The Adair County news., 1922-05-30
by. RH.LWin9stone :,
COPYRIGHT BY STEWART KIDD COMPANY Z


Wilton gulped. Toms eyes moved
swiftly from his face to the girls.
"We're Just In to have a look
around" continued Bowyer. Not
much construction being done this
weather. 1 suppose you might think
I've come to spy out the Missatibi
land. Well, you'd be right If you did,
Will. What's this story about coal de-
pOsits on your property? But perhaps
that's what the lawyers call leading
question, eh?'
All the while that he joked he fixed
Wilton with his staring gaze. And
Wilton found himself wondering how
much Tom Bowyer knew.
The man was as sly as a fox, for all
his effrontery, and that was his
strength. He gave the impression of
being one kind Of rogue, whereas he
was quite another, as many had dis
covered to their cost. There were few
more resourceful and cold-blooded
men, even in the Prairie city.
Il heard you and Joe had come up"
continued BOwyer. $50 / dropped in
to have a chat with him, though it's
taken me fifteen miles off my road.
Planned to ask him to sell out his
valuable holdings, maybe"
Molly, who was standing behind
BOwyer, looked earnestly at Wilton.
He dared not signal to her, but he
caught the answering message in her
eyes, as If telepathically conveyed.
81 won't tell him." she meant to say.
Wilton's heart went out in intense
gratitude. 1t would have been un-
bearable to have had to tell Bowyer
that Joe was lying behind that thin
partition of pine. 1t would have been
blasphemy to have let Bowyer's gloat-
ing eyes fix themselves upon poor
Joe's body.
'You've had a long drive for moth
ing, then," said Wilton curtly. "Mr.
BOstock isn't here"
"Fn say good-morning to the fac
tor, anyway"
"NO, you won't" answered Wilton.
''Mr. Mcdonald is too i'll to be seen."
"My father has had a stroke" said
Molly, taking WiltOns cue.
BOwyer stared at her and, as she
spoke, they heard the factors voice
above, raised in irritable inquiry.
'Mr. McDOnald's mind is affected -
said Wilton. HE cannot see you. !
am sorry, Mr.. BOwyer. I am speak
ing for Miss Mcdonald"
BOwyer grinned viciously. "Well,
Lee, guess we'd better have the dogs
harnessed," he said.
Lee Chambers went out Wilton
wondered whether the two suspected
JOe's presence in the building A mo.
ment later BOwyer turned to him.
You're next to Joe Bostock, Will,
he said in his smooth voice. $50, as
Joe isn't here, apparently, I'd like tC
have word or two with you. You'll
pass it on to him, eh?'
Without waiting for Wilton's reply
he walked toward the room at tht
back of the store.
Il want the Missatibi, Carruthers,
he began, entering, and turning rOun,
and facing Wilton. 81 guess / made
a mistake in letting that bill through
the legislature. I'm looking ahead
Some day-not in our time, maybe, bu
some day-theSe branch lines vii
have a value. 1 always meant to hav
it.
1T hurts my reputation to have thii
dinky concern of JOe's hanging on t.
mine. But 1 guessed Joe coUldn'
raise the money, and that I'd get
cheap some day.
''Well, I was right. You can't eros
Big Muskeg, and you haven't tn,
money to loop it. Tell Joe I'm Opel
to terms. And say Pm going to hav,
them. Tell him he won't live foreve
heaps of men forget that-and asl
him who in thunder will go ahead ol
the Missatibi when Joe Bostock'
gone"
He could not have f1icked Wilton Of
the raw more surely if Ne had know
Joe was dead. The reference was lik
a new stab in his wound. And Wiltol
had the momentary impression tha
Bowyer did know of Joe's death an
was playing with him.
you be d-d!'' he shouted, unleash
ing his suppressed anger. THAT'S m
message to you, and that's Joe Bos
tock's. You'll never get yoTI nnger
in the Missatibi mol That's all
just that-now
An ugly sneer fitted across Bow
yer's face. Seems to me you're speak
ing for a good many people today
Carruthers ~ he shouted angrily, shak
ing his fist in Wilton's face. "Firs
it was for Miss Mcdonald, and nov
it's for Joe Bostock. Though, maybe
you have the right to speak for bot
of them, judging from appearances.
{ And he added a foul insult, half "
! ciOusly, half jocosely.
l He got no further, for Wilton
fist shot out and landed fairly o
r BOwyer's mouth. Wilton put all til
? strength. he could muster into tn
blow. Tom BOwyer, taken by surpris,
stumbled and fell. For a moment h