Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-03-26

WHAT'S TIE MArTER?" DEMANDED,
SHARPLY.
my uncle 20 do this thing wher Nor.
man, as the principal stakeholder IN tho
Twenty-scventh street company, was
sure to be terribly involved. Of one
thing l am certain: Norman had no
suspicion of the way things stood, as
between the two companies. He re-
lied entirely upon his relations with
my uncle's family to save him."
Miss Davis fortune will be ample
to ro4uite him for any loss he may suf-
fer" said Stalbridge. Her father
will, of course deal literally with her
when she marrics. And besides, as 1
have already said, / think 1t is his in
tcntion to fix Norman all right when
the consolidated stock is issued. re-
peat that l expect to see him president
of the Union"
THAT is an absurd false hood " re.
torted. you are trying to drive him
10 desperation that you may break or
the match. If it were conceivable that
she would accept you, ! should believe
that you had designs upon my cousins
hand"
"She is n charming woman" said
Stnlbridge, calmly.
l was anxious TO break off thc con-
versation. My object in talking with
Stalbridge had already been attained,
] had wished to learn what was going
to happen to Norman in this bad busl-
ness of the absorption of his enterprise
by that which my uncle NORMALLY,
but Stalbrdge actually, guided.
knew Stalbridge's methods SO well that
/ was able to judge of the truth or
falsity of what he had said about my
uncle's intentions toward Norman. t;
perceived that he had come as near the
truth as he ever did; that my uncle was
going to make reparation to Norman
unless Stalbridge succeeded in pre-
venting him from doing So That the
rascal for once distrustcd his power
over my uncle and feared that Normans
interests would be guarded, could
read in his eyes. 1t was, then. timo
for me to go upon the mission that had
brought me downtown; which vas to
AS matter of fact, knew that that
cause needed all my effort. My uncle's
consent to the marriage was thing not
to be depended upon. had been sur
prsed when it had been dragged out Of
bin; and had looked for him TO change
his mind at any moment.
| turned about abruptly, and began
towalk back toward the Ann Street bank
building. Stalbridge kept by NY side.
! could not shake him of. We entered
the building together, by the side door,
which is very little used, as there is
no elevator in that hall.
Ny uncles room was on the third
floor at the rear. The Union lines had
gorgeous offices at the front; my uncle'S
room was hidden away. There was no
name on the door. Nobody else. but
Stalbridge had desk there, even the
harmless, necessary typewriter being
banished.
Stalbridge knocked. That was his
invariable custom, and it gave me u
bad impression of the room, as n place
where secret meetings were held-meet-
ings of two where neither dared permit
witness to be present.
There was no answer to Stalbridge's
knock.
mfr. Davis must have gone out" he
said. "Will you wait for him?"
He drew out his key and tried to put
1t into the Jock, but it mot "a OBJ
stacle.
"There's key on the inside" he
whispered. "Hc must he there, after
all"
At that moment I heard something
fall with faint ring on the carpet
within, and following that sound there
came low, sobbing cry, and then a
crash.
Stalbridge, who, because Of his
strange stature, was bending over the
lock, suddenly Strengthened up, and
turned almost around. He leaned
against the door. l had never seen Il
live mans face look as his looked then
The hound was thoroughly frightened
/ seized the key out of his hand un.
locked the door, and flung it open. AS
/ did so, door upon the other side OF
the room closed with n snap. This ]
perceived mechanically, for my gaze
was riveted upon my uncle.
lie was on dis knees beside his desk
his face turned toward me. One hand
clutched the desk for support; the other
was pressed upon his breast.
He knew mel could read it in his
eyes. lie tried 10 speak. but only
gasped; and then fell forward on his
face.
Death proclaimed himself in that
heavy fall. Even the manner of it wa.
evident, at least to my eye, which Is no.
wholly unframed
knew that my uncle had died of O
wound from a sharp-pointed weapon
Instantly knelt by his side and turned
him upon his back. The rush of blood
was dreadful. 1t came straight from
the heart.
All the world could not help him. My
thought flashed to the murderer and
remembered the closing of that door
on the instant of our entrance. sprana
toward it; beat it down, and rushed
into the little room beyond.
1t was entirely empty There was nc
other door but that by which hac
entered. ran to an open window, and
looked down sheer wall to q pave,
court.