Graham guardian., 1922-07-11
SYNOPSIS


CHAPTER I,-Looking over Big Mus
keg, a seemingly impassable swamp in
the path OF the Missatbi railroad. Joe
Bostock, builder of the line, and Wilton
Carruthers. chief OF engineers, are con
sldering the dt. .cuities. rifle shot in
stantIy kills Bostock and breaks Car
ruthers arm. Handicapped as he Is. Car
ruthers determines 70 carry the body to
a station OF the Hudson's Bay company
where one Mcdonald is the factor.
CHAPTER u.-McDonalds daughter.
Molly, sees Carruthers struggling In the
muskeg and draRs him from the swamp
with his burden Unaccountably. her
father objects to hsr saving Carruthers
CHAPTER III.-Weakened by his wound
and exertions, Carruthers IL disturbed by
the appearance of Tom Bowyer. Bostock's 0
business rival and personal enemy. Bow
yer Insults Molly, and Carruthers strikes
him. After Bower leaves, Carruthers
declares his love for Molly. She prom
ises TO be his wife.
When he opened his eyes It was al
ready dawn. The policemen were
dressed and standing outside the
shack, conversing In low tones. An
dersen was peeling potatoes for break
fast Wilton heard Molly moving with
In the room, and his doubts fell from
him. He had been upset by the surli-
ness of the two men; he had had vague
suspicious not justified In fact. He
determined to put his proposal to
them.
He walked over to the sergeant, who
was Just se-entering the shack with
his companion.
II suppose you fellows are thinking
Of starting at once, after breakfast,
he suggested.
The sergeant looked him up and
down. "Thats about the size of 1t, v
he growled. "Got any objectionP"
Wilton resolutely ignored the af'
front.
"Tve got important business in Clay.
ton, affecting Mr.. Bostock's interests, u
he said. "It Is very important that his
death should not be known there until
midday tomorrow"
The constable, who was leaning
against the door-post, chewing the end
of twig, started slightly. Peters
fixed Wilton with his crooked stare.
"Rather a neryy thing to propose,
Mr.. Carruthers" he sneered.
Maybe, but It's a business matter
affecting Mr. Bostock's wife," said VIII
ton, loathlng himself for making the
request, but nerving himself to do so
by the thought of Kitty. IF the news
of his death reaches Clayton before
the time I've mentioned, some people
who are antagonistic to Mr.. Bostock's
interests will jump at the chance to
turn IL to account. 1t will mean q
heavy loss to Mrs. BostOck. You've
come long way, and you could quite
reasonably wait till afternoon on ac-
count of the dogs. That will bring you
in before noon tomorrow. And--if you
can see your way to 1t, you two won't
be the Iosers.'
The sergeant eyed him more inso-
lently than ever. $50 that's the pro-
gram, is it?" he answered. "Weil, keep
your mind easy. The news won't be
known In Clayton tonight, nor tomor.
row neither. We ain't going to Clay
ton"
You're not, eh2 Then where the
devil are you going?" cried Wilton,
nettled almost beyond endurance at
the mans demeanor.
"We're taking Joe B0stock's body
back to the Pas" retorted the ser
geant. "That's what we come here
for"
"The Pas? This Isn't In the Pas
Jurisdiction"
att amt, ehs Perhaps It's in yours
then?r
"See here" cried Wilton in exas.
peration, "Clayton has its own police
detachment, as you know perfectly
well. Your route doesn't lie In this
direction. Joe BostOck's homes there
He's going to be buried there. And his
body isn't going TO be drbgged here
and there about the country by a
couple of fool policemen I'll make
things pretty warm for you II you try
any game like that"
"You Will, eh?" sneered the sergeant
with side glance at Myers. Got any
sort Of special pull In Clayton?"
Enough to put the lid on you."
"Well, l guess you won't be goinl
into Clayton yet while.' teered Pc
ters. "You're coming back to the Pas
with us and Joe"
Wilton realized that Myers had
come up quietly upon the other side
OF him. He had the bewildered feeling
of being in trap.
"What the devil do you mean by
thatT' he shouted.
The sergeant thrust his face for
ward Into his own, grinning ma.
liciOusly.
''It means that arrest you for the
wilful murder of Joe Bostock," he an.
swered. "And l warn you, in the
kings name. that any statement you
make will be used against you"
At the same moment Wilton felt the
touch OF steel against his right wrist
and swung hfs hand free Just in time
to avoid the snap of the handcuff
Looking at Sergeant Peters after the
instant's sideward glance, he found
n ls..~ L =