Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-10-06


parently.
"T'm afraid, VIII, 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 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.
" was so glad when heard Of It.,
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. 1--WE
heard you speak Of it so often, and I
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.
"I've been In this game for Joe-and
for you. When Joe died I saw that
we'd have to fight hard to keep the
line. I saw lot Of money In it, later,
and meanwhile you'd have enough to
live on, so that we could use your
capital and your control to carry out
Joe's plans"
Eyes, WILL" said Kitty, with the
air of one who listens YEARLY to q
lesson.
"Joe's borrowing On those shares has
changed everything. The loan has to
be repaid before the year Is out. II
1t isn't, you lose the line. They'll
wreck It, and they'll wreck your for
tune, and that of the other investors.
Then they'll reconstruct. When the
line has ceased to have any value at
all, Bowyer and Phayre will have a
new line Of their own. Do you under
standT'
"Tm trying to, WILL" said Kitty.
"But what do you want me to dor >
"I'm 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 will 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
Of your shares now, after Bowyer's
campaign against us. And he's made
the most of the subsistence. It's
speculative-what I'm suggesting. But
Joe would have done 1t. And In a
few years it'll mean millions"
"Are you sure, Will7" asked Kitty,
eagerly.
"Not sure, Kitty, but nearly sure"
"Wil,, you are Joe's executor. Do
you advise me to take that risk"
"No!" said Wilton sharply.
"But you just said"
''As Joe's executor, I can't. It's not
sound business. An executor dares
not advise throwing away certainty
for specu) >tion. AS Joe's executor
nor
'"Then why did you advise me tor
asked Kitty innocently. $780,
Because / thought you cared for
the line, Kitty. Because thought
you shared Joe's dream for the future
of the Missatibi / thought that, even
IL you lost, you'd have your house
here, and your forty thousand, and
you'd feel-that you'd done what Joe
would have wanted. AS your executor
I say, sell out to Phayre before it's
too late. At least-at least"
He could get no further. Kitty looked
up into his face. "Will, I know how
you feel" she said softly. I'm so
sorry. I've done what you wanted,
WIN. But haven't done it for Joe.
I've done 1t for you. WILL you've
made your own obstacles. You've
never understood me. It's you want
to help; it's you 1 want my money
for, WILL"
Afterward Wilton could nof0imagine
how he had found strength to resist
her. With Molly lost. Jim Belts him
self counseling surrender, and Kitty
caring nothing for the line, why did
he not let 1t go? In that black hour
the temptation of her presence, the
human love that was his for the TAX
ing, screamed their weak counsel In
his ears.
1t may nave been the fiber of Puritan
ancestors, or simply the Unborn instinct
to fight to the end, that gave him his
strength. But he did not know how
he left her till he found himself in the
street.
He went to the bank, the last place,
and the last, hopeless effort, fore
doomed to failure. He went into
Phayre's Office.
"Good morning, Mr.. Carruthers,"
said the president "What can do for