Graham guardian., 1922-08-08

"Oh haAhPSA yout uckktts
kitty, you're trump!" cried VII.
ton. "But you can't go there to live.
The loneliness would be awful. And
there isn't house anywhere. And
besides"
He did not dare suggest the thought
that came to him, that people would
gossip about her. That, he felt, rested
with her.
ut won't be lonely with-with the
work, WILL" she answered. "And I've
already made my plans. I'm having
a bungalow built there. And there will
be Molly. Don't you want me to come
Wm9'
Kitty's pleas were irresistible. Will
ton yielded, and he was glad for one
thing: her presence at the portage
would mean much to Molly. During
the next few days he was In constant
consultation with the directors as
representing Kitty, who had given him
her power Of attorney to act for her.
He went carefully over the books. He
was quite satisfied with their showing.
II Big Muskeg could be crossed. the
company could remain solvent without
increasing It's capital.
He devoted his attention to the per-
s0nnel, taking on new men and weed
ing out, thing Joe had hated doing,
until he was satisfied that Bowyer had
no representatives on the staff.
Wilton and Belts had been named
nv iv, not1 L.
already gone through Joe's papers;
but this task was much less satisfac-
tory; for Joe, who was a capital d.
rector. seemed to have no personal
system at all. Everything was In con-
fusion--papers were missing, records
mixed up together. He had left Kitty
two thousand shares in the Missatibi,
and comfortable little capital Of
about forty thousand dollars. together
with the house In Clayton and some
property in Winnipeg.
The Missatibi shares, amounting to
two million dollars at their par value,
represented the bulk Of his fortune,
and were in a safety-deposit box in
the banks vault. The receipt how
ever. could not be found.
This wasanot of much Importance
but Wilton went with Kitty to look In
Joe's box. Clark, the manager, took
them below, opened the vault, and
put In the master.key. Wilton COM
pleted the opening. To his astonish-
ment there were only fifteen hundred
shares.
"Eive hundred shares are missing"
he said to the manager.
Clark looked at him in some surprise.
'YOu are not forgetting that Mr..
Bostock hypothecated FIVE hundred
shares with us as security for the
loanf" he asked.
Wilton looked at Kitty. "Did you
know that Joe borrowed on the Sc
curity Of thoie ,shares7' he asked.
Kitty shook her head. Joe had not
told her many Of the details Of his
business. And ,he papers had shown
no record Of the transaction.
"Mr. Phayre has just come in." said
the manager.
They went up to the presidents
Office. Phayre asked them to sit down,
and listened to Wilt0n's statement.
mr.. Clark, will you get Mr..
B0stock's blank transfer of the
sharesr he asked.
The paper was brought. The sigma
ture appeared perfectly genuine. Joe
Bostock had made out transfer In
blank Of Ave hundred shares. In return
for loan Of three hundred and fifty
thousand dollars. due the 18th Of De
cember.
Unless the loan were repaid BY that
date, the control OF the Missatihi
would swing to the Bowyer interests.
Wilton was almost stunned by the
discovery. Joe had spoken as II his
control were irOn-clnd.
He went home with Kitty and tels-
phoned to Belts to come. They went
through all Joe's papers again.
Even Jim Belts was forced to admit
that the transaction appeared regular.
''Jest watch them snakes. boy: that's
hiiy bN NVuucNltu. uuh soy
forged Joe's signature and broke into
his box, because It's bigger risk
than he's got the nerve to take, but
I guess Bowyer wants the Missatibi
mighty bad"
'Once get the line across Big Mus
keg, Jim, it'll be easy to raise enough
money to pay of the loan," said VIII
ton.
He arranged with Kitty to have all
Joe's papers placed in the safe which
held the engineering records, and sent
up In II to Big Muskeg. Only Kitty
and he knew the combination.
Two days later Wilton, now COM
pleteiy recovered, started for the
bush.
The sub-contrnctor had practically
completed the camp at Big Muskeg.
and there was quite gang Of men
there. principally engaged In hauling