Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-02-14


"If that's the case. Me-. Bryan, It were
better that retire.
He turned to go TO the door.
Tom made sign to the two detectives.
They stepped forward.
pardon me, Mr.. Fountain, you can
not do that. All who enter here are I'M
der arrest"
Light broke In on Fountain, and with
it intense anger. He turned on Tom, his
eyes blazing.
I--I under arrest? You'll find that
am not to be trihed With
Tom interrupted him in hard, cold,
metallic voice, low in tone:
"No heroics, Mr.. Fountain. You are
my prisoner until you can explain your
presence here in this den on this partic-
ular night. You can brighten no one
here; we're used to Just such naughty
scoundrels as you are, just as we are to
vicious rascals like the one lying in
there. He's twice as dangerous as you
can ever be-"
The cold self possession and master.
fulness of Tom was irritating in the
highest degree to Fountain, and If ever
his boosted self command was needed
by him it was at that moment. Appear.
ances were 80 strongly against him that,
angered as he was, he could not fail to
realize it.
By a violent effort he put curb upoI
his passion, and in moment he said:
"You think am the abductor?'
81 don't think it: I'm certain of it.
"You are mistaken" This was said /.
a tone as cold and as firm as that Tom
had used.
"Indeed," said Tom. perhaps you
can explain this enigmatical note"
He handed to Fountain the slip Of
paper which had been taken from the
pocket Of Scar Top Johnny,
Fountain read it and handed it back to
Tom.
~ know nothing Of it,"
Tom was somewhat dumfouHded
Then he recollected the reputation of
the man for GOODNESS and nerve.
Fountain in turn took from his vest
pocket slip of paper, and handing it
to Tom, said:
"Please read that, and compare it
with the scrap you have"
Tom read
IF Mr.. Fountain desires to see Marian
and talk with her he must come to No.
- Mott street, attic floor, at II sharp to-
night"
Tom took the other slip from his pock-
ct and compared the two; the writing
was in the same disguised hand; he COM
pared the two scraps-evidently they
were torn from the same piece of paper.
Tom was puzzled.
You are an hour before your time"
he said.
Il read it ten" said Fountain. Let
me look at it. Oh, see how l made my
mistake" Then he continued. This is
very mysterious. You and l should
have an understanding, Mr.. Bryan. VIII
you step aside with me:'
They went to the dormer window.
Il am here" said Fountain, in ODE
dienco to that writing. Where you OBJ
tanned the other paper don't know
From the pockets of that scoundrel
| lying on the floor in the other room, 3" re-
| Piled Tom.
If you will permit me, Twill explain.
l am here in this dress because of the
! place | was to visit and the part of the
| town | was to pass through. For some
time | maintained q relation with a
| young woman whose name was Marian
Summers. This relation was continued
until l became the atliancod of young
lady, whom you Doubtless know by
name, but who should not be mentioned
| in this place and in this connection.
Whom that took place, the relation with
Marian became an impOss.uility. The
| girl was loaJh-it is a mild word for
her feeling - to break up the rela-
ton, and we parted IN high passion,
but she had secured certain papers
of uine, of exceeding great value and of
great damage 10 me in any other per-
sons hands. l have tried again and gain
to obtain them. She has sent me several
messages of this kind, and 1t VAS 10 &c
into the stran.w places she lei me TO-
that bought this suit. I have neve,
met her. though I have responded II
each instance. ] had little hope of see
ing her tonight, but these document;
were Of such value to me that did not
dare 10 miss the chance. You have the
whole story without reservation, except
as to the character Of the papers. AS tt
those, can only say they We're letter:
to my mother and u written statement
of hers, which can now only concerr
me-
Tom thought he saw it all.
Mr.. Fountain" he said with thii
statement Of yours now, think know
more about the matter than you do.
think | see through it all. l think
could even tell you the nature of YOU
mothers statement You are the victim
of the same plot which has the murdered
Templeton and the abducted girl for rio
tins. 1t touches the effort to secure OLD
Pierson S.
The Shadow put his head in the doci
and said:
Hist. Some one is coming up TIT
stairs"
lie went back, closing the door afts
him.
60 into the other room, SIR. Foun