Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-10-11


what he had done.
The following morning the Sentinel
-Phayre's paper-came out with
cartoon showing a widow dropping her
mite into a bottomleSs pail marked
"Aiissatibi." which boiled over a slow
FIRE Of wheat stalks.
Somebody had betrayed the secret,
thus forewarnlng BOwyer and enabling
him 90 open his campaign to deride IL.
But Wilton would not open his mind
10 suspicion.
He took counsel with Jim Belts.
The old man was frankly pessimlstlc.
1T looks TO me-" he rumlnated. ''as
II them two snakes1l get the line.
Joe must have been mad. or mighty
hard put. when he hypothecated them
shares" He turned TO Wilton. "What
dye want 10 worry about IL for. any
wayT' he asked. "If Joe took a chance
like that. he couldn't have felt too
strong about IL"
He laid HIS hand on wilton's
shoulder. "whlsky's good" he said
In his odd way. "SO's ginger pop.
But the mixtures h-ll. Sos women
and business. boy. I'd help We with
that loan IL / could see my way. But
! can't. I've been stung too bad al
ready. and I've got a grandson TO
look after. Ye'd better make terms
with Phayre."
This was one OF the worst blows
that had fallen. II Belts had lost
faith. who would have kept lit He
understood the allusion TO Kitty. Belts
thought he was IN love with her. Then
80 must other people.
He was due at the court that day,
and gave his evidence. The half
breeds received each six months In
the penitentiary-a light sentence. on
the jury's recommendation. Afterwdrd
Wilton had a talk with Qualn.
The two men had sullenly refused
10 give any reason for their flight II
the outlaw Hackett had advised them,
they did not put in that plea.
The jury had believed that one Of
them had accidentally shot Joe, and
that this had been the cause Of their
disappearance. So did Quain, APP
parently.
"Tm afraid. VIII. that we can't hope
for anything fresh epOn that subject"
he said.
This business done. Wilton went 20
see Kitty. swallowing his pride. After
all. II was for Joe that he was plead
lng. Kitty received him In the old
friendly manner. with a touch OF re-
serve that should have put him on his
guard. But he began eagerly.
kitty" he said, 'yOu know we've
crossed the Muskeg."
Then Kitty showed her claws.
Il was So glad when ] heard OF H.
Will" she said. you've been trying
10 do that all the summer, haven't
your
"why-yes. OF course" said Wilton.
looking at her in establishment
She nut her hand on his arm with
caressing gesture. "DO tell me what
n muskeg is. wIll." she said. I've
heard YOU speak OF IL so often, and |
can never remember the meaning of
those words"
And with that the last OF wilton's
Illusions fell from him. leaving him
face 20 face with stark reality. he
faced Kitty very gently.
kitty. listen 10 me now" he said.
"rve been in this game for Joe-and
for YOU. When Joe died ! saw that
we'd have 10 fight hard 10 keep the
line. saw n lot OF money In IL, later,
and meanwhile you'd have enough 70
live on, so that we could use your
capital and your control to carry out
JOe's plans"
-Yes. WILL" said Kitty, with the
air Of one who listens YEARLY 10 a
lesson.
-Joe's borrowing on those shares has
changed everything. The loan has 20
he repaid before the year Is out. III
Il isn't. you lose the line. They'll
wreck A. and they'll wreck your for
tune. and that OF the other investors.
Then they'll reconstruct. When the
line has ceased 20 have any value AT
an. Bower and Phayre VIII have
new line Of their own. Do you under
stnndT"
am trying TO. WILL" said Kitty.
.sBut what do you want me 10 dot"
aFm proposing this for your sake.
Kitty. II you sell your property In
Winnipeg you can raise three or four
hundred thousand. / believe could
borrow the rest. That win meet
Phayre's loan. and you'll hold the line.
It's the only way, because no bank
would lend you money on the rest
II your shares now, after Bowyer's
campaign against US. And he's made
the most of the subsistence. It's
specuIative-what I'm suggesting. But
Joe would have done IL. And In
few wears itIl mean millions"
Are you sure. WIFI" asked Kitty.
eagerly.
"Not sure. Kitty. but nearly sure.
"wm. you are Joe's executor. DO
you advise me 20 take that riskT