadows stood forth-of
rOuchlng man and woman, one
hand extended In the air, as she
Nhirled the lamp before her for an
Instant and brought herself between
its rays and those who watched.
Again the chase and then the
scream. louder than ever, accompa-
MED by streaking red flame which
spread across the top floor like wind
blow spray. Shadows weaved before
The windows, while the flames seemed
TO reach out and enwrap every por-
lion Of the upper floor. The stagger-
ins figure of "A man with the blaze all
about him was visible; then woman
who rushed past him. Cropping as
though blinded, the burning form of
the man weaved a moment before the
window, clawlng In n futile attempt
10 open 1t, the flames, which seemed
10 leap from every portion Of his body,
eoWrapping him. Slowly, a torch-like,
stricken thing, he sank out of sight,
ahd as the pursuers outside rushed
orward the figure of n woman ap-
Peared on the old veranda, half naked,
sareRlng, carrying something tightly
,TAed In her arms. and plunged down
he steps into the snow.
falFchild, circling far to one side,
'sasht her, and with all his strength
resisted her sQuirming efforts until
marry and Bardwell had come to his
'NSUhce. 1t was Crazy Laura, the
.V"'thts OF her arms now showing in
ut llsht OF the flames as they licked
very window of the upper portion of
De house-tive heavy, sheepskin-
'"uhd books of the ledger type,
,~'aPped tight in "A grasp that not even
marry could loosen.
DON'T take them from mel" the
I''le woman screamed. "He tried
~ Wdht he: And where's he now
~ unere burning! He hit me-and
""eW The lamp at him! He wanted
s oooKs-he wanted to take theIn
tas from me-but wouldn't let
4AH' And you can't have them-hear
'e' 20 of my arm-let go!"
one Dit at them. She twisted and
sa''eu sa'' them with her gray head She
ras sa'neu and squirmed-at last to
saAe"' Slowly Harry forced her
,.aN, ms aside and took from them the
Meslous contents-whatever they
sn' s's be. Grimly old Sheriff Mason
ppeu her In his coat and led her
ma morse, there to force her to noun.
"u rue with him into town. The house
p ,h squint Rodaine-was gone.
,an PACK in the office of Sheriff Bard
mia M. 'le NE books were opened, and Fair
"u ~" uttered an exclamation.
harry harfy! Didn't she talk about her
/, pIOs y, at the coroner's inquest? See
,ulv~es res any entry along early in
r.. ABOUT the time of the inquest"
,ara. uweli turned the closely written
''seS, .sS AT last he stopped.
hs - testified today at the inquest
h read 4 lied. Roady made me do
h,daoa never saw anybody quarreling.
es' sw, did 1t myself"
III, mrs .a She mean-did it herself?"
sherir looked up. "Guess well