Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-09-15


cartoon showing a widow dropping her
mite into a bottomess pail marked
"Aiissatibi," which boiled over slow
fire Of wheat stalks.
Somebody had betrayed the secret,
thus forewarning Bowyer and enabling
him to open his campaign to deride 1t.
But Wilton would not open his mind
to suspicion.
He took counsel with Jim Belts.
The old man was frankly pessimistic.
ut looks TO me-" he ruminated, las
If them two snakes1l get the line.
zoe must have been mad, or mighty
hard put, when he hypothecated them
shares" He turned to Wilton. "What
dye want to worry about 1t for, any
way?" he asked. "If Joe took a chance
like that. he couldn't have felt too
strong about IT,"
shoulder "Whisky's good" he said
in his odd way. "So's ginger pop.
But the mixtures hill. Sos women
and business, boy. I'd help We with
that loan If could see my way. But
l can't. I've been stung too bad al
ready, and I've got grandson to
look after. Ye'd better make terms
with Phayre."
This was one of the worst blows
that had fallen. If Belts had lost
faith, who would have kept it? He
understood the allusion to Kitty. Belts
a.. D. tn. sfrffh UNhnn
so 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. Afterward
Wilton had a talk with Quain.
The two men had sullenly refused
to give any reason for their fight. If
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.
I'm afraid, win, that we can't hope
for anything fresh upon that subject"
he said.
This business done. Wilton went to
see Kitty, swallowing his pride. After
all, 1t was for Joe that he was plead
ing. 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.
81 was so glad when heard of II,
WILL" she said. you've been trying
to do that all the summer, haven't
your
"Why-yes, Of course" said Wilton,
looking at her in establishment.
She put her hand on his arm with a
caressing gesture. "Do tell me what
a muskeg is, WILL" she said. I've
heard you speak of It 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 to face with stark reality. He
faced Kitty very gently.
kitty, listen to me now" he said.
give been In this game for Joe-and
for you. When Joe died saw that
we'd have to fight hard to keep the
line. saw a lot of money In 1t, later,
and meanwhile you'd have enough to
i've on, so that we could use your
capital and your control to carry out
Ioe's plans"
"Yes, WILL" said Kitty, with the
ilr of one who listens YEARLY to a
essen.
"Joe's borrowing on those shares has
changed everything. The loan has to
,e repaid before the year is out. If
[ isn't, you lose the line. They'll |
wreck it. and they'll wreck your for
une, and that of the other investors |
Then they'll reconstruct. When the
inc has ceased to have any value at
III, Bowyer and Phayre will have
lew line Of their own. DO you under
tandT
"rm trying TO. WILL" said Kitty.
But what do you want me to do?"
"rm proposing this for your sake,
Kitty. II you sell your property In
Winnipeg you can raise three or four
undred thousand. | believe | could
borrow the rest. That Will meet
'hayre's loan. and you'll hold the line.
rs the only way. because no bank
rould lend you money on the rest
Z your shares now, after BOwyer's
ampalgn against us. And he's made
he most Of the subsistence. IT'S
peculative-what I'm suggesting. But
oe would have done II. And 10 a
ew years ft'l mean millions"
"Are you sure, WHIP" asked Kitty.
agerly.
"Not sure. Kitty. but nearly sure"
"wnl. you are Joes executor. Do
on advise me to take that risk?"
mol" said Wilton sharply.
"But you just said"
"As Joe's executor. ] can't. It's not
,und business. An executor dares
Of advise throwing away a certainty {
,r a speculation. AS Joe's executor
o."
"Then why DID you advise me TO?
sked Kitty inaocently.
because thought you cared for
r -. -