The Ocala evening star., 1922-06-24

=
were all her answer. They ceased. |
and for a fun minute there was not
the least sound in the room. Slowly
Molly raised her head. and the look
that had come into her eyes at last
was one that Bovyer had seen in
the eyes Of many men and women be-
fore. He knew that the time Of his
triumph had come.
Unless marry you, Tom Bowyer,"
said Molly, "you viii betray my father,
who trusted your
"Fl give him up to justice" Bow
yer shouted. "Tn fight with what
weapons I've got. Wouldn't any man
who was a man fight for what he
wanted most of all in the world? If
you don't give up, I swear he'll hang.
You know what Canadian law is.
swear to you I'll have him hanged in
Yorkton inside of six months if you
don't agree to what I'm asking of
you"
"And If I do agreeT' asked Molly,
shuddering.
The sudden glance of hope IN the
factors eyes went to her heart. But
Mcdonald, crushed under his servi-
tude, had a flicker Of manhood after
all.
Don't do it, Molly, lassl" he shout
ed. "IIl hang!" He turned to Bow
yer. 'Tn hang" he shouted, and then
his voice broke into a whimper.
"Shut up, you old fool :" said Bow
yer, contemptuously. IF you agree,
Molly he said. "the past will all be
forgotten. | swear it will. l love you,
and I'll be true to you. I'll give you
everything you want, and I'll make
Mcdonald home as long as he lives.
D-n it! You look as if l was asking
something awful of you! What's the
matter with me? Amt l good enough
for your
She looked up, to see Bowyer's red
face peering into her own. She shiv-
cred, as If with mortal cold.
"I'll marry you" she said.
The slow smile that spread over
Bowyer's face was indescribable. He
turned to Mcdonald "Well, that's set
tied at last" he said, rubbing his
hands together in gloating self-satis-
faction. "Get to bed, Mcdonald Molly
and will sit up a while and talk over
the details of our honeymoon trip.
That amt your business. Maybe We'll
do a little l0ye-making on the side,
too, but not toe rough. l guess know
how to handle a grill"
He strode toward the door and
opened it. The factor stood stOck-still
for moment. Then, at Bowyer's call,
he stumbled toward it, and Bowyer
led him across the passage into an
other room.
you'll be comfortable in here, Nc
Donald" Bowyer shouted, slapping
the old man on the back. And don't
you fear for Molly. I'll take mighty
good care Of her"
There followed his returning foot
steps, and the sharp, sudden click OF
| a key. Then came a furious rattling
| from within. BOwyer turned angrily.
"Go to bed, you old foolr he
shouted. Didn't 1 tell you I'd take
care of herr
The rafting ceased but Molly heard
the factors feet shuffling as he stood
irresolutely behind his door, listening
Bowyer came back and slammed the
door behind him. He put his hand or
Molly's shoulder
i I'm glad that's all settled at last,
he said. Cd, you've led me a chase
Molly Hardest I've ever had; but
knew I'd get you In the end"
"When do you wish me to marry
you?" asked Molly in b whisper.
Bowyer threw back his head anC
laughed. Nov you're talking" he an
swered. "That's the point 1 was com
ing to. Pm a business man, and Tn
used to paying what l have to fO
what I want But I've been thinking
that when two people are agreed ol
the same thing, and there's no wa!
out of it, unless you want the old mai
to swing-why, it mightn't be neces
sary for you and me to get marrie'
1T ALL"
He slid his arm about her waist and
bent his red face toward hers. For al
instant the girl misunderstood. TheI
she leaped to her feet, her eyes blaz
ing.
''Get out of my way, Tom Bowyer
II you try to stop me Pll murder you I
she screamed.
She ran round behind the divan
snatched up the empty rife, and, Al
Bowyer followed her, brought dow
I. the stock with all her strength.
Had it struck his skull 1t would hav'
knocked him unconscious. But In tn
nick of time he leaped aside, and
fell across the muscles of his necl
1 and shoulders. With a howl of pail
. he wrenched the weapon from he
. hands. He beat her across the fac
again and again with his fists. H
2 seized her by the hair, twining 1t il
e his hand, and, forcing her head back
: put his hands over her mouth.
She tried with all the strength sh
q possessed to pry his hands away; tn
red and swollen face that leered int
her own seemed to fill all space, Hk
huge, evil sun. With all the strengt
/, that remained In her she tore at tn
4 red hand over her mouth, and bit int
e It until her assailant yelled with pair
His grasp on her throat loosened 70
I an instant She drew in a deep gas
o. nf air Then she saw that the doc