Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-12-12
CHAPTER V.

- RAG WYNDHAM had been
III only n few moments in the
w. cafe of the club when cavd
was given to him by one of
the servants. Upon it was engraved.
Carlos de Escudera v Romero, 4 In
carnaccon, Ciudad de Mcjico."
ASK the gentleman if he will not
join me here" he said to the servant.
and presently, approaching him, he
discovered the same parsonage whom
he had twice seen that evening and
whom he verify believed to be the as
sassn of Burr Pendleton.
With a look Of unrecognition in his
eyes Wyndham rose from his chair to
receive the stranger, extending his
right hand ms cordially MS if he did not
believe the one it grasped to be guilty
Of the foulest deed he had ever known.
"Mr. Craig wyndham?' said the
stranger intcrrogatively. The friend
of Mr.. Burr Pendleton?"
Yes" replied Wyndham, noticing
that EScudera used perfect English.
"Your name is not known to me, how
ever. Will you be seated, sir?"
THANK you. | also claim friendship
with Mr.. Pendlcton. l made his ac-
quaintance in Mexico, where We had
many pleasant hours together, | met
him here early this evening-befoYe the
dinner hour, in fact-and expected to
see him again about this time. | have
heard him speak Of YOU so often that
when the clerk at the desk told me
your name-I entered the club imme-
diately after you'll took the liberty OF
sending my card to YOU
Il am very glad that you did so. Mr.
PendletOn and | had only just met
when he was called away, doubtless
by YOU. | also expected him here about
this time. We will wait for him to-
gethcr. In the meantime be my guest,
Mr.-pardon me, but | am unused to
Spanish names. May l ask how you
pronounce your nameY
II use the first one of the two, Es-
cudera. Yes. did leave the club with
Pendleton. In fact, j went to his
house with him, but remained only a
moment | discovered that he was
very tired and SO agreed to meet him
here later, where he did me the honor
to say that he would present me TO
you"
Wyndhan's eyes sparkled for one
brief instant. for he knew that state
ment to be lie. He knew that Pen
dleton did not intend to return to the
club that night and that he had not
promised such an introduction to the
Mexican for the very reason that he
expected to spend the evening in his
rooms with Wyndham. 1t was the
first tally in the score that lie intended
to make against the Mexican.
Refreshments and cigars were order
ed and two hours passed while the
men conversed upon every subject that
either could think to introduce, and at
last II was the stranger who suggested
that the hour was so late that there
was small chance that Pendleton would
appear at the club that night
1t was Wyndham's suggestion that
they should go ont together, and they
strolled along the avenue side by side
! as far as the hotel where the Mexican
was stopping, After that Wyndham
returned to the club and. finding a
number of congenial friends engaged
at one of the card tables, played with
them until daylight,
II was rarely that he die such a
| thing. but that night he had especial
| reasons for it, and never had he APP
| tcarcd to better advantage or played
| the game with more scrupulous care.
Always during the game it seemed
| to him that he could see his friend us
he saw him in the sleeping room Of his
| apartment sitting dead in the chair in
| the corner and at such moments death
| ~ faintness stole over him, which re-
| CURED all his strength of will to con
| quer.
lie knew that he was mourning a
| deadly risk in acting rs he Lad done,
| for If ii should appear that he had been
| TO pcndleton's rooms suspicion, which
might in any case attach to him, would
in the minds Of many take the form Of
| certainty.
Still for The plan that he had formed
| during the few moments when he stood
| by the window while James wept near
bn lnQinA