The Lamar register., 1922-09-13

against him, and he got no thanks for
what he had done.
The following morning the Sentinel
-Phayre'S paper-came out with
cartoon showing a widow dropping her
mite Into bottomless pail marked
-MlssatibI," which boiled over a slow
tire of wheat stalks.
Somebody had betrayed the secret.
thus forewarning Bowyer and enabling
him TO open his campaign to deride 1t
But Wilton would not open his mind
to suspicion.
He took counsel with Jim Belts
The old man was frankly pessimlstic.
1T looks to me-" he ruminated, "as
II them two snakesll get the line.
Joe must have been mad, or mighty
hard put, when he hypothecated them
shares" He turned to Wilton. What
dye want to worry about II for, any
way?" he asked. ''If Joe took chance
like that, he couldn't have felt too
strong about it"
He laid his hand on wilton's
shoulder. ''Whiskys good" he said
in his odd way. SOS ginger pop.
DbA Abt Do
and business. boy. I'd help ye with
that loan II could see my way. But
l can't I've been stung too bad al
ready. and I've got grandson to
look after Ye'd better make terms
with Phayre."
This was one OF the worst blows
that had fallen. II Belts had lost
faith, who would have kept 1T he
understood the allusion TO Kitty. Belts
thought he was in love with her. Then
so must other people.
He was due at the court that day
and gave his evidence. The half
breeds received each six months in
the penitentiary-A light sentence, on
the Jury's recommendation. Afterward
Wilton had a talk with Quain.
The two men had sullenly refused
to give any reason for their flight. II
the outlaw Hackett had advised them
they did not put In that plea.
The jury had believed that one Of
them had accidentally shot Joe, and
that this had been the cause Of their
parently.
I'm afraid. VIII. that we can't hope
for anything fresh upon that subject
he said
This business done. Wilton went to
see Kitty. swallowing his pride. After
all, II was for Joe that he was plead.
ing. Kitty received him in the old
friendly manner, with a touch Of re-
serve that should have put him on his
guard. But he began eagerly.
kitty" he said you know we've
crossed the Muskeg"
Then Kitty showed her claws.
II was so glad when ! heard of IL,
VIII" she said You've been trying
10 do that all the summer. haven't
your
"Why-yes, of course" said Wilton
looking at her in establishment.
She put her hand on his arm with d
caresslng gesture. DO tell me what
muskeg is. VIII" she said. I've
heard you speak Of it so often, and |
can never remember the meaning Of
those words
And with that the last Of Wiltons
Illusions fell from him. leaving him
face to face with stark reality. He
faced Kitty very gently.
Kitty. listen to me now" he said.
I've been In this game for Joe-and
for you. When Joe died saw that
we'd have to fight hard to keep the
line. l saw a lot OF money in 1t, later
and meanwhile you'd have enough to
live on, so that we could use your
capital and your control to carry out
Joe's plans"
Yes. WILL" said Kitty, with the
air Of one who listens wearily to 9
lesson.
"Joe's borrowing on those shares has
changed everything. The loan has &c
be repaid before the year is out. II
1t isn't, you lose the line. They'll
wreck 1t, and they'll wreck your for,
tune, and that of the other investors
Then they'll reconstruct. When the
line has ceased to have any value al
all, Bowyer and Phayre will have
new line of their own. Do you under
standT"
I'm trying to. Will" said Kitty
But what do you want me to dor
I'm proposing this for your sake,
Kitty II you sell your property in
Winnipeg you. can raise thrae or four
hundred thousand. / believe could
borrow the rest, That will meet