The Adair County news., 1922-06-20
CHAPTER VIII
Treachery.

Treaehery.
When Kitty left the shack she went
slowly toward her house. At the door
she hesitated and then, as If with a
sudden resolution, she made her way
quickly In the direction of the port
age.
There was a rig with two horses be-
fore the factors door. Inside the door
Tom Bowyer was standing, and Molly
faced him, white to the lips, and rigid.
1--we given you your answer many
times" said Molly.
Bower smiled. mo decision that
was ever made can't be changed" he
retorted. "Is it a crime to love you
to want to make you my wife?"
mo; but 1t is crime to persecute
me when you know you have no right
to ask me at ALL"
Tom Bowyer, who had cultivated his
RACES until they had mastered him,
could never refrain from falling into
the bully's pose when he met OppOsi-
ton. He slammed his fist down fierce
ly on the counter.
"1'll change your answer, MOlly!" he
cried. Before / leave this store to-
night. I'll have you at my feet, for all
your pride. D-n It, It's your pride l
| want as much as you. want to hum
BILE you, because there's never been
man or woman I couldn't tame sooner
or later. I'm making you an honorable
proposal. Your fathers dying man.
| Anyone can see that. / want you, and
l want to take care of him for your
sake the rest Of his days. l ask you
to be my wife, to come to Cold juno,
tion with me and marry me- D'yOu sup
pose he could hold his job here an.
other day if the company knew he's
| paralyzed? I'll drive him from the
portage unless you marry me and lei
him take his pension and live with
u.s."
81 tell you mo- again I" cried Molly
"How many times am to answer you
Will you go nowT'
He caught her by the wrists, thrust
ing his face forward into hers.
She screamed In fear, and they hearC
the dragging footsteps of the factor II
his room above. The old man felt hi
way slowly down the stairs and edge
along the counter. There was fear il
his sunken eyes; but it was ange
made him tremble.
"Ye go too far, Mr.. BOwyer!" h
Quavered. "Ye Gamma insult my gir
in my own houser'
sect back to bed, you old fool
sneered Bowyer. 'Didn't you do you
own love-making?"
"If she Wilma have ye 1 Wilma SCI
herl Leave the house and do you
worst 70
IF 1 do" answered BOwyer, "Pll d
it. D'you mean that? Answer m'
McDonaldr
The factor sank back against tn
counter and glared at him with has
gard eyes, his gray beard brushing hi
breast. Bowyer smiled triumphantly
"Speak for me, Mcdonald" b
ieered. "Tell her why she'd bette
change her mind"
The factor raised his head. MOL,
lass" he whimpered, 'ft's a grand Of
portunity he's offering ye. Have ye
thocht of that? It'll be hame for J
in my old age, when 1 Gamma care II
ye."
Molly fixed her eyes In horror upC
Mcdonald. But Bowyer strobe betwee
them.
you're a fine love-makerP /
sneered. "Get out of the way"
And, infiamed almost to madness,
seized Molly in his arms and presse
his lips to her cheek and throat aga
and again.
81 guess you're not so coy as you pr
tend, Molly" he cried. 'YOu womt
s are all alike, after all. / never kne
e one yet that wasn't in a hurry to g
: hitched up, however much she preten
: ed to dislike It,"
s The opening of the door behind hi
made him start Kitty stood there, al
t 1t was quite clear that she had been
f spectator of the scene. With stra