Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-10-05
CHAPTER xvIII-contInued.

eat plan"
"Our plan r. gasped Kitty.
"The one that we agreed on, to keel
her away from VIII Carruthers, SAFE
Bowyer venomously.
He expected an outburst, but Kilt!
was beyond that now. "YOu know tina
i've come about WILL" she said In {
choking voice. 81 don't know what tC
do. Nobody but you can help me
What shall / dol"
Bowyer pretended TO reflect. 81 don't
quite see what | can do, Mrs. Bos-
fock," he answered. ~ don't believe
he's guilty"
"of course. he isn't guIltyl"
1--WE always said he isn't. But he'll
have to take his verdict from the jury.
What Is there we can d0l"
Kitty looked at him in consterna-
ton. ''The safe !" she gasped. That's
what"
but that has nothing to do with
Joe's death, Mrs. Bostock.
She sprang to her feet, confronting
him with dramatic Indignation. you
know that 1t has everythlng!" she
cried. you're playing with me and
torturing me. Do you suppose | don't
know what they're saying about him
that he forged Joe's name to those
checks and murdered him TO prevent
discovery DO you suppose l don't
-know1that, when / give you the COM
bination, just to help WIN. that you
500 sb.eua ol.notra fhara2 I or mn foIL
the truth on the witness stand !" she
pleaded, standing before him with
clasped hands, and the tears raining
down her cheeks.
"Tell the truth? You must be mad"
he shouted.
"If the jury knew that, they'd acquit
him. II could be arranged. I'd say |
gave the combination TO Lee Cham
bars
Again Bowyer began to be afraid of
Kitty but this time II vas her stupid
lty he feared. And he saw that this
was the occasion to let loose one OF
his habituated RACES. He seized her
hands In his, II In each, and twisted
them until she screamed with the pnfn.
Let's understand each other, Kitty
BOstock 7" he Kissed In a furious
voice. "Tll take up your proposition
and show you what II means. Listenl
First, youll break your solemn cove
nan with me. DishQaest, you think?
The sort that's made between people
every day. I've played fair with you.
And you'll play fair With me, or you'll
lose your fortune-eyery penny OF 1t.
That's first.
Second, so surely as you 20 into
the witness-box with such n story I'll
say you lie. I'll say he was your lover.
I'll say that he killed Joe ut your In
stigation because you wanted to be
rid of him. I'll say that you went to
Big Muskeg and lived there, almost
mex door to him. I'll bring forward a
workman who saw you two together,
kissing on the swamp n evening. I'll
swear It's It ~cofcocted story made mp
by you to free your paramour. What
sort of figure do you think youT cut
In the witness-box then, Kitty Bos-
took 2"
Bowyer had calculated rightly. Up
on a oma like Kitty. petted and
spoiled from birth, the astounding
fact of physical violence comes as a
stunning shock that breaks down the
souls resistance. II is only on repeti-
ton that the reaction comes.
And Bowyer calculated rightly again.
"Kitty B~ostock," he said gently, 81
promise you that he shall be freed.
| have the means. the influence, the
power. l know he didn't murder Joe.
Keep your head, and all shall be well.
I swear 1t. Do you believe mef" !
She looked at him as IL he had
.hypnotized her. YES. l believe you,"
answered. +,
$50 surely as you speak one word, ,
he'll hang. Keep quiet, and he shall I,
be saved. Promise me you'll say moth
Ing !"
"Oh, TIL say nothing" walled Kitty, ,
wringing her hands. az promise you. =
see. Yes. / understand now" 9
And she went out of the house with I
head low. dubious, and yet with I
the sure conviction that Bowyer could
Wilton Bowyer could save him, Z
nobody else could do Sc. She would S
him. because there was nobody !
rise to trust. r
Between the house and the station, G
Kitty grew conscious of an old man |
Walking beside her. trying to speak to /
Der. Absorbed In her thoughts, she
lid not know how long he had been
Suddenly she realized that this {
vas Jim Belts. I
She shrank back aghast, looking at
with eyes wide with fear. Jim I
and smiled
~It's all right don't be afeared of
ne. Mrs. Bostock," he said. You're
slightly worried about VIII. amt you !
k0w. g,fess we all are. Won't you
to Mr.. Payne and tell him what you
r I
Their had raached the station The
rain for Clayton was waiting Jim
1sssvsd Kitty into the compartment
- fsak ~ ennt bMtds hsx. I