The Adair County news., 1922-06-06
or =A
0Le
Bi6Musked
M, 02& - q
tNEVICTOR ROUSSEAU %}$1Sa
\ MEE 7lS illustrations BY RHLiyingst stone "p@.Ni
EVICTOR ROUSSEAU
illustrations by. RHLiVingstone y
~ g COPYRIGHT COMPANY
SYNOPSIS


keg, a seemingly impossible swamp in
the path of the Missatibi railroad, Joe
BoStock, builder of the line, and Wilton
Carruthers, chief of engineers, are con-
sidering the di. .culties. A rifle shot in
stantly kills Bostock and breaks Car
ruthers arm. Handicapped as he is, Car
ruthers determines to carry the body to
station of the Hudson's Bay company,
where one Mcdonald is the factor.
CHAPTER IL-McDonald's daughter,
Molly, sees Carrutbers struggling in the
muskeg and dragS>him from the swamp,
with his burden. Unaccountably, her
father objects to her saving Carruthers.
CHAPTER III.-Weakened by his wound
and exeruons, Carruthers is disturbed by
the appearance of Tom Bowyer, Bostock's
business rival and personal enemy. Bow
yer insults Molly, and Carruthers strikes
him. After Bowyer leaves, Carruthers
declares his love for Molly. She prom
ises to be his wife.
CHAPTER IV.-Carruthers has to reach
the town of Clayton to attend meeting
at which Bostock's enemies plan to wrest
control of the Missatibi from him. Molly
determines to go with him.
The constable, who was leaning
against the door-post, chewing the end
of a twig, started slightly. Peters
fixed Wilton With his crooked stare.
AeONACl a hCANg " PAOPOOSB
Mr.. CarTYthers! " he sneered.
Maybe, but it's a business matter
affecting Mr.. BostOck's wife," said Will
ton, loathing himself for making the
request, but nerving himself to do so
blythe thought Of Kitty. IF the news
of his death reaches Clayton before
the time I've mentioned, some people
who are antagonistic to Mr.. Bostock's
interests will jump at the chance to
turn it to account. 1t will mean a
heavy loss to Mrs. Bostock. You've
come long way, and you could quite
reasonably wait till afternoon on ac-
count Of the dogs. That will bring you
in before noon tomorrow. And-if you
can see your way to it, you two won't
be the losers"
The sergeant eyed him more insO-
lently than ever. $50 that's the pro-
gram, is it?" he answered. "Well, keep
your mind easy. The news won't be
known in Clayton tonight, nor tOmOr-
row neither. We amt going to Clay
ton"
You're not, Ell? Then where the
devil are you going" cried Wilton,
nettled almost beyond endurance at
the mans demeanor.
''We're taking Joe Bostock's body
back to the Pas" retorted the SER
geant. That's what we come here
for"
p. ''The Pas? This isn't in the Pas
Jurisdiction :"
at amt, eh? Perhaps it's in yours,
then?"
"See here" cried Wilton in eXas-
peration, Clayton has its own police
detachment, as you know perfectly
well. Your route doesn't lie in this
direction. Joe BOstOck's homes there
He's going to be buried there. And his
body isn't going to be dragged here
and there about the country by a
couple of fool policemen. I'll make
things pretty warm for you if you try
any game like that"
"You will, eh?" sneered the sergeant,
with a side glance at Myers. Got any
sort of special pull in Clayton?"
Enough to put the lid on you"
"Well, I guess you won't be going
into Clayton yet a while" jeered Pc
ters. You're coming back to the Pas
with us and Joe"
Wilton realized that Myers had
come up quietly upon the other side
of him. He had the bewildered feeling
of being in a trap.
"What the devil do you mean by
that?" he shouted.
The sergeant thrust his face for
ward into his own. grinning ma
liciously.
"It means that arrest you for the
wilful murder Of Joe Bostock," he an
swered. "And I warn you, in the
kings name, that any statement you
make will be used against you"
At the same moment Wilton felt the
touch of steel against his right wrist,
and swung his hand free just in time
to avoid the snap of the handcuff.
Looking at Sergeant Peters after the
instant's sideward glance. he found
himself covered by the heavy. regula-
tion As Colt. Before he could stir.
Myers had seized him from behind and
made violent effort to slip the hand
cuff upon his wrist.
Wilton heard Molly scream. The
girl came running out of the room
with her hair tumbling about her
shoulders, and caught at Myers arm
The caretaker started toward them
still holding the frying pan, in which
he was cooking the potatoes. his face
working with rage.
''YOu d-n fools ~ he shouted laps
ing into his vernacular in his excite
ment, 'you got it all wrong! Mr.. Car
ruthers was Joe's best friend. So that
was your game when you come here las
night, eh? You'll get broke for this
yob already, both Of you fellers, 1 tel
you"
Molly was grasping at Myers hand
as the constable still fumbled nerv
Ously with the handcuff. "Won't yOI
men listen to common senSeT Shs