Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-06-12


things that he fancied he was keeping
locked in his heart.
caro- you alone here?" asked Keppel.
"Have you no physicianT
mo, no." replied the other. 81 shall
soon be we'll need no one. Who sent
you here} Who are you? am only u
poor man. Have you seen Maurice?
Bah. he is dead. You can't deceive me.
have done him no harrn. l buried him
the captain and l. He cannot come
back"
"What is your disease?" Keppel asked.
They all had it--all but the captain
end me. had seen yellow fever before;
was not afraid. | shall get well; am
not going to die with all these millions
i am poor man; have wandered up
here; I'm looking for work. Maurice
he follows me everywhere. What differ
euce can it make to him what do with
the treasure; A dead man has other
things to think about. The emperor has
enough without this. What is he but q
robber? He stole them; | have rs much
| right to them as he" His voice sank in
unintolligible mutterings.
CIV hat does all this mean? said Keep
pei to himself. "Treasure-the emperor
"a dead man-robbery! He has MUIR
der@d somebody, probably. And he has
yellow fever. He'll die Of 1t, too, and [
may catch it myself. No matter; here [
am, and here l stay, for tonight at least.
l can't go any farther, and cant leave
dying man either, even if he is a muir
doler. | have special sympathy for
| murder suppose. At any rate. am
as much OF q vagabond and desperate as
| be Is. This is a poor place to die in, but
he will be better off with me here than
be would he alone. Though he doesn't
seem very hospitable, III make myself
at home"
lie raised the head Of the sick man.
sInoothed ont his pillow and rearranged
| the bed clothes As he was STOPPING to
/ tuck the blanket under the mattress he
felt something cold touch his forehead,
and lifting his head quickly confronted
| the muzzle Of the revolyer within an inch
! OF his mouth. The sick mans finger was
upon the trigger, and his features We're
twisted into Il hideous look OF terror and
| malevolence keppel had the instinct to
remain perfectly still, with his gaze fixed
upon the other
You thought You could rob me, said
| Dupont. between his teeth. I'm not 10
be robbed while I'm alive, and you shall
die first. | know you-accursed spy
His long yellow finger had begun to
contract to pull the trigger Keppels
lips grew white; death looked ugly Sud
denly a startling change swept over DID,
! b.. !
in strange stare, his eyeballs protruded
and his black lips caried back from his
teeth. But his eyes were directed no
longer upon Keppol, but to the farther
corner Of the room. The next instant ne
had pointed the revolver in that dreo-
ZION, and fired over keppel' shoulder,
almost dcatyrjug him IL then DROPPED
the weapon and sank back screaming,
with his hands over his face.
krppel secured the revolver, and then
looked round. There was no third per.
SON in the room. The bullet had passed
through a wainscot panel
"What the devil We're you shooting
att he demanded aterniy
"A bullet wont kill him, quavorrj
the man; me can die but once But hd
comcs-he is always here. LIS the treas.
uro he wants. What can a dead man
do with TREASURED.
Your dead man has saved my life ~
all events" murterel keppel land I'm
obliged TO him for it. As for you-well,
You viii never harm any -He a5;.In.
TINS is au ugly night, / wish it were
ov-r And what Of tomorrow"
He found another candle, Ia il. and,