The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-06-30

ION Bowyer there had hold on
me. Aye, Tom, your times come, now,
and I've listened to We so long yen
listen to me. He was ever at me
threatening me with the auld threat
IL / dinna obey. When he came to
the store a year ago / spoke of WIN
Carruthers, and how feared he'd been
sent by Joe to take Molly away from
me. Your chance will come, Melon
add he said 'YeTl catch the iva o.
them In the bush togither.' I ha' one
death on my soul now said He
laughed that fox-laugh Of his. Ye're
afraid he tainted me. And that taunt
and laugh put the den into me.
Listen. now, Mcdonald he said,
II ye could kill Joe Bostock and no
suspeecion come on ye, would We do
itr He knew the rancor that was
like living coal in my heart, and he
saw that he'd won Then he told
me his plan I was to pretend a
stroke, 80 that my foot would be use
less, and my arm would hang useless
at my side. Then, he said, there'd
be no possible suspeecion on me. As he
said, twas nought to feign a stroke
nought at all. Just to lie down and
breathe heavy, and never forget /
couldna use my arm or leg.
He went ava and left me WI the
thocht. 1t grew in me until 1t filed
my heart. Then one NIGHT he cam to
me-Molly didna know that-and he
told me that Joe and VIII Carruthers
were coming to the portage, and 1
could catch them alone. The chance
came. Jules was in the bush, and
Molly'd gone to the Indian camp
II slippit out O. bed and took tina
rifle and one cartridge, put on my snow.
shoes, and ran across the muskeg. It
wasna long before 1 saw them ON the
ridge, black against the gray sky. 1
crept up behind the rocks till / was a
hundred PAGES AVA Joe Bostock's
back was turned. 1 drew a bead on
his heart and fired. They bath fell
down / ran back to the store and
went to bed. Jules didna 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 witnessi I'm tellin'
this because my times come now, and
I wouldna have Will Carruthers swing
for that red fox yonder."
What was the nature of Mr.. Bow
yer's hold on you, McDonaldT'
The crown attorney stood up with q
wry smile.
Il object to that question" he said
quietly.
"rn 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 Quarreled. She wanted
to vex him. She made up a story that
showed her to be bad woman. 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 ly.
ing scoundrel whom she trusted
claimed they were true.
HE blackmailed her after Joe had
left her. She was at her wits end. She
went to his Office to beg him to tell
the truth. 1 happened to 60 there.
I overheard. She became frenzied and
drew a revolver 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 1t. 1t split hill
skull from side to side He died. Eel
while I watched him he died.
1.-THE girl was mad WI fear. / tool
her ava. I married her, for Joe hat
divorced her in the States. But thai
fox, Bowyer, knew. In my folly II
told him all. He said he'd be my
friend. He got me my position at thu
portage. I've lived there ever since
first with my wife, then with my fears
and always with Molly-with Molly
her child and-Joe's"
The girls cry rang wildly through
| the courtroom. She reeled and raj
| 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 gave
smartly, it seemed only an automatic
or perfunctory act, for he made no ef
fort to prevent his speaking.
LET me finish it !" he yelled fercely
He didn't die, you fool-you oil
fool; Lord, you've been. Laughing
stock these twenty years He's her
| in court, and he's been blackmailini
me as he blackmailed you. Clark
the master-forger and safe-breaker-
Il though we didn't need you for that
step forward Look at his head. Nc
Donald, and then see if you remembe
himl
Hes spoken true! The old fool
spoken true. I've handled many ma
and woman in my time, but God Hin
self, they say, can't handle a fool.
He swung around on his accomplice:
Keep your wits, Phayre!" he howle
In wild derision. You didn't know ho'
Joe died. You're only the thief-th
common thief hired to work for MI
You won't swing for this. Neither wi
Il. l took my chances-but, by Got
| couldn't handle fool"
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