The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-12-07
The Big Muskeg
By
VICTOR ROUSSEAU
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crept up behind the rocks till ! was a
hundred PAGES AVA. Joe Bostock's
back was turned. 1 drew a bead on
his heart and fired. They bath fell
down. ! ran back to the store and
went to bed. Jules didna see me, and
Molly hadn't come hane."
He groaned and hung his head upon
his breast. The voice of Payne cut the
silence like a knife.
you are telling this Of your W
free will, McDonaId?" he asked.
As God is my witness! I'm tellia'
this because my times come now, auG
| wouldna have VIII Carruthers SWIM
for thar red fox yonter."
What was the nature of Mr.. Bow.
yer's hold on YOU McDonald?'
The crown attorney stood up with a
wry smile.
Il object to that question:" he said
quietly.
I'm put 1t in this way, then: Why
did you hate Joe Bostockf p
AYE, I'll tell that, too" nswered
Mcdonald. "JOe was married. when
he was d young man, long ago. A
good girl. A sweet lass from my ane
town in Scotland. They were both
young. They quarreled. She wanted
to vex him. She made up a story that
showed her to be a bad woman. She
went too far. Joe believed her. She
went TO him and told him that shed
lied. He wouldna believe her word.
Because the foolish girl had nanufac-
tured proofs-false proofs and the ly-
Ing scoundrel whom she trusted
claimed they were true.
"He blackmalled her after Joe had
left her. She was al her wits end. She
went to his Office to beg him to tell
the truth. l happened to go there.
! overheard. She became frenzied and
drew a revolver on him. He struck
her. He got her by the throat. He had
a paper-Weight on the table, a sharp
edged metal thing like a ~cleaver. 1
struck him ono with IL. IL split his
skull from side to side He died. Fen
While | watched him lie died.
The girl was mad wi fear. | took
her ava. l married her, for Joe had
divorced her in the States. But that
fox, Bowyer, knew. In my folly I'd
told him all. lie said he'd be my
friend. He got me my position at the
portage. I've lived there ever since
first with my wife, then with my fears
and always with Molly-with Molly
her child and-Joe's!"
The girls cry rang wildly through
the courtroom. She reeled and ran
| toward him. Wilton, unhindered
stopped down from the dock and sup
pa-tcd her. She chung To him, wild
eyed and helpless. Nobody interviewed
Even when Bowyer sprang forward.
though the judge raped his gayel
smartly, il seemed only an automatic
or %perfunctory act, for he made no eff
fort TO prevent his speaking,
Let me finish it," he yelled fiercely.
ale didn't die, you fool-you old
fool; Lord, you've been a laughing
stock these twenty years He's here
In court, and he's been matchmaking
me as he blackmaiied you. Clark,
the master-forger and safe-breaker-
though we didn't need you for that
step forwardl Look at his head, Nc
Donald, and then see il you remembe,
him.
Hes spoken truel The old fool'E
spoken true. I've handled many "A mar
and woman In my time, but God Him
self, they say, can't handle a fool"
He swung around on his a~ccomplices
Keep your wits, Phayre! y he howleC
in wild derision. "You didn't know how
Joe died. You're only the thief-ths
common thief ] hired to work for me
You won't swing for this. Neither viii
1. I taok my ehances-but, by God,
couldn't handle a fool"
They rushed toward him. but Bow
yer was quicker than they. And, as
the single shot echoed through this
courtroom Wilton saw that Molly was
already mcrcifully unconscious.
But he knew that all the past woulS
become dimmed with her awakening.
THE END1