The Adair County news., 1922-06-13
CHAPTER VI
An Unexpected Development.


brief deposition for use at the coro-
ner's inquest, and once Molly's face
appeared, wet with tears, out of the
shadows, and her lips touched him.
But he was desperately ill, and it was
February before the crisis was past,
and he awakened, intensely weak, but
conscious, to realize that he was in
Kitty's house, and that Kitty had
been nursing him.
Feebly he whispered his gratitude,
and asked forgiveness because he had
not been able to keep his promise to
look after Joe.
"You did all that could be done,
WILL" she answered. 'It was wonder
fully plucky, your bringing him to
Molly's house as you did. No one
could have done more"
He asked for Molly, and learned that
she had gone home on the day after
he had been brought to the house.
Kitty promised to show Wilton MOlly's
letters when he got better.
"Then you know we are engaged"
asked Wilton.
Kitty smiled a little. 81 couldn't
help knowing that" she answered.
I'm glad for Molly's sake"
Wilton's mind had been all be-
wilderment as he racked his brains
for a clue to Joe's death. Had he been
sure it was murder, he could have
gone grimly to work on the solution.
But there was always the doubt, the
paralyZing doubt, that it had been an
accident, and that one of the half
breeds had fred the shot.
Yet Bowyer must have known of
it; Bowyer had sent the impostors to
arrest him; he became more and more
convinced that BOwyer had learned
Of JOe'S death that afternoon at the
portage, and had devised the arrest
to keep him from the meeting.
Among Wilton's callers was old Jim
Belts, to whom he extended his con-
fdence in a large measure.
"Bowyer's guilty as H." he de-
clared. "Phayre mightn't have known.
1 guess he didn't. But Bowyer knew,
when he had Phayre bring that mo-
tiOn forward, that Joe wouldn't re-
turn. Put that thought in your pipe
and smoke it, boyI'
"Jim," said Wilton, I'm giving up
my life to the Missatfbi, because it
was Joe's work. And I'm going to
hound down his murderer, If it was
murder"
AYE, boy, and go cool about it."
counseled Belts. "It was crafty work,
but it'll come out. Don't doubt it.
And you'll find them two snakes,
Bowyer and Phayre, under the brush
wood. And maybe Clark, too" he
added.
1t was the middle Of February be-
fore Wilton was allowed to leave the
house. Nearly two months had been
lost, and during that time Bowyer and
Phayre, whatever their plans might
be, had had a good leeway to develop
| them. -.
kitty" said Wilton, you know
| everything is in your hands now. You
control the line. And 1 know that
you'll stand by the line to the last
because it was Joe's big dream"
"Will, you can count on me to tn,
end" said Kitty solemnly. I've been
thinking a great deal about Big Mus
keg, and feel my own responsibility
1 want to see the work, Will. wan
to know that you are succeeding. Ant
I'm going there to live"
Wilton was astOunded. Live al
Big Muskeg?" he cried.
Until the work is finished. Dom
refuse me, VIII !" She claSped hel
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. AnC
there isn't a house anywhere. An(
besides"
He did not dare suggest the though
that came to him, that people woul
gossip about her. That, he felt, rested
with her.
"It won't be lonely with-with tn
work, WILL" she answered. "And Pv
already made my plans. I'm havin
bungalow built there. And there vii
be Molly. Don't you want me to come
WHIP
Kitty's pleas were irresistible. VII
ton yielded, and he was glad for on
thing: her presence at the portag
would mean much to Molly. Durin
the next few days he was in constan
consultation with the diI ,ctors a
representing Kitty, who had given hiI
her power Of attorney to act for hel
He went carefully over the books. II
was quite satisfied with their showing
If Big Muskeg could be crossed, tn
company could remain solvent withou
increasing its capital.
He devoted his attention to the pei
sonnel, taking on new men and weed
ing out, a thing Joe had hated doins
until he was satisfied that BOwyer ha
no representatives on the staff.
Wilton and Belts had been name
1 IL Toa3a rr,;II TUflkov, ho