Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-12-20


81 don't see It,"
eve want to know something as to his
connections, don't weT'
eyes"
"Well, here is one. We can work
along the Pierson line to result posi-
bly,. But must CO."
"Not before tell you Of little matter
which occurred last night after left
YOU"
He recited his experience Of the night
previous after he had left Tom.
at is nothing" replied Tom. "He
mistook you for some one else."
THAT is the conclusion l came to-"
Tom went to the door and partially
opened it. He drew back quickly.
Il say, Holbrook, there is Messing
outside inquiring for you-the fellow
who saw the murder"
1--WE are in for surprises todayi"
"I'll get behind the scenes again." and
he disappeared.
Messing was soon shown in. After
some insignificant conversation touching
the murder and the failure to discover
the perpetrator, Messing opened his
business.
"You recollect, Mr.. Holbrook, that at
the time | was detained as a witness
declined to give my business in New
York;
''Perfectly we'll"
'Well, did give it subsequently when
i found the concealment was subiecting
me to suspicion. Briefly it was this:
My mother had reason to believe that
she was closely related to a gentleman
who had died in this city some time
previously, leaving large property and
no heirs or will. She imagined she was
an heir, if not the sole heir. have,now
been closely following the matter, and
while did not take much stock in the
idea at first, have come to regard it
more favorably. The mans name was
Charles Person"
Holbrook started violently, knocking
a book from his desk and thus covering
up a noise behind the screen which
might otherwise have been heard.
Bless my soul!' said Holbrooll, "that
is strange
"What is stranger"
Holbrook controlled himself.
"Why, DIr. Pierson used to be a client
of this office"
Precisely, and that is the reason why
am here. | want to inquire if you can
shed any light upon certain subjects,
and whether any papers relating to Mr.
Pierson or his business are in YOUR
hands"
Il shall have to disappont YOU" re-
piled Holbrook. Mr.. Persons rela-
tions with this Office as client ceased
before l became connected with it.
Judge Harkner and he quarreled very
bitterly; over what / never knew. lie
was careful to send everything to Pier
son, and | don't know who was his law
yer subsequently,. The great amount of
business he brought into the office was a
tradition when | came in. However,
there is an old man who was a clerk in
this office for many years-confident
clerk, and who is now retired because of
age. He lives on Long Island, a short
distance back of Brooklyn. l advise
you to call upon him; I will give you q
line to him.
Acting upon the impulse of the mo-
ment he wrote an introduction.
Messing took the note and went away,
after promising to call upon Holbrook
again.
AS soon as he was out of the door Tom
came forth.
you Internal asst cried Tom, what
under the heavens did you shove him
out in that way for?"
Holbrook' s face fell.
"See here, Bryan, there is a limit to
the things you may say to me-"
81 beg your pardon, Holbrook; I let
my feelings master me. But what pos
sessed you to shut him off that way. He
was disposed to talk
"Well, principally because you were
behind the screen"
''What of that"
"Well, the same circumstances do not /
Messing as do surround Foun-
same suspicions-and didn't |
want him to become confidential when .
he thought he was talking to a reputable .
alone"
but doesn't this queer state of things .
strike you? See here We suspect
Fountain of Templeton's murder
slightly, to be sure-but suspect him.
He comes to see you inquiring for Pier
sons papers. Messing sees that murder
and he comes iuquiring about Persons
papers. What connection is there:"
Il saw all that and recollect what YOU
nave forgotten"
WHAT"
THAT we have our suspicious of Foun-
ain through Flora Ashgroves strange
and that she manifests great
niger against Messing, threatening to
'e his accuser, while denying knowledge
If him"
'To be surel To be sure. Don't YOU
zee that these condolences have an i'm
'ortant bearing upon the murder-that
'ou lost an opportunity to get hold of a
tring which may lead us straight TO the
esult?"
"Oh, I don't believe Messing knows
of the affair"
my dear fellow, everything is guess
work., but every line must be examined.
low could you let Messing slip through
fi,,, c,gi