Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-08-03
"Believe me- began, "I shall never for

when | shall myself reopen the subject,
though | think mott think not Until then
let it, beg of you, drop
| am afraid took to my work that day
very divided attention. | did not regret my
candor though there were momonts-when l
was discussing my mutton chop, for ex-
ample, in my own special snug corner, not
unaccompanied 10y good tankard of stout
in which | felt more courageous if not more
skeptical. Granted the existence of n ghostly
visitant, might one not in time become ac-
customcd to t2 What positive harm could
anything of the kind do once But across
even these faint efforts at reasoning came
the vision of the wife and children scared
into sickness or something worse. and | felt
that, in any case, had acted for the best.
| found my host even moro cheerful and
louuacious than WINS his wont that evening.
He ordered the old Dutchman, who com
bincd with other duties those of butler, to
bring up some champagne and tossed it
otf, while he HOSPITALITY pressed it upon
me- with freedom which surprised me- 1t
was this, imagined, which led him to talk
In Dragging and boastful tone not hahitual
TO him, of the wealth which had rewarded
the labor of his earlier years, and of sllndry
past achievements of industry and applic;t-
tion of which he had never before made mem
ton The more he drank the faster he
talked and ! was not surprised when his
self laudation took another and moro of
fensive FORM and he began TO enlarge upon
his own strength of mind and purpose as
opposed TO the weakness and mental deficiency
OF those with whom he came in contact. 1t
would have been the easiest thing in the
world to pick quarrel with him, out was
sincerely grateful to him for one thing and
for another wa, satisfied he had tat, n IN 'rr
than was good for him. | was not sorry,
however, when as 10 O'Clock stru 'k-tn"
so.ltarY game OF crlbbage. for which tho
long mnnuloguc TO which he had treated me
had left time. coging to an cnd ~iuutnnc-
on iN-hH sug-o ~tcd that should retire carly
and make long ui-llt OF ~.
~ on look rs II You had not slept for
week he added complimentary and my
rIpe IS good enough company for me-bettor
than most. You'll lind everything ready for
you upstairs.
heard and oboyed, and that night ! slept
Ike top, so soundly, indeed, tho' when the
Old servant cam" TO call me IN tin morning
| was only awakened TO tho fact of his
presence hy an aGltatcd appeal 10 me to
arouse myself The scared expires ON of the
mans face, aal the concern and trepidation
to which 1t bore evidence, cifCctually re
called my scattered senses. and | spranC up
IN bed eagerly demanding what was ainiss
The master. he GaSpeu on. what has
come to the uusterG lie is not in his rOoru-
H. has not slept in it, lie is nowhere in the
house-nowhere about the place. What can
have come to himH'
His wife was close at his heels cchOinr the
inquiry with look in her face not less
anxious and perturbed than his own. but in
which there mingled strange suspicious
ness, which even in the shock of the an
nouncement which had Just been made to
IN [ could not but mark and resent How
! in heavens name should | known | de-
handed angrily. AZ long is it since YOU
missed him. and where have you looked for
him! He was having Il pipe in the dining
room when | came up last night
You must have seen him later than that. He
went round with you last thing | suppose,
rs he did the night before--as | understand
| him he always did,
Not always. If he gets any sleep ia the
! days me worth speaking Of he won't 90 up
at his usual time He'll 90 round by himself
then later on, but do my duty by the house
and by him just the same. | did it last
night. / saw to the doors and shutters MS
usual and put up the chain and bolted and
barred the hall door, could not have slept
| in my bed elSc-and this morning found the
cham down and the bolts drawn Lisa here
would have had me go straight to the police
to set them to find him. but ! thought there
might have been something in his talk last
night might put us on the track I've been
with him these forty years and I've never
seen him as l. saw him last night. He is not
4 I