Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-01-17

received many kind letters of coincidence
from his family abroad, many from
those of whom she had never even heard
before, but among them all there was
none of the name of Pierson. These let
tiers she had preserved and if of any use
TO Mr.. Holbrook she would give them to
him.
AS to her own relatives, she had al
ready told Mr.. Holbrook all she knew
about them.
Holbrook pursued his inquiries as to
her fathers relatives. Did she know
anything of the brother of her father?
Every little" was the reply. He had
run away to sea before she was born,
and all she had heard of him was long
after all sight had been lost of him, and
after he was supposed to be dead. Evil
IDENTIFY he had done something wrong,
for the elders took little pleasure in speak
ing of him, and when they did it was in
a tone of relief that he was dead. He
had died in her childhood.
Holbrook then said that though they
had made little progress in the unfolding
of the mystery surrounding the death
of her son, yet they were steadfastly at
work at it. That while he had thought
it best to say little to them about it
while they were cropping in the dark,
they had in their investigation thought,
perhaps, man of the name of Pierson,
who had died recently, had been con-
nected with the events.
1t was strange, but none the less true,
that Tom had failed to tell HolbroolS of
81, 81, Nl,,,l 4
of the scene between the drunkard Pres
ton and Parker. Had he done so Hol-
brook undoubtedly would have elected
something from Mrs. Templeton which
would have put another aspect upon af-
fairs. AS a matter of fact, the report of
the Shadow had made but little impress
sion on Tom at the time, for his mind
then was concentrated upon the task of
fastening the crime of murder upon
Fountain. Such thought as he did give
to it was that, perhaps, discreet in
quiry in that direction might lead up to
discovery of some of Persons sur
roundings, which might help them to an
understanding of how Templeton, Foun-
tain and Pierson were connected. And
SO it was that Holbrook was treading
close upon facts of great value without
being conscious OF it.
However, satisfied that Mrs. Temple
ton could tell him nothing that could be
of value, he dropped the subject, and
turned the conversation in another chan
mel.
But Annie, who was sitting at the win
dow engaged in embroidery work, and
making very pretty picture as she sat
there, remarked that she was glad the
search was being continued, for though
they had heard little about it recently,
they were greatly interested in it.
Holbrook, who thought there was
something of gentle reproach in the
words, said:
1.-The truth is, Miss Templeton, nothing
has been accomplished. For ten days we
have been under the impression that we
could lay our hands upon the man, but
this morning we discovered that the
man in question could not have possibly
done the deed. We hardly dared to ad-
NIT to ourselves our suspicious, and l
should have been greatly to blame had l
raised false hopes in your breast or had l
pointed to a suspicion that could not be
justified. Rest assured that everything
is being done that can be done to I'M
cover the mystery"
"Oh!" said Annie, covered with con-
fusion and blushing very prettily, 81 had
no intention of complaining. Indeed we
are really too much obliged to you for
the trouble you have taken in our affairs
to criticise or to complain"
During this exchange Holbrook had
moved from his chair in the middle of
the room, where he had been conversing
with Mrs. Templeton, and taken a low,
easy one near the window where Annie
sat.
Mrs. Templeton had turned to the
table and had resumed the writing of a
letter she was engaged upon when Hol-
| brook entered.
The young lawyer was already on such
| familiar footing that he was regarded
not as stranger to whom the most
scrupulous attention must be given, but
rather as an intimate who was best
treated when received with informality.
In answer to Annie's reply to him he
said:
Il do not think, Miss Templeton, that
anything which might concern you or
yours would be too much trouble for
| me-"
The blood crept up into Armies cheeks
again, and bending over her work she
said nothing.
Holbrook himself had nothing to say,
and he sat for some time toying with
the end of the embroidery falling from
her knee. Finally he said:
"Do you know that have experienced
great pleasure in my calls here-pleasure
of a kind it has not been my lot to ex-
perience for several years."
Annie looked up woAderingly.
81 sincerely hope you do find pleasure
in your visits here, and it is pleasant to
hear you say so, but do not quite I'M
derstand you"
"Why mott"
"Oh, your words seem to convey a
meaning they do not express clearly"
perhaps they do. You know, of
7