Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-11-10
Continued from last week.
CHAPTER XVIII
Confession.


made frantic attempts to see him, but
without success.
Kitty knew on what the charge was
built, and the consciousness that VIII
toms freedom could only be purchased
by her confession caused her an
agony Of shame and fear. Yet she
would have purchased Wilton's free
dom even at the cost Of that humilia-
ton, had she not known that she must
inevitably lose him. Instinctively she
realized that treachery was the one
sin that he would never condone.
At last, when she could bear it no
longer, she resolved to go to see Bow
yer. She left secretly, at an early hour
one morning, and reached Cold juno
ton a little before noon.
At the same hour Bowyer was
seated in the office of his house there,
Facing him across the desk was Clark,
the manager of the Bank of New
North Manitoba at Clayton.
"Im not going to take you up on
your prepOsterOus story" Bowyer
stormed. II won't answer it. Nor will
1 deny it. You won't get yes or mo-
out of me. Let's say you've rendered
special and confidential services to the
bank this past year and you want a
bonus How'll that do?"
Call it what you like" said Clark.
"But get me straight, Mr.. Bowyer. /
didn't tackle that job to be fobbed off
with paltry two hundred dollars. |
know what it was worth to you and
I want a proper price for 1t. I'm not
bargaining. I'm going to bleed you
just what you're willing to stand. One
hundred and fifty thousand dollars in
bonds, which I'll specify, and fifty
thousand in cash."
Bowyer went white. Clark had
gagged his limit exactly. The two men
eyed each other in silence for few
seconds. Then Bowyer capitulated.
"Your talents are wasted here" he
said. "Pll take you up on that, and
I'll be able to employ you to better
advantage after the first of the year.
You're not afraid of a check?"
mot in the least" said Clark.
THANK you'll"
He took the check and sauntered
out of the house. When he was gone
Bowyer gave way to one of his mad
RACES. He called up Phayre and
damned him. He stamped up and down
the office; and in the middle of 1t his
man announced Kitty.
When she came in he was smiling
and admirably under control. well,
Mrs. Bostock, guess this isn't social"
he said. Last time we parted you
were quite vexed with me-"
= Kitty put her hands to her eyes and
broke down. II can't bear it," she
sobbed. Its too awful I've been ill
for days, and--I had to come to you.
It's Wilton and Molly. If you had any
hand in that poor chttd's death may
God forgive you, Tom Bowyerw
Make yourself easy" he said sui
lenly. II hadn't any hand in it. l don't
know what happened, but / guess she
didn't go to the camp against her VIII,
Mrs Bostock,'' he leered- Maybe
she'd taken a fancy to Lee Chambers.
/ saw something of that sort In the
wind, and so l hadn't started to carry
out our PLAN"
"Our plan!'' gasped Kitty,
1.-THE one that we agreed on, to keep
her away from VIII Carruthers," said
Bowyer venOmously.
He expected an outburst, but Kitty
was beyond that now. You know that
I've come about WILL" she said In
choking voice II don't know what to
do Nobody but you can help me.
What shall l do?"
Bowyer pretended to reflect. II don't
quite see what l can do, Mrs. Bos-
tOck," he answered II don't believe
he's guilty"
"Of course, he isn't guilty!"
ave always said he isn't. But he'll
have to take his verdict from the jury.
What is there we can dor
Kitty looked at him in consterna-
ton. "The safer she gasped. That's
what"
"But that has nothing to do with
Joes death, Mrs. Bostock."
She sprang to her feet, confronting
him with dramatic indignation. you
know that it has everything she
cried. you're playing with me and
torturing me- Do you suppose | don't
know what they're saying about him
that he forged Joe's name to those
checks and murdered him to prevent
discovery? Do you suppose | don't
know that, when / gave you the COM
bination, just to help Will, that you
mt those checks there? Let me tell
the truth on the witness stand" she
pleaded. standing before him with
clasped hands, and the tears raining
down her cheeks.
aTell the truth? You must be mad !"
he shouted.