The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-06-13
The Big
Muskeg
By
VICTOR ROUSSEAU
Illustrations by
R. H. Livingstone
cspyrishs By Stewart Kidd Company
CHAPTER vi
An Unexpected Development.

family conscious of his surroundings
at intervals Once, reused by some
injection, he was aware of making
brief deposition for use at the coro-
ner's inquest, and once MOlly's face
appeared, wet with tears, out of the
shadows, and her lips touched him.
But he was desperately ill, and it was
February before the crisis was past,
and he awakened, intensely weak, but
conscious, to realize that he was in
Kitty's house, and that Kitty had
been nursing him.
Feebly he whispered his gratitude,
and asked forgiveness because he had
not been able to keep his promise to
look after Joe.
"You did all that could be done,
WILL" she answered. at was wonder
fully plucky, your bringing him to
Molly's house as you did. No one
could have done more"
He asked for Molly, and learned that
she had gone home on the day after
he had been brought to the house.
Kitty promised to show Wilton Molly's
"Then you know we are engaged"
asked Wilton.
Kitty smiled a little. 81 couldn't
help knowing that" she answered.
, I'm glad for Molly's sake"
v Wilton's mind had been all be-
wflderment as he racked his brains
for a clue to Joe's death. Had he been
sure 1t was murder, he could have
gone grimly to work on the solution.
But there was always the doubt, the
Daralyzing doubt, that it had been an
accident, and that one OF the half
breeds had fired the shot.
Yet Bowyer must have known of
It; Bowyer had sent the impostors to
arrest him; he became more and more
convinced that Bowyer had learned
OF Joe's death that afternoon at the
portage, and had devised the arrest
10 keep him from the meeting.
Among Wilton's callers was old Jim
Belts, to whom he extended his con-
fdence In a large measure.
SBowyer's guilty as h." he de-
caared. ''Phayre mightn't have known
guess he didn't. But Bowyer knew,
when he had Phayre bring that mo-
ton forward, that Joe wouldn't re.
turn. Put that thought in your pipe
and smoke it, boy!''
"Jim," said Wilton, "Pm giving up
my life to the Missatibi, because il
was Joe's work. And I'm going to
hound down his murderer, if it was
murder"
"Aye, boy, and go cool about it,
counseled Belts. sit was crafty work
but it'll come out. Don't doubt it
And you'll find them two snakes
Bowyer and Phayre, under the brush,
wood. And maybe Clark, too," he
added.
1t was the middle Of February be
fore Wilton was allowed to leave the
house. Nearly two months had beer
lost, and during that time Bowyer anC
Phayre, whatever their plans nigh
be, had had a good leeway 10 develop
them.
"Kitty," said Wilton, "you know
everything is in your hands now. You
control the line. And I know tina
you'll stand by the line to the last
because it was Joe's big dream"
"Will, you can count on me to tn
end" said Kitty solemnly. i've beer
thinking a great deal about Big Mus
keg, and feel my own responsibility
I want to see the work, VIII. I wan
to know that you are succeeding. An,
I'm going there to live"
Big Muskeg?' he cried.
Until the work is finished. Dom
refuse me, Wnlr She clasped he
hands together in her childish, plead
ing way that Joe had always foun,
irresistible. Joe would have let me
won't hamper you, WILL" she begged
kitty. you're TRIUMPH" cried Wi
ton. But you can't go there to live
The loneliness would be awful. An
there isn't a house anywhere. An
besides"
He did not dare suggest the though
that came to him. that people woul
gossip about her. That, he felt, reste
with her
"It won't be lonely with-wtth tn
work, WILL" she answered. "And Fv
already made my plans. I'm havin
q bungalow built there. And there wi
be Molly. Don't you want me to com,
WHIP"
Ktty's pleas were irresistible. Wi
ton yielded, and he was glad for on
thing: her presence at the portag
would mean much to Molly. Durin
the next few days he was in constaI
consultation with the directors E
representing Kitty, who had given hi
her power of attorney to act for he
Ha went carefully over the books. q
Economy now thinks II has scors