The Adair County news., 1922-06-27


Kitty laughed outright. "Now i
know you have come to get something"
she said.
"Not exactly. We've fixed things
so that you'll be able to pull out about
Christmas with your full investment.
But suppose Carruthers makes trouble?
Remember, you've done what you did
for his sake as well as your own. You
want to help him go into a more re-
munerative investment. You know that
little affair of his is Off"
She started violently, and Bowyer
did not need to await her answer.
"That's what 1 came to tell you,"
he went on. $50 1 know we can
count on you to smooth things over if
Carruthers begins to wonder. You're
stanch, then?"
"YOu can count on me, Mr.. BOwyer,"
answered Kitty, lOathing herself and
him. "But how about yourself? un-
derstand from you that you were going
slow. 1 hope you're not going too
slow?"
I'm going to speed things up sOOn,"
he answered, frowning. whats
happened helps things along. 1 don't
know what the trouble was. Thought
at first it was one of those lovers
quarrels. But it's lasted" His face
grew red. 81 went there" he said
thickly. "She wouldn't have anything
to say to me. Ordered me off the
place"
Bowyer leaned forward confidential
ly. "See here, Mrs. Bostock," he said.
''If 1 get her out of the way-if /
guarantee that Will Carruthers and
she won't meet again, how'll that suit
you"
you've changed your mind about
marryingT"
Maybe yes. Maybe no. I'm not
marrying man. Nobody is. It's general
ly an accident-or a trap. But 1 can
promise you there'n be no trouble from
that quarter Also, that she'll be out
Of the district before winter"
THAT won't do" said Kitty with
sudden fierceness. "She may come
back"
"She won't. And If she did, and
went down on her knees to him, he
wouldn't look at her."
"What do you meanT asked Kitty
breathlessly.
Bowyer leaned forward again and
whispered in her ear. Kitty was as
pale as death. How'll that do for
your he asked triumphantly.
Kitty rose, trembling. "Pll stick to
my word" she said. But you're the
lowest cur I've ever known, Tom
Bowyer, and 1 hope-I hope some
body f1ays you-fays the skin off you
before you've run your course"
"Tll take my chance Of that"
grinned Bowyer. as he rose.
Kitty sank back in her chair, her
hands over her face. OF sudden the
abysmal depths of sin had opened be-
meath her. She was tempted to run
after him and call him back. But she
could not stir. 1t was some time be-
bore she forced herself to rise. She
went to the window. She guessed that
BOwyer was going to the bank. He
would return that way, and she could
call him in and tell him that she had
changed her mind.
Suddenly she started back behind
the curtains. Wilton was passing on
the other side of the road. He held
his head high, yet he walked like a
man who was broken.
Kitty watched him go by. Her heart
was full of pity for him, for his quix-
Otic dreams, his foolish faithfulness to
Joe. The picture that BOwyer had
limned of Molly faded from her mind
under the brighter glow that came
into it.
Like Wilton, BOwyer had business
to transact with Phayre. He went
to the bank; it was after hours, but
he knew Phayre would be there, await
ing him.
"Carruthers is in town." said the
bank president.
HE is, eh?" asked Bowyer, darting
keen glance at him. when did he
get in?'
Lay OC1OAO SColCAuoS' hC was
subpOenaed on that case"
That's so, of course" said BOwyer.
what did they get?"
"Six months apiece"
"No new light on the murder of our
friend?"
Nothing. Quain didn't go into that
phase of the affair at all. He'd ques-
toned them, and couldn't prove any
thing"
Bowyer fell into a brown study for
few moments.
"Carruthers been here yet?" he in
quired presently.
mot yet. He's trying to raise cool
half-million in town. 1 guess he's been
to the last likely place by now. So
he'll be here tomorrow to renew the
lOan."
you'll renew, of course" said
Bowyer. Excellent wheat lands
Fine investment for your bank, the
Missatibi! By the way, you hit it
strong with that cartoonp
They both laughed, first at the car
toon, then at Bowyer's raillery.
mo more trouble with Clarke" asked
Bowyer.
tsNToA o,,,oec boE