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

lie would therefore escape. By con-
Meeting him with the affair mt all we
would strengthen the position lie is in,
for you may be sure that he has plan
ned thoroughly to save himself. On the
other hand James, there are those who
will suspect you of the crime"
James started back with cry of hor.
ROY.
Suspect mc.' he almost shouted.
eyes, james. If you look at it calm
ly. you will see that am right, ana,
James, that is precisely what | want
tie world to believe. want you sus-
pocted of this crime, but only for
time"
But why, sir. why?"
$50 that the person who really did
it may be thrown off his guard: so that
| will have time to work out TO the
end all of the facts connected with the
crime that | now know so little about;
so that l may have time to guard
against the revelation OF things that |
am sure Burr Pendeton desired never
TO be known; so that l may he enabled
to fulfill what | know would be his
wish were he still alive to direct us
what to do, and finally so that | may
in the end palsy the hand that struck
your master to death. Mr.. pendleton
lived in shadow, James-a shadow of
the past. He guarded it jealousy. even
from me, his closest friend. Now it
becomes my duty to work it out until |
know all that | am sure he meant to
tell me tonight. Lastly, James, there
is one reason more vital than all. 1t
IS more than probable that suspicion
will fall upon me also. | think the
man who committed tie deed will en-
doavor to bring that about. If you
disappear, thus convincing others that
you are guilty, it will leave me free to
work; if | am hampercd in any way,
that fact will play into the hands Of
the enemies of Mr. Pendlcton. Will
you do what | wish you to do, James,
Il will do whatever you think best,
Mr. Wyndham.' replied the old man
simply. Il know that Burr loved you
and trusted you more than any other
person in the world. Tell me what l
am 10 do, sir, and will do it,
Then you must leave the house at
once, taking nothing with you. will
write an address upon this card where
you are TO 90. Assume the name of
Thomas Judson. Wait; will write a
line for you TO take with YOU"
"Wyndham tore leaf from his note
book, wrote rapidly upon it and passed
it to the old servant.
"Glvc it to the lady who will admit
you ut that address. Wait there for
me until | come, no matter how long
that time may be. Will you do it,
james,
yes, sir"
James, very much in the manner of
one who is stupetled, found his hat and
then returned to the room where
Wyudham was awaiting him. The
friend of his master was still standing
in the middle of the floor and evidently
had not moved after the instant when
James left him.
81 am ready, sir" he said "Can I
would il be possiblc-l mean are you
willing that I should see-him-before
go?"
"No. James" was the calm reply.
$50 as you are. Forget that you have
seen him at all except as you saw him
last In life. What comes after that
ah, well. Go as you are, James. Do
not forget your oyercoat. The night is
cold"
James hcsitated at the door He
ct nd oil lint
ham was still III the same position in
the middle of the floor. He did not
raise his head or make a sign, and the
old servant stepped sadly into the hall
and closed the door.
Wyndham still remained in the atti-
tude Of one who is listening. He could
in fact, hear the old mans footballs as
he descended the stairs; he could hear
the bang Of the outer door when it
closed, and not until then did he make
move. Even then he only raised his
head, SO that he could listen more in
tently, and waited.
Many minutes passed in this manner,
but at last, as If satisfied that there
was no chance that james would re-
the windows, after which he helped
himself to portion of the brandy ON
the center table.
After that, with distinct deliberation,
he opened again the door which COM
municated with the room where Pen
dletOn's body had been discovered.
He approached 1t and for moment
stood silently regarding the grewsome
aspect. Twice he sighed deeply. Once
he bent forward and intently examined
the hilt Of the weapon that had taken
the life of his friend. but he did not
touch the body or the chair in which
II rested. once he looked toward the
doOr-he had left Il jar-but not with the
startled glance of one who expects TO
discover somebody peering in upon
the scene; it was more as If he were
measuring the distance and relieving
by calculation some mathematical
doubt that still possessed him.
There was safe in one corner Of the
rcCm, one of those little iron safes
that lock with q key. The key was
in the lock, and from 1t dangled others
attached by II rlng-a ring that he had
often seen In the possession of his
friend.
He threw the door of the safe open
without hesitation, and with an air Of
familiarity that is Understandable Sc