Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-08-31


what he had done.
The following morning the Sentinel
-Phayre's paper-came out with q
cartoon showing a widow dropping hel
mite into a bottomless pail marked
"Missatibi." which boiled over a slow
fire of wheat stalks.
Somebody had betrayed the secret,
thus forewarning Bowyer and enabling
him TO open his campaign TO deride IL
But Wilton would not open his mind
to suspicion.
He took counsel with Jim Belts.
The old man was frankly pesslmistic.
at looks to me-" he ruminated, "as
II them two snakes'll 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 1t for. any
way 2" he asked. IF Joe took a chance
like that. he couldn't have felt too
strong about II"
He-lald his hand on Wilton's
shoulder. "Whisky's good" he said
In his odd way. "So's ginger pop.
But the mixtures hill. Sos women
and business. boy. I'd help We with
that loan II I could see my way. But
/ can't. I've been stung too bad al
ready, and I've got a grandson TO
look after. Ye'd better make terms
With
This was one Of the worst blows
that had fallen. If Belts had lost
faith, who would have kept II? lie
understood the alluslon &c 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 Qualn.
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
disappearance. So did Quain, APP
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 n 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.
81 was so glad when / heard Of II,
WILL" she said. you've been trying
TO 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 a
caressing gesture. do tell me what
a muskeg is. Will" she said. 1--WE
heard you speak Of II so often. and ]
never remember the meaning OF
those Words
And with that the last Of WiIton's
Illusions fell from him. leaving him
face TO face with stark reality. He
faced Kitty very gently.
kitty. listen TO me now" he said.
been In this game for Joe-and
for you. When Joe died | saw that
we'd have TO fight hard to keep the
line. ] saw a LOT of money In Il. later,
md meanwhile you'd have enough 10
live on, so that we could use your
and your control to carry out
plans"
"Yes. VIII" said Kitty. with the
llr Of one who listens YEARLY TO a
.esSon.
"Joe's borrowing on those shares has
hanged everything. The loah has TO
Ne renaid before the yea is out. Il
/ isn't. you lose the line. They'll
wreck It. and they'll wreck your for
une. and That Of the other Investors.
rhen they'll reconstruct. When the
Inc has ceased to haze any value al
N. B0wyer and Phayre viii have u
Few line Of their own. DO you under
.tAndy
I'm trying to. WILL said Kitty
But what do you want me 10 do2"
I'm proposing this for your sake.
Kitty. II you sell your property ia
Winnipeg you can raise three or four
hundred th0uSHurf.- believe could +
borrow the rest. That viii meet
'hayre's loan, and you1l hold the line.
rs the only way, because no bank
would lend you money on the rest
4 your shares now. after Bowyer's
arlpaign against us. And hos made
he most Of the subsistence. It's
pecuIatiye-what I'm suggesting. But
oe would have done IL. And In a
ew years It'll mean millions"
Are you sure. WIFI asked Kitty.
aFes4y~
mot sure. Kitty. but nearly sure"