Middletown transcript., 1922-09-09
CHAPTER x-Continued.

"She won't. And If she did, and
went down on her l.nees to him, he
wouldn't look at her."
"What do you mean?" asked Kitty
breathlessly.
Bowyer leaned forward again and
whispered in her ear. Kitty was as
pale as death. How'll that do for
your" he asked triumphantly.
Kitty rose, trembling. "I'll stick to
my word" she said. "But you're the
lowest cur I've ever known, Tom
Bowyer, and l hope-I hope some
body flays you-flays the skin off you
before you've run your course"
'Ill take my chance of that"
grinned Bowyer, as he rose.
Kitty sank back in her chair, her
hands over her face. OF sudden the
abysmal depths Of sin had opened be-
meath her. She was tempted to run
after him and call him back. But she
could not stir. 1t was some time be-
bore she forced herself to rise. She
went to the window. She guessed that
Bowyer was going to the bank. He
would return that way, and she could
call him in and tell him that she had
changed her mind.
Suddenly she started back behind
the curtains. Wilton was passing OH
the other side Of the road. He held
his head high, yet he walked like
man who was broken.
Kitty watched him go by. Her heart
was full of pity for him, for his quix-
otic Dreams his foolish faithfulness to
Joe. The picture that Bowyer had
limned of Molly faded from her mind
under the. brighter glow that came
into it.
Like Wilton, Bowyer had business
to transact with Phayre. He went
to the bank; it was after hours, but
he knew Phayre would be there, await
ing him.
"Carruthers is in town." said the
bank president.
HE is, eh?" asked Bowyer, darting
a keen glance at him. ''When did he
get in7"
"Day before yesterday. He was
subpoenaed on that case"
"That's so, of course" said Bewyer.
"What did they get?'
"Six months apiece"
mo new light on the murder of our
friend?'
"Nothing. Quain didn't go into that
phase of the affair at all. He'd ques.
toned them, and couldn't prove any
thing"
Bowyer fell into brown study fol
few moments.
"Carruthers been here YETI" he In
quired presently.
mot yet. He's trying to raise COO
half-million in town. guess he's beer
to the last likely place by now. 81
he'll be here tomorrow to renew tht
loan."
you'll renew, of course sale
Bowyer. Excellent wheat lands
Fine investment for your bank. thu
Missatibi! By the way, you hit /
strong with that cartoon!"
They both laughed, first Mt the car
toon, then at Bowyer's raillery.
mo more trouble with Clark?" aske'
Bowyer.
'.Net at present. I guess, that extr'
two hundred squared him. He's
dangerous customer to handle, though
And absolutely Indispensable for a jo
like we had to handle. A first-clas
man ut his trade, cool as cucumber
and looking like q gentleman. You'l
find it hard to beat that combination
He could have had more than the tw
hundred he held me up for"
He's certainly worth it," admitte
Bowyer. "Whatll you do with hir
next yeaF?"
"Why, he seems to like the wor
here" answered Phayre, laughing. "I'
keep him on, under my eye-at n
duced salary"
They both chuckled over that, br
Bowyer grew serious quickly. "Wel
I've fixed Kitty Bostock," he sal
Lord, it's a cinch handling that tyr
of woman. Once they fancy son
particular man, they'll 60 through h
to get him."
"You've told her you'll buy her shar
ut par" he said. "You haven't cor
mitted yourself irrevocably to that
Bowyer threw his head back ar
emitted one of his short laughs. 1--WE
may change my mind,". he said. p"
isn't in writing"
"Suppose she raises Cain?"
"She can't She's In too deep. 81
doesn't know how Deep"
Phayre laughed again, but nervousl
sT never cared much for this bushes
Bowyer," he said. "If Joe Bosto,
hadn't died as he did I'd never ha'
got mixed up with it. But that ga
us our chance. It was very lucl
accident. If we weren't committed b
yond recovery, I'd pull out even now
"Pull out?" echoed the other. "Ho
the devil can we pun out? The tricl
DONE"
you've"
"Tve fixed 1t about that safe. Y
had a devil Of a Job the first time '
tried. He's got deafmute there W
seems to have eyes like a cat, a
sleeps with them open. Carruthe
caught Lee Chambers at the windt
and smashed his nose. And, of cour
Chambers usefulness at the camp
ended. However, I've fixed 1t no
and day or two will see US with WI
we want, and Carruthers with what
doesn't want"
81 suppose there's no doubt th'
haIf-breeds did kill Joe Bostock." D
70