Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1895-11-14

on after pause. "Ae must know that
l had luck tonight when she came to
the table"
"If that's the case. sir" said l, the
sooner the moneys in the bank at
Brcst, the better for us
"Ye speak truth" exclaimed he, 'bur
who's to take it?"
"I'Il start at dawn" said |; mean
while there's no need for me to go to
sleep. I'm used tc night out Of bed
now and then"
and what shall do?"
$50 on us usual, but take the first
train TO Paris in the morning. don't
fancy the police as footmcn myself
nor you neither, imagine?"
He said that he did not. and when he
had given me the money-and the
promise of two hundred and fifty, if
got through safe with it--he went back
to the others as fad suggested. But
/ returned to my room, and locking my
self in ! waited for the dawn like a sick
man Many anxious nights have passed
in my life, but that was the worst OF
them all. Every whistle of the wind on
led SGT my nerves agog. 1t seemed TO
me that | should never get out of the
house with the money-pcrhaps not
with my life. \ hundred times must
have gone to my window to watch the
park a hundred times | thought |
heard footsteps on the staircase and
opened my door to listen. Yet the first
- ifrht Nti ,. T
was. Not a soul appeared to be in the
grounds of the chateau. The ord house
doomed up out of the cold mists like a
great deserted temple. Look where
you would, you could see nothing but
the trees and the green of the grass.
The only sound was the shrill twitter-
ing of the birds in the bushes.
Ten minutes after the dawn had come
] left my room AMI set out upon the
journey. | had TIED the money round
my waist and had loaded my revolver
before | started; but once in the park,
these precautions and my fear all night
looked pretty foolish. 1t was plain
that | was the only man then about
Mime. Paulines place. Even the cattle
we're still lying upon the wet grass,
the horses still sleeping in the mead
ows. AS it was in the gardens, so
found it in the woods. The night
keepers had gone to their beds; the
dairNmen were not yet out of doors.
a beautiful stiffness was everywhere;
II freshness of the morning which was
like champagne TO a man. And had
l.. ., -,
came back to me, and began to laugh
out aloud at the little chap in the bowler
hat who had put the thing into my head
the night before.
Good Lord" said |, that you should
fuster a man so, when ! daresay she
had no more thought of doing such "A
thing than of marrying Nicliy. But
that's always the way with policemen
they aren't content with what their
eyes can see, but want to look at it
through telescope. Rob him? Not
she, 80 long as he'll play for her"
was pretty well through the wood
at this time, and when the sun began to
shine it found me on the high road to
the railway station | had walked
perhaps mile down this when saw a
man on ahead of me, going my way,
but slower than | was; and at the Sec
ond look ! recognized him. He was
the very little detective | had laughed
at.
"Halloa. there!" / shouted, mighty
glad to get company in my walk
"What are you doing abroad Mt this
time of the morning?"
He waited for me to come up TO him.
and then he cried:
"Why, it's Bigg-and in hurry, too
you've put your thumb on it, said
/; land you didn't catch the count,
make sure, or you wouldn't be here.
Catch him!" exclaimed he; mo, not
quite. You don't take birds like hin
in the nest. He's too many sentinc!s.
lis the charge heavy one?' asked
as we walked along together.
CONTAINING diamond in London,
said he; "but there's dozen others
He's bad one right through, is Comt'
de Faugere.'
| said he must be, and then We bott
quickened up a bit.
"Ill be coming over here after Nicky
Steele, by and by, / fancy he re
marked. pleasantly, when we had GOV