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

see now why l
couldn't meet you this evening. / had
this engagement. But since we have
met, let lis exchange our condolences
now, Mr.. Parker"
"What in the name of all the tiends
do you mean by this outrage" cried the
old man, throughly enraged. Release
me-"
"No," said Tom, 1--WE can't do that
We're too glad to see YOU. We are afraid
you would leave us. Boys, to makesure
of his staying and spending the evening
with us, puta pair of handouts on him"
This was done at once.
"Now," said Tom with inefTable sweet
ness, "shall we have our exchange Of
condolences? Give the gentleman chair,
boys Take a seat, MIR. Parker
The old man fairly fumcd with rage.
sit down. said Tom. The old man
refused.
Tom pushed him down, saying:
"When l offer courtesies to a gentle
man intend he shall accept them. am
sorry Miss Annie Templeton could not
await your coming. She had pressing
engagements elsewhere. She has gone
WIFI MI, lOOhs IItlNi Slt why AHON II
the tender solicitude you manifested
toward her, am not quite certain but
she would have remained
The old man was speechless with rage.
''Your other friend is here, however,
Mr.. Scar-Top Johnny. But just now he
is with two of my friends in an ad join-
ing room. They are engaged in an argu-
ment on the value of silence. The argu-
ment is enforced by my friends, and Mr..
Scar-TOp Johnny is just now a living eX-
ponent of its truth. And also there is
LII Fountain-he is here toe"
Fountain at ten said the old man,
completely thrown off his guard.
81 know. l know" said Tom, with
elaborate politeness. You wrote eleven,
but you should write more plainly. He
read it ten. The error on his part was
excusable.'
The old man saw he had made fatal
admission. He revenged himself by say
ing:
Curse you for an impudent dog"
"Oh, thank you, thank YOU" returned
Tom, bowling you are entirely too
complimentary"
Then, dropping his bantering tone, he
said fiercely:
Throw up your hand, you white haired
rascal. l know your whole game,
You've got a deal to answer for, but
you've got this consolation, that your
punis hment for the greater crime will
make that for the rest impossible"
ooh, indeed!' the old man at last
found voice to say. Young sir, will
you tell me why you maltreat me thus:'
"Tcll you? Yes, if you will tell me
why you maltreated Annie Templcton
by abducting her"
ooh, think you will have to prove
that. These gentlemen do not seem to
be officers of the law, Perhaps you will
show me your warrant for these proceed
ings. l am afraid, young sir, you will
find it difficult of proof that | have alb
Quoted any young lady
Tom was staggered by the GOODNESS of
the old scamp. 1t was true that the last
man he expected to see there was Parker.
Only that morning he had proved to his
own satisfaction that Parker was not
concerned in the plot, and had won Hol-
brook to bis way of thinking. He had
leaped to the conclusion he now enter
tanned on seeing Parker enter. While
he was certain he was right, still the
thought flashed across his brain that the
willy old man had procured the abduc'
ton while covering his own tracks.
He rallied, however, in moment, and
all the more quickly as be saw from the
sheer and the look Of triumph in the
wicked old eyes that Parker had real
lied what was passing through his mind
"My old man" returned Tom, I'm no,
at loss for reasons for taking you to the
police If not for the abduction, why
then for falsely personating clergymar
and marrying an assumed Mr.. Fountain
if not for that then for falsely person
ating clergyman again and marrying
the assumed Mr.. Fountain under the
name of Simpson to another woman"
'In the name Of all the fiends. how dc
you know all this, boyt" screamed thu
old man.
"And then" continued Tom, there il
the blackmailing Of Mr.. Pierson fol
years"
The old man glared at him.
"And then there is the fraudulent aft
davit and subornation of perjury in tn,
claim of Preston against the Piersor
estate"
The old man quailed before Tom. Tn,
accumulation of charges was beginning
to tell.
"Then there is the abduction of Mrs
Templeton."
"Stop, stop" cried the old man, "hav,
you got her tooi'
cit was as easy to find her." replied
Tom unblushingly, "as to find tia
daughter. And them
"Stop, stop" cried the old man, over
whelmed. "Have pity on poor mis-
guided old man"
"There is just one thing more l shoul'
like to mention
"Stop, stop" moaned the old man.
And that is the murder of Temple
ton"
The old man looked up.
I