The Lamar register., 1922-07-19
SYNOPSIS

the pain OF the Mlssatlbl railroad, Joe
Bostock, builder of the line, and Wilton
Carruthsrs. chief OF engineers, are con
Hidering the di .culties. rifle shot in
stanuy kills Bostock and breaks Car
ruthers arm. Handicapped as he IL. Car
ruthers determines to carry the body to
a station OF the Hudsons Bay company.
where one Mcdonald is the factor
CHAPTER H.-McDonaId's daughter.
Molly. sees Carruthers struggling in the
muskeg and drags him from the swamp
father objects to her saving Carruthers
and e1ertions. carruthers is disturbed By
the appearance of Tom Bowyer. Bostock's
business rival and personal enemy. Bow
yer Insults Molly, and Carruthers strikes
him After Bowyer leaves Carruthers
declares his love for Molly. She prom
ises to be his wife
All the while that he Joked lie fixed
Wilton with his staring gaze. Aud
Wilton found himself wondering how
much Tom BOwyer knew.
The man was as sly as II fox. for all
his efrontery, and that was his
strength. He gave the impression Of
being one kind Of rogue. whereas he
was quite another. as many had dis
covered to their cost There were few
more resourceful and cold-blooded
men, even III the fEulfle CITY.
II heard you and Joe had come up"
continued Bowyer. $50 | dropped IN
TO have a chat with him, though IT'S
taken me fifteen miles on my road
Planned TO ask him TO sell out his
valuable holdings. maybe"
Molly, who was standing behind
Bowyer, looked earnestly at Wilton.
He dared not signal to her, but he
caught the answering message I'm her
eyes. as II telepathically conveyed.
Il won't tell him." she meant to say.
Wilton's heart went out In Intense
gratitude. II would have been I'M
bearable to have had to tell Bower
that Joe was lying behind that thin
partition OF pine. It would have been
blasphemy to have let Bowyer's giout-
Ing eyes fix themselves upon poor
Joe's body.
You've had long drive for moth
ing. then" said Wilton curtly. MIR.
Bostock isn't here"
I'm say good-morning to the fac
tor. anyway
No. you won't" answered Wilton.
mfr Mcdonald is too i'll To be seen"
My father has had stroke said
Molly. taking wlltons cue.
Bowyer stared at her and. AZ she
spoke. they heard the factors voice
above. raised In irritable inquiry.
'Mr. McDOnalds mind Is affected"
said Wilton. He cannot see you. 1
am sorry. Mr. Bowyer. | am speak
ing for Miss Mcdonald"
Bowyer grinned viciously. We'll.
Lee. guess we'd better have the dogs
harnessed." he said
Lee Chambers went out. Wilton
wondered whether the two suspected
Joe's presence In the building A mo
ment later BOwyer turned to him
You're next to Joe Bostnck. VIII"
he said In his smooth voice. $50, ns
Joe Isn't here. apparently. I'd like to
have word or two with you. You1l
pass II on to him, ehT'
Without waiting for wiltun's reply.
he walked toward the room at the
back Of the store
Il want the MissatibI, Carruthrrs.
he began, entering. and turning round
and facing Wilton. 81 guess made
II mistake in letting that bill through
the legislature. I'm looking ahead.
Some day-not I'm our time. maybe. hut
some day-these branch lines VIII
have a value. always meant to have
IL.
1T hurts my reputation to have this
dinky concern of Joe's hanging on to
mine. But l guessed Joe couldn't
raise the money. and that ia get II
cheap some day.
well, l was right You can't cross
Big Muskeg. and you haven't the
money to loop II. Tell Joe I'm open
TO terms. And say I'm going to have
them. Tell him he won't live forever
heaps OF men forget that-and ask
him who in thunder will go ahead on
the Missatibi when Joe Bostock's
goner
He could not have fiicked Wilton en-
the raw more surely II he had known
Joe was dead. The reference was like
a new stab in his wound And Wilton
had the momentary Impression that
Bowyer did know OF Joe's death and
was playing with him.
You be id" he shouted. unleash
ing his suppressed anger That's my
message to you, and that's Joe Baa