He may work in his arenas’ business but his laziness burned it to the ground. In order to salvage what he lost, he scammed various people for their money, including his own family. John took money out of his own business to help but things continued to get worse. He started stealing money from his brother-in-law, Jim Hutchison to pay back the creditors but his attempts were futile and rendered useless. The Willow’s good reputation was ruined and John was humiliated. He wanted to let things die down for a while so he decided to go to Canada for a year.
He told Poly it would be just enough time to let the townspeople roger about the scandal. John promised to write lots of letters and then he was off, leaving behind his 6-month pregnant wife. Saskatoon was where John chose to go. He was intrigued by this prairie city because it was “The Fastest Growing City in the World”. All it needed were more people. In Saskatoon, the trains never arrived on time but imagine the surprise on the citizens of Saskatoon faces when John’s train arrived on schedule. It was so surprising that it even made the news.
John immediately got a job and found a place to stay in a rooming house. On every Sunday, he would write long letters to Poly ND also send home quite a bit of money. PERSONAL RESPONSE didn’t enjoy these chapters at first because nothing about the content appealed to me. 1 . How does Poly feel? 2. Will John go back to Scotland? 3. Who was the woman murdered? Is she related to John or Poly? 4. Will John continue to write to Poly? Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 While John was in Canada, Poly was busy running around doing errands that would help keep her mind off of John.
She had bought some silk thread for Elizabethan wedding dress which was almost finished. John wouldn’t be there for the wedding but all their family and friends were coming. Many people were quite outspoken about the fact that John left Poly and they didn’t think it was right. However, Poly kept a brave face and didn’t let it bother her too much. When Poly went home, and read the letter she had gotten from John. There had apparently been a cyclone in Regina and around 65 people had been killed. In October, John and Polyps second child, Ella, had been born.
She hoped this would bring John back home but she knew in her heart that it would take a year for things to settle down and that nothing would make him come back sooner. Since winter was coming, John was laid off his bridge alluding job that he had gotten when he first arrived. In the fall he moved to Prince Albert where he planned on starting a tomato growing business. In July, however, his plants were ruined by a hailstorm. He hadn’t written to Poly since he left Saskatoon and hadn’t written to his family for more than a year. He needed to find a job and there was only one-way in this country; enlisting in the war.
He thought that if he joined the war, that his reputation would be saved. One could only hope. As soon as war had been declared, he headed to Prince Albert to enlist but was rejected due to his weak lungs. Two weeks later, he found out that the Royal North West Mounted Police was looking for recruits and he jumped at the chance to join. At the age of thirty, John had a chance at a new life. Poly continued getting letters weekly from John and was saddened with the thought that he might never get to see Ella grow up. George barely asks about him anymore.
She got a letter that from him told her about how he tried enlisting in the war but got rejected. The letter also told of how he got the chance to join the Mounties and she was overjoyed with the thought of seeing him in a Mounties uniform. There was also a slim chance that he might be able to come home early. Everyone in Blaine Lake noticed the new policeman. John training had been intensive but then he finally graduated. In the summer of 1 916, John was invited for supper at the Patterson. There, he met Jessie Patterson whom he felt an instant connection.
He had been away from Scotland for more than four years now and hadn’t written home lately. After fulfilling his duties as a Mounties, he found himself gravitating towards the Patterson and Jessie. He tried once again to enlist but was rejected. He tried leaving for Jessie sake but the denied reason was that people in Blaine Lake had found out that John was a married man. Back in Scotland, Poly was worrying greatly for John’s health. She hadn’t received a letter from him and his family hadn’t heard from him since the starting Of the war. She buried herself in her work and tried not to think about it any longer. Enjoyed these chapters more than the first few because they had more things happening. John met a woman named Jessie Patterson and he has started developing feelings for her. I think he should have a little more self- control because he does have a wife back in Scotland with a child and another n the way. 1 . How was Poly able to go four years without John to help her with the kids? 2. What kind of relationship do John and Jessie have? 3. Will John ever mention Jessie to Poly? Chapters 9 & 10 John had felt unwell for months and he was starting to worry. He went to a doctor and he told John that he had tuberculosis.
He was discharged from the RENEW and Was asked to turn in his uniform. Since he had nowhere to stay, he was supplied with a tent. It eventually got too cold for a sick man to live in a tent so the Patterson, out of the goodness of their hearts, took care of him as much as they possibly could. He was mostly looked after by Jessie and at one point that winter, he asked her to marry him. Of course, she didn’t know he was married at the time because John had told her father that his first wife died after he left the old country. He told Jessie a completely different story.
He told her that he was divorcing Poly because she had tricked’ him into marrying her and that Poly had no morals. He said the divorce would soon be final and so she said yes. As winter slowly receded, John started recovering and spring had arrived. It was the sixth spring John had missed but he was not homesick. TO him, home was wherever Jessie was. John had missed five Of his and Polyps anniversaries. The house was spotless for Hegemony and everyone was rushing around getting ready to light the fire. Poly had made a decision and she wanted to share her thoughts with everyone.
Once everyone had settled down and were paying attention to her, she told them that she wanted to go to Canada to look for John. She said that she hadn’t talked to him since last June and it was already the end of December. Her family thought it was a good idea so she could find out for the children’s sake. She decided to head off in April when it would be spring in Canada and she would eave raised enough for the fare. Liked these chapters because Poly is going to Canada to look for John and he asked for Jessie hand in marriage, while still married to Poly.
I feel as if something is going to happen that will tear John and Poly apart completely. 1. Why does John lie so much? 2. Why can’t Poly see taxation isn’t who she thinks he is? Chapters 11, 12 & 13 Since John lied to Jessie about his first wife, he encouraged her to write a letter and so she did. He brought back a reply, which he had written himself as well as another letter also from Poly’s ‘sister’. Jessie didn’t find anything unusual about these letters. Meanwhile, in Scotland, Poly was packing her things and making sure she had everything she needed.
Poly sets out on her journey to Saskatoon. Once she arrives she attempts to call John so she can tell him that she’s in Canada. Poly finally gets the chance to talk to John. He doesn’t sound as happy as he should, but Poly doesn’t notice. The only thing that matters is her finally being reunited with her husband. He tells her to meet him at the train station where they would meet and they ended the call at that. These chapters were very interesting and it makes me want to keep reading. Something interesting is finally happening and I can’t wait to read the next few chapters. . What will John’s reaction be when he sees Poly after six years? 2. Will Poly catch John and Jessie together? 3. How will John keep his double life a secret? Chapters 14, 15 & 16 Poly waits patiently at the train station and is overjoyed when she sees John. He tells her that they need to leave for Regina to find work and so they left. On the nine hour drive, Poly does most of the talking and tells him all about George and Ella. When they arrived in Regina, they rented rooms at a boarding house run By Eileen Wisher. Within days of her arrival, Poly was pregnant.
John wrote letters to Jessie and told her how much he missed her. Poly soon noticed that John’s actions were those of someone completely in love with another woman. She eventually found a letter from Jessie to John and read it. She was very unsettled because Jessie thought that she was marrying John. She confronted John about the letter and he said he would break things Off with her. Poly waited and endured. Jessie found the idea Of being married at age nineteen a bit exciting. She was told she could buy whatever she liked and she had her own car to drive.
It took courage to be engaged to a divorced man. Mrs.. Patterson, on the other hand, wasn’t too pleased because she hadn’t seen the divorce papers. Poly starts noticing that John has a drinking problem but thinks of it as stress from his job. She tries distracting herself but unlike back home in Scotland, she doesn’t have a lot to do. John continues writing letters back and forth to Poly and Jessie. He then buys a shovel. Liked and hated these chapters at the same time. Liked how Poly found the letter. I also hated how John treated Poly while she was pregnant, neglecting her and the baby. Also hated how oblivious Jessie is to the fact that John is aiding something from her yet she chooses to ignore it. 1 . Why doesn’t Poly just divorce John? 2. Why did John buy a shovel? 3. Will Poly ever figure out the truth? 4. Will John and Jessie end up getting together? 5. Who is the lady that was murdered in the beginning of the novel? Jessie or POPPY? Chapters 17, 18, 19, 20 Poly packs her bags and rides the train to Saskatoon to meet John. Meanwhile, John was buying a marriage license for him and Jessie but he didn’t seem very happy.
Poly arrives in Saskatoon and from there, John decides to take her to Blaine Lake instead, telling her that it would be easier o show Jessie that he had a wife. On the drive there, John saw some geese pulled out a rifle from the backseat and shot one. Poly seemed surprised that he had a gun at all. When John stopped again to shoot a rabbit, Poly asked if they could hurry because it was getting dark. He agreed and said that they should probably get it over with and raised the head of the gun to Polyps forehead and pulled the trigger. John watches as blood pours out of Poly’s head.
He stared at her in horror and said it shouldn’t have happened this way. He takes her body and sits it up in the passenger seat. He drives the car onto a weedy trail where he stops the car, gets out and goes over to polyps side, opening the door and throwing her body on the grass. He took the shovel and started digging a hole under the culvert where he put Polyps lifeless body. He covered her body under the dirt and set the front seat of the car on fire. John finds his way to a house and asks for water. The man who owns the house asked him what happened and John told him that his car burned on him.
John Unfelt then offered John ride to Blaine Lake and he agreed. John and Jessie finally get married but John doesn’t look like the happy groom that he’s supposed to be. Dated chapter 18 the most. I hated how John showed no mercy for Poly even though she was pregnant with their third child. He just shot her and that was that 1. If John isn’t happy, then why did he shoot Poly? 2. Why did John remarry right after he just shot his first wife? 3. What will the people back in Scotland say about Poly’s death? 4. How will John cover up Poly s death? 5. What lies will John tell next?
Chapters 22, 23, 24, 25 & 26 Jack visits Mrs.. Eileen Wisher and informs her Of what happened to Poly and him. How they had to walk miles and that they got into a bad accident. Jack also asked her if Poly had forgotten her black purse and a golden brooch. Eileen though Johns visits were very odd. And she thought of it over night. Jack had been very exhausted over the past week. He looked like a wreck. Jessie was not pleased with him. Jack and Jessie got married on the Sunday and checked into the Windsor Hotel. Lack and Jessie moved out of the Windsor Hotel and rent on the 9th street.
Jack made two to trips to the burnt car. Jack sent a telegram to William Hutchison asking for 100 pounds. Jack also wrote to Eileen Wisher pretending to be Poly. The Spanish Influenza broke out, and Jack was worried about his health. It attacked Jack first and then Jessie, they then move back to Blain Lake were they were taken care of by the Patterson. They all survived it. Jack gets a letter from a friend in Saskatoon informing him about fines and costs, and he also told him that he has his riffle. Jack writes to Archie asking for more money and lying about Poly.
Later that same day Jack writes to Mrs.. Wisdoms telling her about what happened to him and during the break of the Spanish Influenza, he is also asking Mrs.. Wisdoms if she could let Poly stay with her as soon as she gets teeter. Iredell( car deal) was excepting to get paid by Jack, but kept lying to him. Wilson started drinking heavily now. polyps family is very in Scotland are very worried about Poly, why hasn’t she written back to them yet, how could she forget to write to them. However, Poly cabled them a telegram say Jack and her were coming soon.
Jack wrote this. The family in Scotland waited for their return. Poly’s family discover that Poly is recovering from a car accident. Jack and Jessie move to Vancouver and have a lovely time there. Jack is happy because he is going to do a good job. Life was good again and this as a new start. Jack did everything he could to make Jessie happy. He still hasn’t produced the divorce papers yet. Elizabeth writes a letter to the RENEW asking about Poly and Jacks whereabouts. She wrote in her letter all the events that occurred. Including the money they sent.
She just wants to know what happened to her sister. Don’t understand what John is up to by telling so many lies. It seems as if he wants to get caught and that lying has become second nature to him. Am happy about the fact that a search for Poly has been opened up and that the police are finally getting involved in the disappearance of Poly. . Will the police find Polyps body? 2. Will Elizabethan letter be taken into consideration? 3. Is John going to get arrested? Chapters 27, 28 & 29 The season has now changed to spring and the investigation about Poly s whereabouts had started.
Superintendent Harridan receives a picture of Poly as well as John’s children. Assistant Commissioner Rutledge wrote back to Elizabeth and investigated the disappearance of Poly. He informed Elizabeth that Poly and Jack were in Vancouver. However after meeting Jessie, the commissioner Perry realizes or was suspicious that this lady wasn’t Poly, but ether another woman. He doesn’t want to ask Jack about this matter either. Like where this is going since the investigation for Poly’s disappearance has begun and police officers will be retracing all of John’s steps since Poly arrived in Canada. . How will the police find Polyps body? 2. Will John turn himself in? 3. Does John find out about the investigation for Poly? Chapters 30, 31 & 32 In Vancouver, John sets out to sell the gun that he shot Poly with to the local pawnshop. The owner of the shop bought the gun for $23 and then sold it to Mr.. Match for $35. Superintendent Harridan takes a six month leave. Elizabeth wrote to the RENEW to ask them what happened so far. Commissioner Perry and Inspector Henry’ order John to come to Regina immediately. After John had arrived, he was directed to headquarters and went back to Vancouver.
They then called the hospital and the funeral home and were taken to Eileen Wisher’s boarding house by Thelma Wilson. When they talked, Eileen told them everything that had happened while Poly stayed there. After the climax had occurred (Poly s death) the novel seemed to drag on a bit and had lost interest. The investigation sparked my interest once more and now I’m curious to see what happens. 1. What lies will John tell to cover up Polyps death? 2. Where does Jessie fit into all of this? 3. Why haven’t the officers confronted John yet? 4. Will Polyps family ever know the truth?
Chapters 33, 34 & 35 Policemen have started to look around all of Saskatchewan. Constable Chalk questioned Mrs.. Hansen who told him about the corsage and the other woman “Jessie”. Then they find out about the rented Box 287. Sergeant Drywall talks to Fred Burger from Blaine Lake who said a lot of bad things about polyps character and that she died in a car accident. Then he meets Craig, an ex-RENEW officer who tells him about John’s drinking problem and owe Jessie and John got together. Mr.. Gillis was the next one on the list; he told the Sergeant the same thing that Read had told him he spoke to Mr..
Patterson before going back to Regina. John went to Vancouver, leaving Jessie behind. Sergeant Hilliard’s went and talked to the Grey Door dealer about the accident. Darling spoke to Eileen who told him about the incident involving Poly finding out about Jessie and the letters between her and John. John was called back to Regina and Perry sent a telegram to Elizabeth asking for John and Polyps marriage certificate. Am actually quite happy about how the book is turning out. Finally John has been arrested and although he tries to commit suicide, it’s his own fault for bringing it upon himself. . Is John successful in committing suicide? 2. What does Jessie think of all of this? 3. How will John get himself out of this situation? 4. Will Jessie stay with John or leave him to his fate? 5. How will Poly’s family react? Chapters 36, 37, 38 & 39 Leslie and Archie Craig receive the news that Poly had died and that John killed her. They decided to tell Poly’s father first because Polyps mother was still so upset at John getting remarried. All three of them talked about what to o next and Leslie replied to the Commissioners letter by writing every detail of how John treated Poly.
Meanwhile, John never got a break. It seemed as if police kept showing up asking one question after the other. The police thought the crossed out words in Johns statement would tell them where Poly was buried, but to no avail. On December 11, 1919, there was a break in the case. The story is finally coming to an end. I like the way Sergeant Drywall handles the witnesses and how he handles this case. 1 . Will the police find out about the culvert? 2. What will happen if John doesn’t get convicted for Polyps murder? . What will Jessie do now that she is pregnant?
Chapters 40, 41 & 42 John wanted to write another statement and Sergeant Tracey didn’t give him time to change his mind. In his statement, John talked about how he met Poly’s train and that they were on their way into the country, etc. Liked these chapters because John is finally getting what he deserves. 1 . What will Jessie do or say when she finds out that John killed Poly? 2. What will Polyps mother do once she finds out that Poly is dead and that John was the one who killed her? Chapter 43 to End More than two hundred people showed up to the trial of John Wilson. In the courtroom, there were a number of Mounted Police officers.
When John was led into the prisoner’s box, he looked pale and wild-eyed with his cheeks sunken. He had a light moustache and needed a haircut. The Crown prosecutor then addressed the jury with the details of John’s case, starting way back when he was living in Scotland. After that, the witnesses started coming forward. Eileen Wisher was called first and she was asked to tell the court about Poly s stay at her boarding house. She told the court everything and she also told about how Poly found the letter from Jessie and that she feet for Saskatoon with three hundred dollars.
She ended her testimony by talking about how John visited the week after Poly had left. Mrs.. Harry Hansen was the next witness. Wilfred Sales, Isaac Unfelt, John Unfelt and Alex Armstrong were also witnesses and as each of them told their story, the picture became clearer. Dry. Carlton then gave the autopsy report on Mary (Poly) Willow’s body. He mentioned that several articles of clothing and a ladies’ boot were examined and identified from the victim’s body. He graphically described Poly’s head wound and had a vial containing lead lets found in Polyps head. She had been six months pregnant with a male child.
When he examined her body he found no money. Superintendent Tracey brought in the dispatch case that belonged to John and contained over 100 letters to and from Jessie Patterson. The dispatch case was still stained with blood as well as some of the letters inside. Some of the letters were read and the whole courtroom was deathly quiet. This is the kind of drama they had come to hear. On the second day of the trial, John had seemed to get worse. He was huddled in a corner of the prisoners box, open-mouthed and lid-eyed as each witness came up and said their part of the story.
Jessie was listed as a witness for the defense but she didn’t show. Forty-two witnesses in total had told what they knew and now no one had any doubts about what happened at the culvert. The case for the defense was going to begin on the morning of the third trial. A hangman by the name of Arthur Bartholomew English was introduced. He is a professional who could glance at a man and tell his weight within a fraction of a pound. He could also tell how long it would take for a person’s circulatory system to stop after their neck was Rosen.
