Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-10-13
CHAPTER XVlII-Contlnued.

she'd taken a rancy 10 Z SNaihoet"
| saw something Of that sort In the
wind, and so l hadn't started to carry
out our PLAN"
"Our plan!' gasped Kitty.
"The one that we agreed on, to keep
her awsy from VIII C~arruthers,' SAID
Bower venomously.
He expected an outburst, u KITTY
was beyond that now. "You know that
I've come about WILL" she said In a
choking voice. 81 don't know what to
do. Nobody but you a help me.
What shall l dof"
Bowyer pretended to reflect. Il don't
quite see what l can do, Mrs. bos-
took" he answered. Il don't believe
he's guilty"
"Of course, he isn't guilty"
"Tve always said he isn't. But heIl
have to take his verdict from the jury.
What is there we can dol"
Kitty looked at him in consterna-
ton. "The safe!" she gasped. That's
what"
"But that has nothing to do with
Joe's death, Mrs. Bostock.'
She sprang to her feet, confronting
him with dramatic indignation. You
know that 1t 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 to prevent
discovery? Do you suppose l don't
know that, when l gave you the com
bination. Just to help viii, that you
nut those checks there? Let me tell
the truth on the witness stand! she
pleaded, standing before him with
clasped hands, and the tears raining
down her cheeks.
"Tell the TRUTH You must be mad!'
he shouted. .
IF the jury knew that, they'd acquit
him. 1t could be arranged. ia say
gave the combination to Lee Cham
bers-"
Again Bowyer began to be afraid o.
Kitty but this time 1t was her stupid
itv he feared. And he saw that thi
was the occasion to let loose n o
his h%abituated RACES. He seized ne
hands In his, one in each, and twisted
them until she screamed with the pain
Lets understand each other, Kilt,
~ ho hiccoH In a f1rt0u
voice, "Ill take up your proposition
and show you what 1t means. Listen
First, you'll break your solemn cove
nant with me. Dishonest, you think
The sort that's made between peopl
every day. I've played fair with you
And you'll play fair with me, or you
lose your fortune-every penny OF
That's first.
"Second, 90 surely as you go Int
the witness-bOx with such q story L
saw YOU lie. I'll say he was your love
I'll say that he killed Joe at your Ii
stigation because you wanted to I
rid of him. I'll say that you went
= Big Muskeg and lived there, almo
next door to him. I'll bring forward
workman who saw you two togethe
kissing on the swamp one evening. l
swear it's a %concocted story made I
bv YOU to free your paramour. VIII
sort of figure do you think you'll C
in the witness-box then, Kitty Be
tock?"
Bower had calculated rightly. o
on a woman like Kitty, petted al
spoiled from birth, the astoundil
fact of physical violence comes as
stunning shock that breaks down t
souls resistance. 1t Is only on repe
ion that the reaction ONES
And Bower calculated rightly aga
kitty Bostock," he said gently,
promise you that he shall be FREE
have the means, the influence, I
. mower. | know he didn't murder j
Keen your head, and all shall be w
u I swear 1t. Do you believe meT
She looked at him as If he h
hypnotized her. Eyes, l believe 20
va she answered.
ks $50 surely as you speak one wo
IN. he'll hang. Keep quiet, and he 81
be saved. Promise me you'll say no
lngl"
ooh, I'll say nothing" walled XII
log wringing her hands. Il promise y
l see. Yes. / understand now"
my And she went out of the house "
her head Low, dubious, and yet "
the sure conviction that Bowyer co
save Wilton. Bowyer could a b
"I but nobody else could do SO. She VIC
trust him, because there was mob
me else to trust
Between the house and the stat
Kitty grew conscious OF an old I
ana walking beside her, trying to speal
her. Absorbed In her thoughts,
did not know how long he had
,,,s there. Suddenly she realized that
was Jim Belts.
She shrank back aghast, looking
him with eyes wide with fear.
'eu nodded and smiled.
"It's all right; don't be afeare'
me, Mrs. Bostock," he said. "Yc
Ind. mighty worried about VIII, amt
THY now. l guess we all are. Won't
Itch. 20 to Mr.. Payne and tell him what
~ known"
=. They had reached the station.
huho - a. Claytor Vas waiting.