Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-11-11

crept up behind the rocks till was
hundred PAGES ava. Joe Bostocks
back was turned. l drew a bead on
MS 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 a knife.
You are telling this of your own
free will, McDonald?" he asked.
As Coo is my witness! I'm teiin
this because my times come now. and
wouldna have VIII 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 a
wry smile.
Il object to that question" he said
quietly.
IN put it in this way. then: Why
did you hate Joe Bostock z"
AYE, I'll tell that, too" nswered
Mcdonald. "Joe was married when
he was 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 story that
showed her to be a 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. l happened to go there
| overheard. She became frenzied and
drew d revolver on him. He struck
her. He got her by the throat. He had
paper-weight on the table, a sharp
edged metal thing like a cleaver.
struck him once with it. It-split his
skull from side to side He died. Fen
while | watched him he died.
1.-The girl was mad wi fear. ! took
her ava. l married her, for Joe had
I 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
4 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 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, .'ou've been a laughing
stock these twenty years He's here
in court, and ne's been blackmaillng
me as he blackmailed you. Clark,
the masterforger and safe breaker
though we didn't need you for that
step forward Look at his head. Nc
Donald, and then see II you remember
| him!
He's spoken true! The old fools
spoken true! I've handled many man
and woman in my time, but God Him
self, they say, can't handle fool"
/ He swung around on his accompIices.
Keep your wits, Phayrei' he howled
in wild derlsion. you didn't know how
Joe died. You're only the thief--the
common thief | hir.d to work for me.
You wont swing for this. Neither win
l. I took my chances-but, by God,
| couldn't handle a fool !"
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)