Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-08-24


in command of the detachment at Clay
ton.
The three trOtted their horses up to
them, and, catching sight of the coffin
upon the sleigh, the inspector dis.
mounted. He looked hard at Wilton,
and suddenly he recognized him.
ITS Will Carruthers! !" he eX-
claimed, staring into his face in Devil
derment.
Wilton got up with an effort. Morn
ing, Jack" he said YEARLY. Eyes, it's
l. And here's Miss Mcdonald. You
know her, I think?"
The inspector turned his puzzled
glance on the girl Mechanically his
hand went up to his cap in salute.
Then he looked at the sleigh again.
"And this is-was Joe BOstock," said
wilton; and all at once, in the reac-
ton from the nervous tension, he felt
the tears streaming down his face, and
could hardly keep his lips steady
"My God " muttered Quain. IAN ac-
cident, WHIP"
"Shotw shouted Wilton. "SOme
sneaking daStard's bullet in the bush.
Shot at my side. The bullet broke my
arm after it had passed through Joe's
heart, and his blood and mine were
mixed together. 1t didn't need that
for me to know that I'll hound the
murderer if it takes me to my dying
day"
"Joe-Joe dead" whispered Inspec-
tor Quain, half unable to realize it.
Joe had been very living personality
in Clayton. "And murdered" he
added. Then:
"Where are your breeds?"
Gone But they didn't shoot Joe,
either by design or accident. That's
story you can learn from Andersen,
at the halfway cache"
THAT'S where we're bound for"
said Quain. Were looking for"
"And by the way" said Wilton with
a mirthless laugh. as the relative I'M
| Importance of the fact struck him, I'm
under arrest for having murdered
Joe"
Quain looked at him keenly, and
then turned his glance upon Molly in
inquiry 1t was plain that he thought
| Wilton was raving.
That's true" said Molly. "A ser
! geant and a constable from the Pas
| followed us up to Andersens and
| placed Wilton under arrest yesterday
morning"
The inspector rubbed his nose in
| perpleXity. IF Win had told me that
I wouldn't have believed him, Miss
Mcdonald" he said "Describe those
policemen to me, please"
"The constable was short and dark,
stocky in build. The sergeant was fair
with a long mustache-"
"Bit of squint?'
"A cast in his left eye. His name
is Peters. The other one is named
Myers. You know them, then?"
II do" said Quain softly. Peters
is Jim Hackett, and Myers is Tonquay,
half-Frenchman, from the eastern
townships. They were discharged
last year after a short time of service,
as soon as their records became known,
and they got away, taking their uni
forms and equipment with them
They're wanted for cattle-stealing
job and impersOnating members of the
force So that ends that trouble
Will"
Quain nodded to his men to dis
mount. Get the sleigh in to barracks
as quickly as you can" he said, land
notify the coroner. | guess a half
days extra leeway won't do that pre-
cious pair much good. Miss Melon
ald-Will, old man, you can manage
to ride in, can't you?"
Wilton, staggering to his feet, set
his face in CHASTITY grin. 1--WE held
on" he muttered. II guess I can hold
on for two hours more. There's big
ger thing behind this than you-or /
know just now. I'm going on ahead
I'm all right, and you won't stop me,
JackW
Austin Phayre, the president Of the
Bank of New North Manitoba, stood
at the table. He was a man of about
fifty, with a gray, waxed mustache, and
gold-rimmed glasses. His manner was
pOmpous, and he was immaculate in
his black cutaway, with the eXpanse of
white cuff and tall collar.
"Mr. Chairman" he said, Some of
us shareholders have requested that
the meeting be called in order that
we may obtain certain informa-
ton from those best qualified to I'm
part it, as to the prospects of the Mis-
satibi line, concerning which dlsquiet-
ing rumOrs are afloat.
You have before you a statement of
our financial position 1t Is not the
most satisfactory one that could be
imagined. OF a total capital of five
million dollars, nearly one-half has al
ready been disbursed The estimate
before you provides for nearly two mil
lions more to be distributed over grad
ing, track-laying, water-tanks, tele-
graph line, bridging and ballasting.
Meanwhile, unexpected difficulties have