The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-06-19

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; 1t was after hours, but
he knew PhayreN would be there, await
ing him.
"Carruthers is in town." said the
bank president.
HE is, eh?' asked Bowyer, darling
a keen glance at him. when did he
| get in?'
DAY before yesterday. He was
subpoenaed ON that case"
'sThat's so, of course" said Bowyer.
tWhat did they getT
'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 brown study for
a few moments.
"Carruthers been here YETI" he In
quired presently.
"Not yet. He's trying to raise a cool
half-million in town. guess he's been
to the last likely place by now. So
| he'll be here tomorrow 10 renew the
loan"
you'll renew, Of course" said
Bowyer. Excellent wheat lands
Fine investment for your bank, the
Missatibil By the way, you hit it
strong with that cartoonI"
They both laughed, first at the car
toon, then at Bowyer's raillery.
mo more trouble with Clark?'' asked
Bowyer.
"Not at present. / guess that extra
two hundred squared him. He's
dangerous customer to handle, though.
And absolutely indispensable for a job
| like we had to handle. A frst-class
man at his trade, cool as cucumber.
and looking like gentleman. You'n
find 1t hard to beat that combination.
He could have had more than the two
hundred he held me up for"
Hes certainly worth it." admitted
Bowyer. "What'l you do with him
next yearw
"Why. he seems to like the work
here" answered Phayre, laughing. "Pll
keep him on, under my eye-at re-
duced salary"
They both chuckled over that, but
Bowyer grew serious quickly. swell,
| I've fixed Kitty Bostock," he said.
lord, it's a cinch handling that type
| of woman. Once they fancy some
particular man, they'll go through hill
| to get him."
you've told her you'll buy her shares
| at par" he said. "You haven't COM
mitted yourself irrevocably to thatT'
| Bowyer threw his head back and
emitted one of his short laughs. swell,
1 may change my mind" he said. sit
isn't in writing"
Suppose she raises CainT
"She can't She's In too deep. She
doesn't know how Deep"
Phayre laughed again, but nervously.
81 never cared much for this business,
| Bowyer," he said. "Tf Joe Bostock
hadn't died as he did I'd never have
| got mixed up with 1t. But that gave
| us our chance. 1t was a very lucky
| accident. If we weren't committed be-
yond recovery, I'd pull out even now
"PuIl outr' echoed the other. "How
| the devil can we pull outf The tricks
i done"
| you've"
| 1--WE fixed 1t about that safe. We
had devil of job the first time we
| tried. He's got deafmute there who
seems to have eyes like a cat, and
sleeps with them open. Carruthers
caught Lee Chambers at the window
and smashed his nose. And, of course,
| Chambers usefulness at the camp Is
| ended. However, I've fixed it now,
and a day or two will see us with what
we want, and Carruthers with what he
doesn't want"
81 suppose there's no doubt those
half-breeds did kill Joe Bostock," sug-
gested Phayre, darling a keen look at
the other.
'T guess not" answered Bowyer.
Anyway, it's no business Of ours how
it happened. Quain put everybody
through the mill, including me. That
shows he's at his wits end. If new
clue comes to hand he'll jump at 1t,
for the sake of his reputation. BY the
way, Quain's the man came in to see
you about You've had a talk with
himf'
81 saw him yesterday"
'sHow did he take it?'
'Fine!" said Phayre. rubbing his
hands. "Hook, bait, and sinker.
could see the fash Of illumination
come into his eye as the seed began
] to sprout."
you didn't suggest-r
L IT,, not o1rffo STrah fool as