The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-11-30
CHAPTER xvIiI-continued.

didn't go to the camp against her WILL
Mrs. BOstock." he leered. maybe
she'd taken a fancy to Lee Chambers.
/ saw something of that sort In the
wind, and SO | hadn't started TO carry
out our plan"
"Our plan !" gasped Kitty.
"The one that we agreed on, to keep
her away from VIII C~arruthers," said
B0wyer yenomously.
He expected an outburst, but Kitty
was beyond that nov You know that
I've come about Will," she said In a
choking voice. II don't know what to
do. Nobody but you a help me.
What shall | do?"
Eowyer pretended to reflect. IL don't
quite see what | can do, Mrs. Bos-
tock,, he answered. II don't believe
he's guilty"
'Of course. he Isn't guilty."
"Pve always said he isn't. But he'll
nave TO take his verdict from the jury.
what Is there we can dot"
Kitty looked Mt him in consterna-
ton. "The safei !" she gasped. That's
what"
'But that has nothing to do with
Ioe's death, Mrs. Bostock." .
She sprang to her feet, confronting
him with dramatic Indignation. "You
know that ii has everything" she
cried. You're playing with me and
torturIng me. Do you suppose | don't
know what they're saying about him
-that he forged Joe's name to those
checks and murdered him 10 prevent
discovery Dc you suppose l don't
know that, when / gave you the com
bination. just to help WIN, that you
put those checks there? Let me tell
the truth on the witness stand" she
pleaded, standing before him with
clasped hands, aud the tears raining
down her cheeks.
'TelI the truth? You must be mad !"
he shouted.
IF the jury knew that, they'd acquit
him. II could be arranged. I'd say l
gave tho combination to Lee Cham
bers--"
Again Bowyer began TO be afraid OF
Kitty but this time 1t was her stupid
ity he feared. And he saw that this
was the occasion to let loose one Of
his habituated RACES. He seized her
hands In his. one in each, and twisted
them until she screamed with the pain.
Lets understand each other, Kitty
Bostock y he Missed In a furious
voice. "Ill take up your proposition
and show you what II means. Listen
First, you'll break your solemn cove
nAnt with me. Dishonest, you think?
The sort that's made between people
every day. I've played fair with you.
And you'll play fair with me. or you'll
lose your f~ortune-every penny of 1t.
That's first.
Second. so surely as you 20 into
the witness-box with such a story I'll
say you lie. I'll say he was your lover.
I'll say that he killed Joe at your In
stIgatlon because you wanted to be
rid OF him. I'll say that you went TO
Big Mnskeg and lived there. almost
next door to him. I'll bring forward a
workman who saw you two together,
kissing on the swamp u evening. I'll
swear It's a concocted story made mp
by You to free your paramount. What
sort Of figure do you think you'll u
In the witness-box then. Kitty Bos-
took Z"
Bowyer had calculated rightly. Up
on a woman like Kitty, petted and
spoiled from birth, the astounding
fact Of physical violence IN as a
stunning shock thnt breaks down the
souls resistance. II Is only on repeti-
tiop that the reaction comes.
And Bowyer calculated rightly again.
~Kitty Bostock," he said gently, Il
promise you that he shall be freed.
! have the means. the influence. the
power. | know he didn't murder Joe.
Keep you head. and aft shall be well.
I swear 1t. DO You believe me?"
She looked at him as II he had
hypnotized her. yes, I believe you"
she answered.
$50 surely ms you speak one word,
he'll hang. Keep quiet, and lie shall
be saved. Promise me you1l say moth
lngi"
s4Oh. I'll say nothing" walled Kitty.
wringing her hands. Il promise you.
I see. Yes. I understand now"
And she went out OF the house with
her head low, dubious, and yet with
the sure conviction that Bowyer could
save Wilton. Bowyer could nave him.
but nobody else could do 80. She would
trust him. because there was nobody
else to trust.
Between the house ana the station,
Kitty grew conscious Of an old szan
walking beside her, trying to speak TO
her. AbSJrbed In her thoughts. she
: 49, 4s.es .<@:.sM CO sr- ~ bad s5Ss
there. Suddenly she realized that this
was lin Belts.
she shnonk back aghast. looking n
aim With eyes wide with fear. Jim
nodded apd smiled.
',I{,s nll right; don't be afeared OF
mc Mrs. nostock.~ he said. You're
mlnkty worried about VIII. ain't you
ndsr guess W. iii are. Won't you
s. u Mil Fayna And teIl him what You
INV hnd reached NE station. The
frnin for ciayfon MA waiting Jim
fnl1oyred kiffy into lbe commandment
snd s0ok bia ss4t bssIds 1sr.