Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-10-12
CHAPTER xxI-contInusd.

A cry broke from Wilton's lips: |
raised HIS arms and let them fall agal
Payne glanced at the jury. Their ey,
were riveted on Kitty's face. He kne'
that he had scored. A disagreement
even IN acquittal-if all went well.
'"Thnnk you" he said quietly.
TIE row attorney. who had bee
whispering with Bowyer. came for
ward TO cross-examlne.
"You told Us, Mrs. Bostock," lie sal,
in his suavest tones, that you loved
and still love, the defendant. How
long have you loved him7"
ever since / first saw him." wills
pered Kitty.
.How soon after your marriage dIt
you make his acquaintance"
II saw him first on my marriage
day, at the church. He was my hus
bands best man."
A stir among the spectators. Payne
cienched his fists and groaned. Every.
one saw what was comlng-everyone
but Kitty.
Then you were in love with him
before you married Mr.. Bostocki Not
long before-let US say half I'm hour7
You married a man whom you had
ceased to love for half an hourg"
81 did not realize 1t then"
"Rut you realized II oon after7
xask
Bostock died7"
II cared for Joe. admired and re-
spected him"
"But not in the same way7 You
couldn't love two men In that way at
the same timer"
"No." said Kitty TREMENDOUSLY.
"In fact after the first shock was
over. you felt that life might become
worth llyins again2'
Il don't know what you mean" cried
Kitty desperately.
1.-THE court WILL" said the attorney,
with a meaning glance toward the
jury. Don't let me perplex you. Now
please answer me carefully. You per
suaded the defendant TO let you build
and occupy a cottage on Big Muskeg,
close to his own. and hidden from the
sight of the camp7"
II tried to stop me. I've said that
already"
ut has duly impressed us, Mrs. Bos-
took. However, In the end he yieldedf"
HE yielded because he thought that
/ was only interested In the work. He
cared for Miss Mcdonald. He e
dreamed | cared, until / told him."
$50 you told himl What did he
Eny?"
"It cut him 10 the heart"
Only a thread divided the tense
drama of the ~colloquy from mex
tingulshable pathos. The attorney
snapped in:
I'm fact, you found him a regular
Joseph In his relations with your"
And the whole court was dissolved
In laughter. Even the judge placed
his hand across his mouth.
"Then win you tell me how you
came to be seen kissing and EN-
bracing n evening on the shores OF
Big Muskeg? But / won't press that
question. We shall have further evil
dence to offer"
The mischief was done. The net
that had beer woven about Wilton
'ould not be broken by the hypothesis
II conspiracy. Kitty's confession of
Ter love supplied a stronger argument
against him, and threw the dark
of collision about her, too. Me
financially Payne called the mex wit
less.
But before he could take the stand
came sounds OF an uproar in the
treet. There was a struggle at the
ntrance. Then, to the amazement of
II. Molly stood In the doorway.
Jim Belts was with her, and to- '
they supported the frail form {
{ Mcdonald. e
vnhindered. they went down the
ourtroom, while the spectators gaped.
nd suddenly, standing up In their 7
laces, gave rousing, riotous cheers, :
and unrebuked. '
Despite the general belief In VIII Z
'nfs guilt, stories concerning Bowyer's :
resence at the camp on the night Of :
fire had been widely bruited.
The party were still advancing when
loosed himself In one Of his
.aroxysmal RACES.
Put them out of here" he bawled. {
a trick-a staged trick to win
ympathy for that mani"
BE silent" Numbered the Judge;
nd then he turned to Payne, who
as at his side, speaking In a low a
oice.i q
'The court win adjourn for half an "
he ordered. "And no person Il
Ill leave this courtroom In that inter "
al" E
Molly. With a little cry, ran to the
and HHag herself Into -wnten,x Il
rms And at this the building rang n
gain with the SPECTATOR cheers. II O
n not for q fun minute that the o
lard drew her away. "a
CHAPTER XXI
The Amazing Truth 81