Middletown transcript., 1922-08-05
CHAPTER VI-Continued.

Big Muskeg?" he cried.
Until the work is finished. Don't
refuse me, Will" She clasped her
hands together in her childish, plead
ing way that Joe had always found
irresistible. Joe would have let me-
1 won't hamper you, WILL" she begged
"Kitty, you're trump" cried Will
ton. But you can't go there to live
The loneliness would be awful. And
there isn't u house anywhere. And
besides"
He did not dare suggest the thought
that came to him, that people would
gossip about her. That, he felt, rested
with her.
ut won't be lonely with-with the
work, WILL" she answered. And I've
already made my plans. I'm having
a bungalow built there. And there will
be Molly, Don't you want me to come,
WIFI"
Kitty's pleas were irresistible. Will
ton yielded, and he was glad for one
thing; her presence at the portage
would mean much to Molly. During
the next few days he was in constant
consultation with the directors as
representing Kitty, who had given him
her power of attorney to act for her.
He went carefully over the books. He
was quite satisfied with their showing
If Big Muskeg could be crossed, the
company could remain solvent without
increasing its capital.
He devoted his attention to the per-
sonnel, taking on new men and weed
ing out, thing Joe had hated doing.
until he was satisfied that Bowyer had
no representative on the staff.
Wilton and Belts had been named
executors in Joe's will. Wilton had
already gone through Joe's papers !;
but his task was much less satisfac-
tory; for Joe. who was capital di-
system at all. Everything was in con-
fusion-papers We're missing, records
mixed up together. He hal left Kitty
two thousand shares In the Missatibi,
and comfortable little capital of
about forty thousand dollars, together
with the house in Clayton and some
property in Winnipeg.
The Mssatibi shares, amounting to
two million dollars at their par value,
represented the bulk of his fortune,
and were in a safety-deposit box in
the banks vault. The receipt, how
ever, could not be found.
This was not Of much Importance,
but Wilton went with Kitty to look in
Joe's box Clark, the manager, took
them below, opened the vault, and
put in the master-key. Wilton COM
pleted the opening. To his astonish-
ment there were only fifteen hundred
shares.
give hundred shares are missing"
he said to the manager.
Clark looked at him in some surprise
you are not forgetting that Mr..
Bostock hypothecated five hundred
shares with us as security for the
loan?" he asked.
Wilton looked at Kitty. did you
know that Joe borrowed on the Sc
curity Of those shares?" he asked.
Kitty shook her head. Joe had not
told her many of the details of his
business. And the papers had shown
no record of the transaction.
"Mr. Phayre has just come in," said
the manager.
They went up to the presidents
office. Phayre asked them to sit down,
and listened to Wiltons statement.
"Mr Clark will YOU get Mr.
Bostock's blank transfer Of the
shares?' he asked.
The paper was brought. The sigma
ture appeared perfectly genuine. Joe
Bostock had made out transfer in
blank for five hundred shares, in return
for loan of three hundred and fifty
thousand dollars, due the 18th of De
cember.
Unless the loan was repaid by that
date, the control of the Missatibi
would swing to the Bowyer interests.
Wilton was almost stunned by the
discovery. Joe had spoken as if his
control was irOn-clad.
He went home with Kitty and tele-
phoned to Belts to come. They went
through all Joe's papers again.
Even Jim Belts was forced to admit
that the transaction. appeared regular.
"Jest watch them snakes, boy; that's
ALL" he counseled. Il don't say Phayre
forged Joe's signature and broke into
his box, because it's a bigger risk
than he's got the nerve te take, but