Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-11-17


And when he sent Will Carruthers
there to steal Molly from me-for ]
ken weel that was Joe's DOING
knew the time had come.
tom Bowyer there had hold on
me. Aye, Tom, your times come, now,
and I've listened to We SO long yen
listen to me- He was ever at me
threatening me with the auld threat
If dinna obey. When he came to
the store year ago l spoke of Will
Carruthers, and how feared he'd been
sent by Joe to take Molly away from
me. Your chance will come, Melon
ald,' he said Yell catch the twa o.
them in the bush togither.' I ha' one
death on my soul now / said. He
laughed that fox-laugh of his. 'Ye're
afraid he taunted me. And that taunt
and laugh put the dell into me.
Listen, now, Mcdonald, he said,
If We could kill Joe Bostock and no
suSpeecion come on ye, would We do
it?' He knew the rancor that was
like living coal in my heart, and he
me his plan. I was to pretend
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 nought to feign stroke
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 1t filled
my heart. Then one NIGHT he cam to
me-Molly didna know that-and he
told me that Joe and Will Carruthers
were coming to the portage, and
could catch them alone. The chance
came. Jules was in the bush, and
Molly'd gone to the Indian camp.
II slippit out o. bed and took the
rifle and one cartridge, put on my snow
shoes, and ran across the muskeg. It
wasna long before I 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. I drew bead on
his heart and fired. They bath fell
down. I 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 knife.
you are telling this of your own
free will, McDonald?" he asked
"As God is my witness! I'm tellin'
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 a
wry smile.
81 object to that question" he said
quietly.
"Tn put 1t in this way. then: Why
did you hate Joe Bostockr
aye, I'll tell that, too," answered
Mcdonald. "Joe was married when
he was 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 vex him. She made up a story that
showed her to be bad woman. She
went too far. Joe believed her. She
went to him and told him that she'd
lied. He wouldna believe her word.
Because the foolish girl had manufac
I'm nrnafc-folco nd 20 lp-
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 to beg him to tell
the truth. l happened to go there.
, drew revolver on him. He struck
her. He got her by the throat. He had
a paperweight on the table, sharp
edged metal thing like cleaver.
struck him once with 1t. 1t split his
skull from side to side He died. Fen
while I watched him he died.
1.-THE girl was mad wi fear. took
her AVA I 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-with Molly,
her child and-Joe'sl"
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 sprang forward,
though the judge raped his gavel
smartly, it seemed only an automatic
or perfunctory act, for he made no eff
fort to prevent his speaking.
LET me finish it!'' he yelled fiercely.
He didn't die, you fool-you old
fool; Lord, you've been laughing
| stock these twenty years He's here
in court, and he's been Matchmaking
no oc In hlo olymoilod won CIarly