Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-11-02
CHAPTER XVllI-continued.

ICIlS. L maui L airy manu- III l L W. I
, know what happened, but l guess she
didn't go to the camp against her will,
Mrs. Bostock," he leered. Maybe
she'd taken a fancy TO Lee Chambers.
l saw something of that sort in the
wind, and so / hadn't started to carry
out our plan"
"Our plant" gasped Kitty.
THE one that we agreed on, to keep
her away from viii Carruthers," said
Bowyer ~ven6mously.
He expected an outburst, but Kitty
was beyond that now. you know that
I've come about WILL" she said in a
choking voice. 81 don't know what to
do. Nobody but you can help me.
What shall 1 do?"
Bowyer pretended to reflect. 81 don't
quite see what l can do, Mrs. Bos-
tock," he answered. II don't believe
he's guilty"
'"Of course, he isn't guilty"
1--WE always said he isn't. But he'll
have to take his verdict from the jury.
What is there we can do?"
Kitty looked at him in consterna-
ton. "The safer she gasped. That's
what"
But that has nothing to do with
.Joe's death, Mrs. BOstock."
She sprang to her feet, confronting
him with dramatic Indignation. You
know that it has everything !" she
cried. You're playing with me and
tOrturing me. Do you suppose | don't
know what they're saying about him
that he forged JOe's name to those
checks and murdered him to prevent
discovery? Do you suppose | don't
know that, when l gave you the com
bination, just to help viii, that you
put those checks there? Let me tell
the truth on the witness stand!" she
pleaded, standing before him with
clasped hands, and the tears raining
down her cheeks.
"Tell the truth? You must be mad"
he shouted.
IF the jury knew that, they'd aCquit
him. 1t could be arranged. I'd say 1
gave the combination to Lee Cham
bers-'
Again Bower began to be afraid of
Kitty but this time it was her stupid
ity he feared. And he saw that this
was the occasion to let loose one of
his Infatuated RACES. He seized her
hands in his, one in each, and twisted
them until she screamed with the pain.
Lets understand each other, Kitty
Bostock ~ he Kissed in a furious
voice. "Ill take up your proposition
and show you what it means. Listen
First, you'll break your solemn cove
nant with me. Dishonest. you think?
The sort that's made between people
every day. I've played fair with you.
And you'll play fair with me, or you'll
lose your fortune-every penny of it.
That's first.
Second, SO surely as you go into
the witness-boX with such a story I'll
say you lie. I'll say he was your lover.
I'll say that he killed Joe at your in
stigation because you wanted to be
rid of him. I'll say that you went to
Big Muskeg and lived there, almost
next door to him. I'll bring forward a
workman who saw you two together,
kissing on the swamp one evening. I'll
swear it's a cOncocted story made I'D
by you to free your paramount. What
sort of figure do you think you'll cut
in the witness-boX then, Kitty Bos-
tock?"
Bowyer had calculated rightly. Up
on a woman like Kitty, petted and
spoiled from birth, the astounding
fact of physical violence comes as a
stunning shock that breaks down the
souls resistance. 1t is only on repeti-
ton that the reaction comes.
And Bower calculated rightly again.
kitty BOstock," he said gently, 81
promise you that he shall be freed.
! have the means, the influence, the
power. I know he didn't murder Joe.
Keep your head, and all shall be well.
! swear it. DO you believe me?'
She looked at him as if he had
hypnotized her. Eyes, I believe yVu,"
she answered
$50 sGreiS ~ you speak one word.
he'll hang. Keep quiet, and he shall
be saved. Promise me you'll say moth
ing!'
ooh, I'll say nothing walled Kitty,
w%ringing her hands. II. promise you.
] see. Yes. l understand now"
And she went out of the house with
her head Low, dubious, and yet with
the sure conviction that ROwyer could
save Wilton. Bowyer could save him,
but nobody else could do so. She would
trust him, because there was nobody
else to trust.
Between the house and the station,
Kitty grew conscious Of an old man
walking beside her, trying to speak to
her. Absorbed in her thoughts, she
did not know how long he had been
there. Suddenly she realized that this
was jim Belts.
She shrank back aghast, looking at
him with eyes wide with fear. jim
nodded and smiled.
ITS all right don't be afeared Of
me, Mrs. Bostock," he said. you're
mighty worried about viii, amt you