Produced by Al Haines [Frontispiece: His fingers gripped the iron top rail, and he slowly pulled his body up.] Molly McDonald A Tale of the Old Frontier BY RANDALL PARRISH Author of "Keith of the Border," "My Lady of Doubt," "My Lady of the South," etc. WITH FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOR BY ERNEST L. BLUMENSCHEIN A. L. BURT COMPANY PUBLISHERS -------------- NEW YORK COPYRIGHT A. C. McCLURG & CO. 1912 Published April, 1912 Entered at Stationers' Hall, London, England CONTENTS CHAPTER I AN UNPLEASANT SITUATION II "BRICK" HAMLIN III THE NEWS AT RIPLEY IV THE ATTACK V THE DEFENCE OF THE STAGE VI THE CONDITION IN THE COACH VII PLANS FOE ESCAPE VIII A WAY TO THE RIVER IX ACROSS THE RIVER X THE RIPENING OF ACQUAINTANCE XI A REMEMBRANCE OF THE PAST XII THE PARTING XIII BACK AT FORT DODGE XIV UNDER ARREST XV AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE XVI THE MEETING XVII AT CROSS-PURPOSES XVIII ANOTHER MESSAGE XIX A FULL CONFESSION XX MOLLY TELLS HER STORY XXI MOLLY DISAPPEARS XXII A DEEPENING MYSTERY XXIII THE DEAD BODY XXIV IN PURSUIT XXV IN THE BLIZZARD XXVI UNSEEN DANGER XXVII HUGHES' STORY XXVIII SNOWBOUND XXIX THE CHASE XXX THE FIGHT IN THE SNOW XXXI THE GIRL AND THE MAN XXXII WORDS OF LOVE XXXIII MOLLY'S STORY XXXIV THE ADVANCE OF CUSTER XXXV THE INDIAN TRAIL XXXVI READY TO ATTACK XXXVII THE BATTLE WITH THE INDIANS XXXVIII AT CAMP SUPPLY ILLUSTRATIONS His fingers gripped the iron top rail, and he slowly pulled his body up . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ "No, don't move! The stage has been gutted and set on fire" The two started back at his rather abrupt entrance His Colt poised for action, he lifted the wooden latch MOLLY McDONALD CHAPTER I AN UNPLEASANT SITUATION