Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-11-22
The Big Muskeg
By
VICTOR ROUSSEAU
sa--sgnvr

erept up behind the rocks till / was
hundred PAGES ava. Joe Bostocks
back was turned. l drew a bead on
his heart and fred. They bath fell
down. / ran back TO the store and
went TO bed. Jules dldna see me, and
Molly hadn't come hame."
lie 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 viii, McDonaldf" he asked.
AS God is my witnessl I'm tellln'
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. McDonaldY"
The crown attorney stood up with a
wry smile
Il object to that question" he said
quietly.
I'll put IL In this way. then: Why
did you hate Joe BOstockT
AYE, III 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 yex him. She made up a story that
showed her 10 be a bad woman. She
went too far. Joe believed her. She
went 20 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 10 beg him TO tell
the truth. happened TO go there
/ overheard. She became frenzied and
drew a revolver on him. lie struck
her. He got her by the throat. lie had
a paper-weIght on the table, a sharp
edged metal thing like a cleaver. ]
struck him once with IL. II split his
skull from side 10 side He died. Zen
while / watched him he died.
"The girl was mad WI fear. / took
her ava. / married her, for Joe had
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
first with my wife. then with my fears,
and always with Molly-wlth Molly,
her child and-JOe'si"
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 sprGng forward
though the judge raped his gavel
smartly. IL seemed only an automatic
or perfunctory act, for he made no ef
fort to prevent his speaking.
LET me finish fl" he yelled fiercely.
"He didn't die, you foOl-yOu old
fool; Lord, you've been a laughinE
stock these twenty years He's here
in court, and he's been Matchmaking
ME as he blackmailed you. CLARK
the master-forger 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
hint
sHe's spoken truel The old foolt
Epoken true! I've handled many a mar
and woman In my time. but God Him
self. they say. can't handle a fool
lie swung around on his acc0mplices
keep your wits, Phayre!" he hOwle'
In wild derision. "You didn't know how
Joe died. You're only the thief-th'
common thief I hired TO work for me-
You won't swing for this Neither vii
IL I took my chances-but, by God
I couldn't handle fooll"
They rushed toward him, but Bow
yer was quicker than they. And, a.
the single shot echoed through thu
courtroom Wilton saw that Molly wa
already mercifully unconscious.
But he knew that all the past wOulc
become dlmmed with her awakening.
(THE END)