Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-05-31


outer garments. Maxey had opened his
lips to reply when there came knock
ing at the door. He stepped into the
hall and looked out On the threshold
stood the brave fellow who had been
lowered from the edge of the bluff at
the ropes end to rescue an imperiled
life a week before.
Maxey was so surprised that he seemed
at first to be in danger of forgetting his
hospitality but in a moment or two he
recovered himself and invited his visit
or in.
mo, thankee," said the young man
awkwardly, taking off his hat and
glancing around him, "but my little
brother found this on the beach in the
snow underneath where the young wom-
an hung sir, and we thought, between
us, that maybe, as it might be of some
use, maybe I'd better put on my hat and
coat and run up"
Run upl 1t was eight miles.
Maxey took a bit of soiled and damp
paper from the mans hand 1t was a
folded sheet of writing paper and con-
tanned these words, traced with pale ink
in feminine hand:
SOMERSET, Dec g, 1884.
DEAR ANNETTE-I have never forgotten you
during all our separation, and to my astonish-
ment and delight yesterday learned a matter
of the deepest Importance to yourself. An
nette. you have been deceived as to your par
entage. Your real father and mother are
known to me. want TO tell you all about it
at once, but there are good reasons why
should not go to the house. You will under
stand this fully when you me. / ain stop
ping out in Somerset at present, but there nre
other reasons why you shouldn't be seen there.
L have thought up place that will be con-
venient for both of u.s. Annette. you remem-
Der the hotel at Cliffs Head, where YOU came
with your mother two years ago. Just across
the road there is a seat, You will remember.
why can't you come out on the train and walk
up the road and wait for me there about
o'clock tomorrow Tuesday, night2 If this note
seems hasty and very, very strange to vow,
Annette, believe me there are strange things
to come which will tell you of. After you
know what | know you need never go back
again unless you wish. After all the trouble
have been to in this matter, and for your sake,
have no fear of any failure on your part to
be at the place named Your very true friend,
Mrs. AGATHA G.. HAPGooD.
p. 81 may be little late, but shall not
fail to keep my appointment.
Maxey read this remarkable epistle
aloud in the presence of the doctor, who
had joined him in the hall. The excita-
BILE artist was aglow with enthusiasm.
Here is something tangible at last!
Here is woman with name! You did
right, my good man, to bring this docu-
ment here. You We're right in believing
it important. You have done us all
great service. Tell your little brother,
my good man, that if ne will bring me
the envelope this letter was contained in
I'll make him handsome present. Well
be at the bottom of this affair yet or my
names not MaXey. An unexpected good
fortune, Lamar, don't you think and
one that will throw much light on this
obscure natter"
Lamar frowned and replied cautious
ly: Il am not detective, and / have
not studied the letter, but it strikes me
the wording is peculiar and the sigma
ture extraordinary. The name is explicit
enough in all conscience A woman
writing a confidential letter like that to
a friend does not often take so much
pains to get III her full name, as if she
were signing a will. Take care that
some crafty fellow hasn't thrown this
letter in your way for the purpose of
putting you on the wrong track.
Maxey looked a little bewildered, but
he seized his hat and coat, without
making reply, and darted down the
stairs.
What very eXcitablc people these
MaXeys are"' thought the philosophic
doctor as he went away. And what
deal of interest they do take in this case!
l wonder where Miss Ellen went to?
How pretty she looked when her blood
was up! There would be some satisfac-
ton in crossing such woman Just for
the picture one would get But, bah,
what am | thinking about? What is
this to me-
Nevertheless he sighed as he went
back half heartedly to his work again.
Till very recently this work had been
his pride and his life Now as he took it
up it seemed like task, almost u bur
den. There was a woman's face-a
handsome but not a welcome face-be-
fore his eyes night and day. Something
was wrong with DR.. Lamar, something
seriously wrong with him, something
from which even his science might not
save him.
sTo BE CONTINUED.