Middletown transcript., 1922-10-02
CHAPTER xvlIi-continued.

ienly. Il hadn't any hand in 1t. don't |
know what happened, but l guess she |
didn't go to the camp against her will, |
Mrs. Bostock," he leered. "Maybe |
she'd taken q fancy to Lee Chambers |
I saw something of that sort In the |
wind, and so hadn't started to carry |
out our plan."
"Our plan" gasped Kitty
"The one that we agreed on, to keep
her away from VIII Carruthers," said
Bowyer venomously.
He expected an outburst but Kitty
was beyond that now. You know that
I've come about WILL" she said In a
choking voice. II don't know what to
do. Nobody but you can help me.
What shall l do?'
Bowyer pretended to reflect. II don't
quite see what l can do, Mrs. Bos-
,tock," he answered. II don't believe
he's guilty"
"Of course he isn't guiltyw
1--WE always said he isn't. But he'll
have to take his verdict from the jury.
What Is there we can do?"
Kitty looked at him In consterna-
tion. ''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 it has everything" she
cried. You're playing with me and
torturing me. Do you suppose 1 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 1 don't
know that, when l gave you the COM
bination, just to help VIII, that you
put those checks there? Let me tell
the truth on the witness stand! r. 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. 1t could be arranged. I'd say 1
gave the combination to Lee Cham
bers-"
Again Bowyer began to be afraid of
Kitty; but this time it was her stupid
ity he feared. And lie saw that this
was the occasion to let loose one of
his habituated RACES. He seized her
hands In his, one in each, and twisted
them until she screamed with the pain.
Lets understand each other, Kitty
Bostock !" he hissed in furious
voice. "Ill take up your proposition
and show you what 1t means. Listen |!
L
nant with me. Dishonest, 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-every penny of It.
That's first.
Second, SO surely as you go into
ahe 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 at your in
stigation because you wanted to be
rid Of him. I'll say that you went to
Big Muskeg and lived there. almost
next door to him. I'll bring forward a
workman who saw you two together,
kissing on the swamp one evening. I'll
swear it's a concocted story made up
by you to free your paramour. What
sort of figure do you think you'll cut
, IN the witness-box then, Kitty BoS-
tock?"
Bowyer had calculated rightly. Up
on woman like Kitty, petted and
spoiled from birth, the astounding
fact of physical violence comes as a
stunning shock that breaks down the
souls resistance. 1t is only on repeti
ton that the reaction comes.
And Bowyer calculated rightly again
kitty Bostock," 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
1 swear it. Do you believe me?
She looked at him as If he hat
hypnotized her. Eyes, l believe you,
she answered.
$50 surely as you speak one word
he'll hang. Keep quiet, and he shall
be saved. Promise me you'll say moth
ing!"
ooh, I'll say nothing" walled Kitty
wringing her hands. II promise you
see. Yes understand now."
And she went out Of the house will
her head low, dubious, and yet will
the sure conviction that Bowyer coult
save Wilton. Bowyer could save him
but nobody else could do so. She woul,
trust him, because there was nobod.
else to trust.
Between the house and the station
Kitty grew conscious of an old maj
walking beside her. trying to speak t.
her. Absorbed in her thoughts, sh
did not know how long he had bee
there. Suddenly she realized that thi
was Jim Belts.
She shrank back aghast, looking q
1im with eyes wide with fear Jir
nodded and smiled.
Its all right; don't be afeared Q
me, Mrs. Bostock." he said. "You'r
mighty worried about Will, amt yo
now. l guess we all are. Won't 70
go to Mr.. Payne and tell him what 70
know?"
They had reached the station. Th
train for Clayton was waiting. Jill
followed Kitty into the compartmeI
and took his seat beside her.
atom Bowyer swore he'd save hill
if-if-"
IF" questioned Jim.
"If i kept silent. But I'll speak.
will, l never trusted him. Mr. Bow
yer told me / couldn't hold the lin
and I wanted to save the money I