Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-10-12

crept up behind the rocks TN I was
hundred PAGES ava. Joe Bostockl
back was turned. l drew a bead ~
his heart and fired. They bath Eel
down. / ran back to the store an,
went TO bed. Jules didna see me. anf
Molly hadn't come hame."
He groaned and hung his head unor
his breast. The voice OF Payne a the
silence Ike a knife.
you are telling this of your own
free VIII, McDonald7" he asked
AS God Is my witnessl I'm teIlir,
this because my times come now. and
wouldna have WIN Carruthers svyip,
for that red fox yonder."
What was the nature of Ar. Bow.
yer's hold on you, McDonald7"
The crown attorney stood up with q
wry smile.
Il object to that question:" be said
quietly.
III put IT in this way. then: Wig
did you hate Joe Bostock7 2.
AYE, I'll tell that, too" answered
Mcdonald. zoe was married whom
he was a young man. long ago. A
good GIRL sweet lass from my ane
town In Scotland. They were both
young. They quarreied. She wanted
TO yex him. She made up a story that
showed her TO be a bad oma She
went too far. Joe believed her. She
went TO him and told him that she'd
fIeu. lie W0Gldna believe her word.
Because the foolish girl had manufac-
tured proofs-false proofs; and the ly-
ing scoundrel whom she trusted
claimed they were true.
"He blackmailed her after Joe had
left her. She was at her wits end. She
to his office to beg him to tell
the truth. / happened to go there.
| overheard. She became frenzied and
drew a revolver on him. He struck
her. He got her by the throat. He had
a paper-welght on the table, a sharp
edged metal thing like a cleaver. /
struck him once with 1t. 1t split his
skull from side TO side He died. Zen
l watched him he died.
"The girl was mad WI fear. I took
Ter ava. i married her, for Joe had
divorced her in the States. But. that
OK, Bowyer, knew. In my folly I'd
old him all. He said he'd be my
rlend. He got me my position at the
I've lived there ever since
with my wife, then with my fears,
nd always with Molly-with Molly,
Ter child and-Joe'sl"
The girls cry rang wildly through
he courtroom. She reeled and ran
him. Wilton, unhindered.
down from the dock and sup
orted her. She chung to him, Wild
yed and helpless. Nobody interviewed.
Even when Bowyer sprang forward.
lough the judge raped his gavel
1t seemed only an automatic
r perfunctory act, for he made no eff
,rt TO prevent his speaking.
let me finish Ill" he yelled f~ercely.
He didn't die, you fool-you old
,ol; Lord, you've been a laughing (!
.ock these twenty years He's here |
court, and he's been Matchmaking /
q as he blackmailed you. Clark.
IN fUuSteT-ltfRtf huu Suie-Dredker-
Tough we didn't need you for that
ep forward Look at his head, Nc b
onald, and then see IL you remember !
m \
Hes spoken truei The old FOOLS /
'oken truel I've handled many a man /
Id woman In my time, but God Him. F
II, they say, can't handle a fool"
e swung around IN his accompllces. 3
Keep your wits. Phayrel" he howled
wild derision. "You didn't know how h
% died. You're only the thief-the
mmon thief I hired to work for ms,
~ won't swing for this. Neither will D
l took my chances-but, by God, k
handle a fool"
They rushed toward him, but Bow y
r was quicker than they. And, as
Q single shot echoed through the
.rtroom Wilton saw that Molly was =
-eady mercifully unconscious
But he knew that all the past would \
come dImmed with her awakening.
(THE END.)