Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-11-09


crept up behind the rocks till | was
hundred PAGES ava. Joe Bostock's
back was turned. l drew a bead on
his heart and fired. They bath fell
down. | ran back to the store and
went to bed. Jules uldna see me, and
Molly hadn't come hame."
He groaned and hung his head upon
his breast. The voice of Payne cut the
silence like knife.
"YOu are telling this of your own
free will, McDOnald?" he asked.
"As God is my witness! I'm tellin'
this because my times come now, and
| wouldna have Will CarrutherS swing
for that red fox yonder."
What was the nature of Mr.. Bow
yer's hold on you, McDOnald"
The crown attorney stood up with
wry smile.
Il object to that question:" he said
quietly.
I'll put it in this way, then: Why
did you hate Joe BoStock ?"
"Aye, I'll tell that, too" answered
Mcdonald. Joe was married when
he was a young man,-long ago. A
good girl. A sweet lass from my ane
town in Scotland. They were both
young They quarreIed She wanted
to veX him. She made up a story that
showed her to be a bad wom&A. She
went too far. Joe believed her. She
went to him and told him that she'd
lied. He WOuldna believe her word.
Because the foolish girl had manufac-
tured proofs-false proofs; and the ~
ing scoundrel whom she trusted
claimed they were true.
He backmailed her after zoe had
left her. She was at her wits end. She
went to his office to beg him to tell
the truth. | happened to go there.
l overheard She became frenzied and
drew a revolv@ on him. He struck
her. He got her by the throat. He had
a paper-weight on the table, a sharp
edged metal thing like a cleaver
struck him once with it. 1t split his
skull from side to side He died. Zen
while watched him he died.
THE girl was mad wi fear. l took
her ava. l married her, for Joe had
divorced her in the States. But that
fox, Bowyer knew. In my folly I'd
told him all. He said he'd be my
friend. He got me my position at the
portage. I've lived there ever since
first with my wife, then with my fears
and always with 4Iolly-with Molly
her child and-Joe's"
The girls cry rang wildly through
the courtroom. She reeled and ran
toward him. Wilton, unhindered.
stopped down from the dock and sup
ported her. She chung to him, wild
eyed and helpless. Nobody interviewed
Even when Bowyer sprang forward
though the judge raped his gavel
smartly, it seemed only an automatic
or perfunctOry act for he made no eff
fort to prevent his speaking.
Let me finish it !" he yelled fiercely.
"He didn't die, you fool-you old
fool; Lord you've been a laughing
stock these twenty years He's here
in court, and he's been Matchmaking
me as he blackmailed you. Clark,
the master-forger and safe-breaker-
though we didn't need you for that
step forward! Look at his head, Nc
Donald, and then see if you remember
him
Hes spoken true! The old FOOLS
spoken true! I've handled many a man
and woman in my time, but God Him
self, they say, can't handle fool"
He swung around on his accomplices
keep your wits, Phayre" he howled
in wild deriSiOn. you didn't know how
Joe died. You're only the thief-the
common thief l hired to work for me.
You won't swing for this. Neither will
/. l took my chances-but, by God
l couldn't handle foolw
They rushed toward him, but Bow
yer was quicker than they. And, as
the single shot echoed through the
courtroom Wilton saw that Molly was
already mercifully unconscious.
But he knew that all the past would
become dimmed with her awakening.
(THE END)