The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-06-27
CHAPTER XVII
The Trap.

Bob Payne, the lawyer, could not
make up his mind whether his client,
Will Carruthers, was innocent or
guilty and that was q position In
which he did not often find himself.
Either Carruthers was one of the
coolest and most deliberate murderers
that had ever lived, or he was the
victim of an extraordinary well-woven
conspiracy.
Whether Wilton was innocent or
guilty, Bob Payne meant to fight to
the last He had taken a liking to
Carruthers, and he was resolved to
free him. That, Of course, presumed
his own belief in his clients inno-
cence.
He found his client seated in his
cell, scribbling upon pieces of paper
covered with diagrams, just as he had
found him ON the occasion Of his pre-
vious visit VISIT; wilt0p9 rose and they
The lawyer sat down. Lets 60 over
the facts together" he said There's
going to be fight. You realize that?
Not that you won't win out. Of course
you Will But when popular passions
are stirred when q newspaper cam
paign has practically prejudged the
case, it's apt to be reflected In the
minds Of the jury. I've thought of
asking for change Of venue. But
I'm frank. Carruthers-the feeling is
widespread, and Clayton Is the town
where your enemies have the least
influence. I think we'll fight them
here"
"rn fight it out here" answered
Wilton.
your luck has been Internal. If 1t
could be proved that Bowyer hired
those men to kidnap Miss Mcdonald
and her father-though it wouldn't
help directly-ft would create a
prejudice in the minds Of the jury.
We could bring that In as evidence
1t would discredit Bowyer. 1t would
force him into the witness-box and
give us an opportunity. IL those men
II Miss Mcdonald could go into the
witness-box-we could present some
thing Of case. But they're dead-at
least those outlaws are dead-and
their secret died with them"
ave can get Tonguay there"
"You don't consider that he may be
star witness for the prosecution,
Carruthers? He's got his neck to save.
And, If your implication of Phayre is
the correct one, you remember that
Phayre is a director OF the Clayton
hospital, and donated large sum of
money to 1t. Three weeks In a private
room there offer opportunities"
"You do believe that Phayre Is i'm
plicatedT cried Wilton.
81 do, Carruthers. I'll be frank with
you. I didn't at first But I'm con-
WINGED that either Phayre or Bowyer
was privy to Joe Bostock's murder !
believe 1t was an accident, and that
they're playing on IL to get you con-
victed.
That's what we can prove against
them, and 1t amounts to nothing. Now
what can they prove against US? You
were Joe Bostock's friend. You knew
all his affairs. You were his executor
For some reason or other Joe Bostock
raised loan of a large sum on five
hundred Missatibi shares-probably
to cover some other investment, and
knowing that he could meet it wher
the time came There's nothing alb
normal or unusual about that.
1.-THE money disappeared. Checks ag
gregating four hundred thousand dol
lars signed by Joe BOstOck anG
made out in your favor are found il
your safe. 1t is claimed that you pre-
scented them that they passed through
the bank in the normal way. and tina
they went back to you at the time yoI
signed the monthly statement as hi
executor.
"You are presumed to have cashet
those checks. Two days later yOl
went into the bush with Mr.. Bostock
He died at your side. Do you see tn,
implication, as a juryman would SCI
itr'