Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-07-11

upon the mystery. hall ton OF whi'
ingi Ay, here Il is" And he aourished
the bill under the others nose. 81
Tom took it gingerly, and opened II
with A serious face. 1t seemed to MI.
Bulstesd that he was not quite 80 much
at his ease as he would have his uncle be- |
lieve, and the old gentleman glanced eus-
piciously around the room. 1t certainly
was not the room OF haId-working,
hard reading student but still there was
nothing Objectionable in 1t. he turned
his glance upon Tom the latter was con-
templating the bill with broad smile
genuine enough.
you to say about it, Hall ton OF whit
ing, you know, Tom"
The young man laughed loudly.
II am not in fault this time, sir ; it is
the Lawn Tennis Clubs account sent IN
to me as secretary. gave the ground
man the check to pay it last week and
why they should have the impudence 70
send it in TO you can't imagine.
"Umph but how about the whiting,
Tom2 What is that for ?"
MARKING out the grounds, SIR
"Of course it is, Tom Very stupid
OF me. Well, I'm very glad OF IT, my
boy" said Mr. Bulstead pleasantly, Inc
m ystery of the whiting was cleared up
but somehow it had made him suspic-
ious. -,
Now" said Tom, will you come with
me to a shop want to call at the high
not hundred yards of, sir and ~ the
time we come back lunch will be ready.
Was the dust Of that whiting still In
Mr.. Bulsted's eyes At any rate 1t seem
ed to him that his nephew was peculiarly
and restlessly anxious to get aim OUT Oh
the rooms. However he rose. 49,,
Eyes, Tom, certainly. Where did
put my umbrella. All, here it Is, thank
you. Why what the deuce-is-
that p -.
II it had been another half ton Of whit
ing piled upon the sofa the old gentle
mans face could not have have grown
darker. The thing lying half hidden oy
the sofa cushion was ladys parasoi-as
dainty, tiny, wicked-looking sunshade OF
gray silk and by it was q glove OK TOO,
apparent French kid. Mr.. Bulstead's
worst fears were confirmed with ven
eeance. All along he had felt that there
was somthing wrong; this was the haun.
he should find it. Hall ton OF whit
X,
he had glanced at thu young fellows con-
fused face, he thought the worst Of him.
well, sir, The said, and there WAS real
sorrow as we'll as anger in his tone, "can
you explain this with equal ease p
"No, cannot, sir but"
"You can't Cannot say whose they
are, or how they come to be in your
roomsP Fie, sir, fie. Or where their
owner is now, 1 suppose ?" he added, sud-
denly reaching the scouts seeming at
tempts to delay him at the foot Of the
stairs and marking the doors that led 70
two inner rooms.
II cannot account for them"
"And will not, suppose
"You can put it that way, il you like,
sir. All that can say is that am limo
cent of what you are thinking Of me. I
give you my word and honor, and can't
| say any more"
The old man was little impressed by
the younger's earnestness. The obnox-
ious articles might have been left there,
innocently, of course.
"Then let me have look into your
other rooms, young man, if you want me
to believe you"
"No, 1 cant do that" cried Tom,
the nearest door and setting his back
against it.
He was cooler now, and not bit con-
fused.
The old gentleman, even in bis anger
than ever before.
Don't be fool. Tom," he cried, i'm
peratively. Then, suddenly changing his
20 Aok oil
breast Of it, and I'll try to forgive you. 4"
"There's nothing TO forgive"
'"Then open that door. You wontT'
"No."
"As live, if You don't before count
three I'll Gus You of without shilling.
Now, sir-one, two-it's your last chance
three There, sir, I've done with you
now, strive done with you've done
with you |"
And, clapping on his hat, with furious
haste and yet shaking steps the old man
ran down the stairs, and, his heart full OF
sorrow and anger, made for the station.
All, Tom, Tom ! A minute later he
opened the inner door and looked rather
anxiously at the half-frightened, wholly
pretty face that appeared at il.
"Did you hear anything ?" he asked.
mo, but do let me get away. am 20
nervous. He was very angry, wasn't he :
Yes: What was it about, Tom? Bills p
"Yes," was the somewhat hating re-
ply "bills and other things. 1 dare say
he'll cool down. II you hear anything
against me, you won't believe it will
You ?"
Oh, Tom, how can you ask?
"Then there is no harm DONE" answer
ed Tom, bravely and calamity. And
after accommodating from the window the
two left the room.
To return TO Mr.. Bulstead, senior. II
was a great trouble TO him. Looking
back upon that half-ton OF whiting he
wondered how that could have made him
angry with the lad. II no would only
have kept TO that he could have forgiven
him a ship-load Of whiting. But this wa
different matter, and the moro the ole
gentleman thought Of it, the worse it ap
peared to him. Still, he was . just ani
fair man no had no real intention Of cut
ting off the young proaisste, - he term
cd him in his thoughts. with shilling
He would make him some sufficient, Blu
small allowance but near his house O.
near Maggie he would not have him.
He made this last determination known
to Maggie, merely adding that her cousin
had behaved 30 i'll that he had forbidden
him the house. The announcement wa
received with woman's strongest remon
strances. silent tears. Altogether thing
were rather gloomy that juno in Fitxroy
Square.
One morning Mr.. Bulstesd made ny
his mind to see his lawyer about Tom
"In get it over" he said to himself, with
a sigh, as he sought for his umbrella il
the stand. 1t took him some time TO fini
it.
BLESS the umbrella" he cried 9
length, fumbling among the heap. III
that itG No Nor that. Why. what
| thia2 Wall am daabadi"