Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-10-19
this convention.


"Two amt much of crowd" replied
Mr.. Bunker laughingly.
1.-TWO! Why Willoughby, the dentist,
and Colville, the harness maker, were
down last week, Linden only two or
three days ago, and now
Hold on" we both interrupted him
Did you meet him.
Linden Yes. Why"
Because we're looking for him." an
swered Mr.. Bunker quite fercely.
oh! Well, I'm afraid l can't help
you much in finding him. / only saw
him a minute. Met him on Cortlandt
street going in haste to the Jersey City
ferry"
What day was that"
Il don't remember, only he said he
had just got to town that morning. 1t
was about II o'clock when | met him, |
guess. He just shook hands and gal
loped on. Said he had to catch train"
And that was all Alvin knew. The
next day we went over to Jersey City
and ransacked it rs we had New York,
but accomplished nothing.
I'VE can do nothing more" said MIR.
Bunker. Not here at all events. ]
shall offer 81 600 reward for him and
put the case in the hands of both the
regular police and detective agency
for ii still hunt. don't believe in blow
ing it through newspapers, Then we
may as well go home, and I'm thinking
that is where we will be likely to soonest
get on his track He is pretty certain to
write to Annie or his sister, and if we
watch their letters we will probably
catch him before long"
you will of course do as you please
about watching your daughters CORE
spondence said land your proceed
ings will doubtless demonstrate charac-
teristic deiicacy and nice perception OF
propriety. but you need not count on my
spying upon Miss Linden to learn what
communication she may have with her
erring brother. | would be glad if she
could have the relief Of knowing him
alive and would not feel myself at lib
erty if she told me where he was hid
den to use the knowledge to procure his
arrest. indeed would blush to think
myself capable of such an action"
"You are too burned sentimental i'll
business matters, said Mr. Bunker III
disgust. But | don't see that serti-
ment has any place in this case now
anyhow Annie tells me you We're ell
gagged to Harold's sister, but of course
that is all Oft after his making such
break as this"
NO, Mr.. Bunker. 1t is not off. Harold
does seem to have been rascal and to
have got away with my money, but do
not see how his sister is responsible for
that, She no more has his possible tur-
pitude than she has his mustache.'
Ny companion looked atme with scorn-
full pity, but debated the subject no fur
Their, and that night we returned home.
In 4 couple of days, thanks to the sue
cessful issue of McQuillop's negotiations,
was in position to approach Mr.. Bun
ker with a proposition for a final settle
ment on a cash basis, to his manifest
surprise
Il was under the impression that your
partner had practically bankrupted you,
but am gratitied to know was mis-
taken, he remarked dryly.
offered no explanation, for | was still.
angry with the old fellow for thinking }
would play the spy on Celia Linden. He
took his invested capital, his percentage
of the profits up to date and his check
for $195, which had not used, pocketed
ull without word, nodded Good day"
End went away. In his face | could read
the expression as plain as could be: ~ GU
and your partner are up to some deep
game. | don't know what it is; but,
thank God, I'm safely ont of it." But
what did care for what he thought: TIC
his daughter sent note at once:
DEAR Miss BuSKER-Your fathers possible
reason for prosecuting Mr.. Linden no Longer
exists, and it has not been necessary to lis,
your diamonds You will find them AT the bank
in charge OF Mr.. Hogg, who will deliver them
to you personally upon your presentation OF
the incosed receipt for them
The capital had left after paying off
Bunker was small, but enough for me &c
90 ahead on, though III rather cir
cumscribed way compared with what |
had hoped for less than fortnight since
No matter, said to myself; shall have
to keep my nose to the grindstone pretty
closely year or two, and then | will be
all right. And shall have compensa-
tive happiness meanwhile, for Celia and
! will now marry at once, double our
joys and halve our expenses. But when
so proposed to her that same evening
she replied;
mo, Ransom, shall never be your
wife until my brothers name is cleared
from the suspicious which now tarnish
it,"
But" argued, Harold name isnot
furnished at all. His case is simply one
Of mysterious disappearance, Nobody
knows anything more than that about it,
you are wrong" she replied, with
tears in her beautiful eyes. Mrs, With
erwell called this afternoon and asked
lne where my brother was. I could see
BY the malicious gleamin her eyes that
she believed herself in possession Of
scandal, which che was doing her utmost
to spread, as she always does whatever
will bring pain or shame to any ono"