Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-11-10

IF the jury knew tnat, tneyQ acQult
him. 1t could be arranged. I'd say !
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 he 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 p he Kissed In a furious
voice. "I'll take up your proposition
and show you what 1t means. Listen
First, you'll break your solemn cove
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
the witness-box with such 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 90 the swamp one evening. I'll
swear it's concocted story made up
by YOU TO free your paramOur. What
sort o. figure do you think you'll cut
in the witness-box then, Kitty Bos-
tock'
Bcwyer had calculated rightly. Up
on a 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-
zion that the reaction comes.
And Bower calculated rightly again.
"Kittv Bostock." he said gently, 81
promise you that he shall be freed.
| have the means, the influence, the
power I know he didn't murder Joe.
Keep your head. and ali shall he well.
| swear It. Do you believe mef'
She looked at him as if ne had
hypnotized her. "Yes, / 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
ingr' .
''Oh, I'll say nothing" walled Kitty,
wringing her hands. II promise you.
| see. Yes, / understand now"
And she went out of the house with
her head low, dubious, and yet with
the sure conviction that BOwyer could
save Wilton. Bowyer could save him,
but nobody else could do so. She would
trust him, because there was nobody
else to trust.
Between the house and the station,
Kitty grew conscious Of an old man
walking beside her, trying to speak to
her. Absorbed in her thoughts, she
did not know how long he had been
there Suddenly she realized that this
was Jim Belts.
She shrank back aghast, looking at
him with eyes wide with fear. Jim
nodded and smiled.
tits all right; don't be afeared of
me, Mrs. Bostock," he said. you're
mighty worried about VIII, amt you
now. I guess we all are. Won't you
go to Mr.. Payne and tell him what you
known"
They had reached the station. The
train for Clayton was waiting. Jim
followed Kitty into the compartment
and took his seat beside her.
"Tom Bowyer swore he'd save him
ff-if-"
IF" questioned Jim.
eff / kept silent. But I'll speak. l
will. / never trusted him. Mr.. Bow
yer told me 1 couldn't hold the line,
and l wanted to save the money to
help Will. He promised that when
the smash came he'd take the shares
off my hands at par If I'd give him
he could find out about the plans. |
gave it to him. The safe was mine
and was trying to help VIII. And
told Tom Bowyer the secret of the
wheat lands, so that he'd know he
wasn't losing anything by buying my
shares"
She let her head fall against Jim's
shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. Jim
laid his rough hand on her hair.
There, child, guess you feel bet
ter, now, don't your he said. "You
didn't understand the wrong that you
were doing. That's the way wrongs
generally done. And now Wen go to
Mr.. Payne and fix things up for WILL"
CHAPTER XIX