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Show i ' I The Big Muskeg VICTOR ROUSSEAU Copyright bf nWAl KIUU COMPANY CHAPTER XIV 14 Wilton Rides Alone. lie ran down toward the Kwiirnp, follow imI liy tlur jj.i rt j- of engineers, 'i he hitrsi'S, relenstMl during the (in;, vcrc grnIng along the edge; they wen; u;iry, however, and would not I IK I Iit-nisol v(H he approached. For j koine uiioiilcs I hi? men iiuiile fruitier f iTforl.s to surround tliem. However, Wilton managed to catch the inline of u big draught-beast vlileh had heen In the front row of i tin? grading yokes und, despite It s clumsy iiijearunee, had tal.eu the saddle sad-dle and had u tolerahle action. i'. lit hardly had lie made sure of It by a grasp on the mane und upper lip than tin; remainder, snorting and Ilmn-Nlilng their heels, dashed through the cordon and galloped full speed to-vnnl to-vnnl tin? lake. "We'll he with you In a minute, Mr. Carrutlicrs !" shouted one of the men as they went In pursuit. Hut Wilton, without answering, had sprung on the beast's hack and, leaning lean-ing forward, caught the broken halter and guided It across the swamp. He luid no douht that the outlaws who had net the lire were responsible for Molly's Mol-ly's abduction and, If the trull led up to liowyer, ns he was sure It would, Cod help liowyer I In a couple of minutes he had put on the saddle and tautened the girth, bridled the animal and was riding hard along the southward trail, unarmed. Meanwhile the rest of the pauty spent a fruitless half-hour trying to catch horses. At length, after a consultation, con-sultation, they hurried back to the camp, collected a few more Canadians and Americans, and started out after Wilton, leaving a half-dozeu to keep the workmen In check. J11 the shack Tonguay stared apathetically apa-thetically at Andersen, who sat with the revolver In his hand, keeping vutch over his captive. "Vnu fink I kill dat feller, eh?" be demanded after a while. "I dunno, my friend," answered Andersen. An-dersen. "If you did, I guess you'll swing for It, all right." "See here! Jim Hackett tole me to come here au' tell de men dere's money in de safe, an' dey're fools to be worked like dogs and den be laid off liecau.se de company's busted. Dat's all I know. I tole deiu to get der pay what was coming to deiu." "I'os-seehly," said Andersen. "Vou was a fool to do it, though. That story's for the police; It ain't for me. Vou can tell the Inspector when be gets here." "See here! You let me go!" yelled Tonguay. "I didn't do tiot'lug. What lor you arrest me?" "Boss's orders," said Andersen, pniil'ly. "That'll be enough. Set down like a good feller, now." "You lie! I tell you I didn't do dat!" screamed Tonguay, sinking back into Ids chair and shuddering. They watched each other for some time. It was beginning to grow light. Suddenly the trample of horses was heard outside. Then Inspector Quain appeared at the door of the shack, accompanied ac-companied by four mounted constables. consta-bles. "Had considerable trouble, eh?" he said, dismounting and casting a glance about him at the burned-out buildings and the still burning sheds. "That lire was set by enemies of the Missal ilii," shouted one of the engineers. en-gineers. "And we've got one of the men in there!" He pointed toward the. shark. Quain turned to his men, who were awaiting the order to dismount. "Kound up those men In their bunk-houses bunk-houses and keep the lot of 'em under guard!" he said, pointing toward the groups of laborers that had gathered about the horses. The constables drove the riunkles back toward their quarters. "Two of you'll be enough!" shouted Quain after them. "The other two Beckett and James will dismount and rest their horses. I'll want you chaps !" "You've had some trouble," said Quain to Andersen. "Why, this ain't trouble. Inspector," answered the Swede. "You yust look Inside that room. I guess it ain't the worst, what I told you already." Quain strode to the door of Wilton's bedroom, uttered a sharp exclamation and bent over the body of Jules. He came bark quickly. "Who killed that Indian?" he asked. "l.ee Chambers. I uues;." "Tell me what you know." "Why, all I know is be done some crooked work on the trestling and beat it out f camp before Mr. Carrutlicrs Car-rutlicrs had time to tire him. Last night he came back after the tire, which I guess that feller there knows something about." "1 tell you 1 don' know not'lng!" yelled Tonguay, who seemed in the extremity ex-tremity of panic. "Mr. Carrutl-.ers said Mr. Chambers Killed Jules there and got into the safe. 1 dunno no more thau that. Kut " Suddenly, with a frenzied scream, Tonguay leaped fi-tn bis chair for the floor ngir.'i Jioersen was just quid; enough. lie caught him ou the door-sill, door-sill, and the two men s.ruggled furiously. furi-ously. Tonguay snauhed Andersen's revolver out of his hand. Anlei-M-u'a bund closed on the outlaw's wrist. Quain ran to gra-p Toiunay's ar:n. but, before be could hold it the struggle strug-gle ended. For Tonguay had got hi-, linger on the trigger und was trying to bring the weapon In line with Andersen's Ander-sen's head. Andersen swung tin' outlaw's out-law's arm around, and the bullet, discharged dis-charged too late, passed through Tun-guay's Tun-guay's left arm. The spectators, who had gathered outside the shack, had come running In ut the sound of the shot. Quain ordered or-dered them out and, taking off Toii-guay's Toii-guay's coat, lie cut the sleeve of his shirt away. One of the constables brought him his first-aid case and soon had the wound painted with iodine and bandaged. "I'll not need you any further," said the Inspector to Andersen. "You'll help keep the men in their bunk-houses, bunk-houses, in case of trouble. Take three or four of your own men. I'm going after Carruthers, and 1 expect to be back by noon." He called the second dismounted constable and they rode off at a swift pace toward the portage. CHAPTER XV Bowyer's Hour. Eowyer looked the Incarnation of insolence in-solence and triumph as he stood in the doorway, red-faced, red-haired. like some sleek fox that has put off its habitual cunning because it is at last secure from danger. His vicious eyes fixed themselves upon the girl's face as she fastened back the hair that hung about her. "That brute was rough with you." said Bowyer. "But I guess you gave him better than he gave you. I guess he got what he deserved. I told them you weren't to come to any harm. Well, McDonald, they didu't use you too rough, eh?" "We were brought here by force and violence," said Molly defiantly. "Are we to be kept here in the same way?" Suddenly Bowyer stepped forward and took her hands. "Molly listen to me now," he said. "Lislen quietly. I'm not going to hurt you. I love you. I've got to have you, Molly. But I want you to love me. Let's forget it ail. Wluit'd you say, Molly? Did you ever think of what I've got to offer you?" She tried to draw her bands away, but he held them tightly, and, remembering remem-bering her resolution, she stood with them passive in his own. "What's your answer, Molly?" asked Bowyer. "Never!" she cried. "You knew that! Did you think I was going to change because you had had me kidnaped kid-naped and inflicted this outrage upon me?" Bowyer turned toward the factor. "Maybe she'll obey you. McDonald." he said softly; and something in his tone arrested the girl's attention. McDonald was gray with fear. He leaped up. "Molly, he means it!" he screamed. "We can't escape him. "If You Touch Ma Again, I'll Kill You!" He'll get you as he's got me. Molly, say 'yes' to him. because he's won. He'll get what he wants, anyway. And it's no shame to see when you're beaten, and to give way." The sight of the trembling o!d man swept away all the girl's resolve. Her loathing for their persecutor drove her to frenzy. She tore her hands from Bowyer's. ran behind the divan and snatched up a ride that stood there. She raised the stock above her head with both hands. "If you touch rue again I'll kill you !" she cried. Bowyer looked at the factor. "Then I'll tell her what I know." he said. "For years I've stood by you and shielded you " The factor's hands went up as If he were warding off a blow, and there was the mute appeal of a whipped Jog in his eyes. Bowyer weu: on : "For years I've protected you from the law. Now I've don.- with you." "You can tell me, Tom Bowyer!" Tied Molly. He swung toward her. "I'll tell you, then." he roared. "Your father's a murderer. lie's been wanted by the police these twenty years or more, am! he's still wanted. The police don't forget. I knew it from the tirst. He came to me and asked my help after he'd murdered a man in a common brawl. He wanted to give himself up. I told him not to. I got him his job at the portage, where he'd be secure. I've stood by him, been his friend, protected him. But I'll protect him no more." He wheeled upon the factor. "Now speak to her again!" he shouted. "You're her father!" There was in- i tense mockery In his tone. "She'll obey you.' Ask her if she wants you to swing in the jail-yard at Yorkton while she's on her honeymoon with Will Carruthers !" With a whimpering cry the factor dropped to his knees and hid his face in his hands. Molly let the rifle fall and shrank back against the wall. A cry broke from her lips. "It isn't true, father!" she. begged, fixing her eyes in terror upon the factor's. fac-tor's. "Tell him It isn't true. You didn't kill that man who insulted my mother! And, if you did, you did it to protect her. Tell him it's a lie!" The factor's whimpering moans were all her answer. They ceased, and for a full minute there was not the least sound In the room. Slowly Molly raised her head, and the look that had come into her eyes at last was one that Bowyer had seen in the eyes of many men and women before. be-fore. He knew that the time of his triumph had come. "Unless I marry you, Tom Bowyer," said Molly, "you will betray my father, who trusted you?" "I'll give him up to justice," Bowyer Bow-yer shouted. . "I'll fight with what weapons I've got. Wouldn't any man who was a man fight for what be wanted most of all in the world? If you don't give up, I swear he'll hang. You know what Canadian law is. I swear to you I'll have him hanged in Yorkton inside of six months if you don't agree to what I'm asking of you." "And if I do agree?" asked Molly, shuddering. The sudden glance of hope in the factor's eyes went to her heart. But McDonald, crushed under his servitude, servi-tude, had a flicker of manhood after all. "Don't do it, Molly, lass!" he shouted. shout-ed. "I'll hang!" He turned to Bowyer. Bow-yer. "I'll hang !" he shouted, and then his voice broke into a whimper. "Shut up, you old fool !" said Bowyer, Bow-yer, contemptuously. "If you agree, Molly," he said, "the past will all be forgotten. I swear it will. I love you, and I'll be true to you. I'll give you everything you want, and I'll make McDonald a home as long as he lives. D n it! You look as if I was asking something awful of you! What's the matter with me? Ain't I good enough for you?" She looked up, to see Bowyer's red face peering into her own. She shivered, shiv-ered, as if with mortal cold. "I'll marry you." she said. The slow smile that spread over Bowyer's face was indescribable. He turned to McDonald. "Well, that's settled set-tled at last." he said, rubbing his hands together in gloating self-satisfaction. "Get to bed, McDonald! Mo!'ij and I will sit up a while and talk over the details of our honeymoon trip. That ain't your business. Maybe we'll do a little love-making on the side, too, but not too rough. I guess I know how to handle a girl !" He strode toward the door and opened it. The factor stood stock-still for a moment. Then, at Bowyer's call, lie stumbled toward it, and Bowyer led him across the passage into another an-other room. "You'll be comfortable in here, McDonald Mc-Donald !" Bowyer shouted, slapping the old man on the back. "And don't you fear for Molly. I'll take mighty good care of her." There followed his returning footsteps, foot-steps, and the sharp, sudden click of a key. Then came a furious rattling from within. Bowyer turned angrily. "Go to bed. you old fool !" he shouted. "Didn't I tell you I'd take care of her?" The rattling ceased, but Molly heard the factor's feet shuffling as lie stood irresolutely behind his door, listening. Bowyer came hack and slammed the door behind him. He put his hand on Molly's shoulder. "I'm glad that's all settled at last." he said. "C d, you've led me a chase. Molly! Hardest I've ever had; but I knew I'd get you in the end." "When do you wish me to marry you?" asked Molly in a whisper. Bowyer threw back h;s head and laughed. "Now you're talking." he answered. an-swered. "That's the point I was coming com-ing to. I'm a business man. and I'm used to paying what I have to for what I want. Rut I've been thinking that when two people are agreed on the same thing, end there's no way out of it. unless ycu want the old man to swing why, It mightn't be neces- a sary for you and me to set married at all." He slid his arm about her waist and bent his red faee toward hers. For an : I instant the girl m'simdersl-sid. Then j she leaped to her feet, her eyes bli'.z- ; icg. 1 "Get out of my wuy, Tom Bowyer! If you try to .-top me I'll murder you!" she screamed. j She ran round behind the divan. I snatched up the empty rifle, and, as ; Bowyer followed her, brought down : the stock with all her strength. j Had it struck his skull it would have knocked him uin-onsclous. But in the ', nick of time he leaped aside, and it ' fell across the muscles of his neck j and shoulders. With a howl of pain he wrenched the weapon from her hands. He beat her across the face , a-ain and again with his lists. Il! j seized her by the hair, twining It In i his hand, and, forcing her head back ; put his hands over her mouth. ; She tried with all the strength she ( possessed to pry his hands away; the red and swollen face that leered into ! her own seemed to (ill all space, like a huge, evil sun. With all the strength that remained in her she tore at the red hand, over her mouth, and bit lata let M l He Seized Her by the Hair. it until her assailant yelled with pain. His grasp on her throat loosened for an instant. She drew- in a deep gasp of air. , Then she saw that the door was open. Hackett was in the room. He was shouting to Bowyer, who released the half-conscious girl, stood up, and yelled in answer. The outlaw was tugging frantically at his arm. There came the plunge of a heavy body against the door of the camp. Hackett sprang forward, and fell sprawling back under a terrific blow. Wilton stood on the threshold. CHAPTER XVI Under Arrest. j Molly saw it all as if in a dream. The hideous presence of her assailant was still with her. Then she saw Hackett and Bowyer pull pistols from their pockets. And each act was extended ex-tended in her mind and vision through an eternity, as if It would never end. She sprang to the table, seized the oil lamp, and burled it at their backs. It struck them fairly, sending them staggering before they had time to fire. Instantly the curtains before the windows were ablaze. A stream of burning oil shot across the floor to the divan, which began burning furiously, filling the room with smoke. Wilton and the two men closed. There followed a furious struggle. The combatants rolled over and over, stumbling against the burning divan, knocking over the chairs, crashing into in-to the walls. All the while McDonald hammered at the door and added his shouts to the uproar. Molly darted across the passage and released him. "They're murdering Will !" she cried. But the old man, staggering out. only shouted distractedly. distract-edly. Molly ran back. Hackett had Wilton, by the throat, and, as she entered the room, Bowyer wrenched himself free, raispd his pistol, and brought the butt crashing down on Wilton's head. Wilton toppled back into the blazing oil. Bowyer aimed, but Molly knocked up his arm, and the shot went wild. Bowyer turned upon Molly with a ghastly grill. "D n you !" he shoutefi, raising his pistol to strike her down. McDonald sprang between them. Hackett pulled at Bowyer and dragged him to the door. He whispered in his ear. and Bowyer cursed him. They clinched in. the passage. Molly was unconscious of what was transpiring. She had rushed to Wilton, and, grasping him by the shoulders, pulled him out of the flames. Seizing him in her anus, she begun madly beating beat-ing out the tire that was licking his clothes and hair. She tore off his blaz- i ing feat and with it extinguished them. Then, holding his head against her breast, she staggeted toward the door through tile thick smoke. McDonald Mc-Donald at her side. j As she n eared it Hackett leaped forward. for-ward. He pushed the factor violently back and slammed it. An instant later there sounded the click of the key in the lock. " j "The window! The indow ;" shout- i ed the factor. But that side of the room was a living liv-ing wall of tire, and they seemed ta !: trapped hopelessly. The heut was becoming intolerable. ITO EE I.'ONTI.XUEDJ |