Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-10-20

81 Killed Him." Said Mcdonald
Simply.
death on my soul now said. He
laughed that fox-laugh of his. Ye're
afraid he tainted me. And that taunt
and laugh put the den into me.
Listen, now, Mcdonald he said
If We could kill Joe Bostock and nc
suspeecion come on We, would We do
itY He knew the rancor that was
like living coal in my heart, and he
saw that he'd won Then he told
me his plan. 1 was to pretend a
stroke, so that my foot would be use
less and my arm would hang useless
at my side. Then, he said, there'd
be no possible suspeecion on me. AS he
said, twas neught to feign a stroke
nought at all. Just to lie down and
breathe heavy, and never forget
couldna use my arm or leg.
He went ava and left me wi the
thocht. 1t grew in me until it filled
my heart. Then one NIGHT he cam to
me-Molly dldna know that-and he
told me that Joe and VIII Carruthers
were coming to the portage and 1
could catch them alone. The chance
came. Jules was in the bush, and
Molly'd gone to the Indian camp.
Il slipplt out o. bed and took the
rifle and one cartridge, put on my snow
shoes and ran across the muskeg. It
wasna long before 1 saw them on the
ridge, black against the gray sky.
crept up behind the rocks till was a
hundred PAGES AVA Joe Bostock's
back was turned. l drew a bead on
his heart and fired. They bath fell
down. 1 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 God is my witness 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, McDonald?"
The crown attorney stood up with
wry smile.
Il object to that question:" he said
quietly.
IN put it in this way, then: Why
lid you hate Joe Bostock?''
AYE, I'll tell that. too" answered
Mcdonald. "Joe was married when
he was young man, long ago. A
rood girl. A sweet lass from my ane
own in Scotland. They were both
'oung. They quarreled. She wanted
o vex him. She made up story that
howed her to be bad woman. She
vent too far. Joe believed her. She
vent to him and told him that she'd
led. He wouldna believe her word. .
because the foolish girl had manufac- :
lred proofs-false proofs; and the ly- .
lg scoundrel whom she trusted
Iaimed they were true. .
"He blackmailed her after Joe had
1T her. She was at her wits end. She .
ent to his Office to beg him to tell I:
re truth. l happened to go there. :
overheard. She became frenzied and
rev revolver on him. He struck +:
er. He got her by the throat. He had
paper-weight on the table, sharp !
dyed metal thing like a cleaver. l
truck him once with it. 1t split his ::
xull from side to side He died. Fen
lille watched him he died. /;
''The girl was mad wi fear. | took I
err ava. l married her, for Joe had I:
vorced her In the States. But that J:
X, Bowyer knew. In my folly I'd
Id him all. He said he'd be my
lend. He got me my position at the
,rtage. I've lived there ever since
st with my wife, then with my fears,
Id always with Molly-with Molly, !
n child and-Ioesi" :
The girls cry rang wildly through
e courtroom. She reeled and ran .
ward him. Wilton, unhindered, c
popped down from the dock and sup !
rted her. She chung to him, wild
ed and helpless. Nobody interviewed.
Even when Bowyer sprang forward. =
ough the judge raped his gavel {
lartly, it seemed only an automatic X
perfunctory act, for he made no eff
TT to prevent his speaking. X
Let me finish it'll" he yelled fiercely. Z
lie didn't die, you fool-you old i
81; Lord, you've been laughing .
eek these twenty years He's here X
court, and he's been Matchmaking (
, as he blackmailed you. Clark, \
= master-forger and safe-breaker- (
,ugh we didn't need you for that X
p forward Look at his head, Nc (
maid, and then see If you remember X
al Z
He's spoken true The old fools +