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

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chances.
What nervous force he was compelled
| TO exert in order not to manifest the
perturbation he felt during those hours
of the night nobody but himself could
ever know, end when he left the club
in the full light of the early morning
in the company of one of his compan-
ions in the game it brought the first
moment of relief he had had from the
terrible strain.
At his own door he left his friend
and, saying that he would get two or
! three hours sleep. entered the house
where he lived. He knew that he was
in position to prove an alibi for every
hour that had passed since he parted
with pcndleton except those that were
really the most vital-between 3 and
! 10 o'clock the preceding evening-and
| for those he must trust to nerve and
chance in case the question should
arise.
As soon as he was in his own room
he carefully examined the papers that
he had taken from the safe and in the
| interest he felt in them for the time
partially forgot the awful reason for
| the examination.
| From them he selected several which
he concealed. The others he destroyed.
! But after he had bathed and refreshed
| himself, thus destroying all outward
appearance of the effect of the events
of the past night upon him, he return
ed to the club for his breakfast.
a 81
key to many things that he did not I'M
derstand. and he felt certain that as
soon as he could have a protractcd talk
with old James he would be enabled to
see his way clearly before him. The
mystery by which Pendleton was sur
| rounded was beginning to unfold.
At the club he met Carleton Biggs, a
character whose prototype may be
found in almost every club of promi-
nence in New York. They belong to
the has beens" in that they are among
| the oldest members are always serving,
on some committee and have from
some mysterious source income sufli-
cient to pay their dues and purchase
an occasional meal. But they are al
ways ready to accept an invitation to
breakfast or dine and regard their
abilities 10 entertain as sufficient equiv
alent for the favor. More than that.
! they are ever ready to perform any
slight gcntlemanlv service which will
place one of their benefactors under
obligations to repeat the invitation at
the first opportune moment. Wynd-
ham desired Biggs to perform Just such
a service for him, and for that reason
invited him to take breakfast.
When they had lighted their cigars,
| Wyndham put out his feelcr.
'By Jove" he said. at is too bad
that Pendleton has not come in. Did
you see him last night. Carleton:"
NO. l heard that he was back, but
did not see him"
'I1c was to meet me here during the
evening and did not come. Then
supposed he would blow in for his
breakfast. l really ought to get word
to him before | go down town, and yet
l Ia vent the time. I'll have to write
a line and send it down by messcn-
ger boy"
Biggs fidgeted an instant in his chair
and then took the bait.
I'm going down that way presently"
he said. 81 had it in mind to drop in
and see Burr anyway. so if l can carry
a message for you, old man
"Would you? That is just the thing.
1t will be a great favor. Carleton, il
you will take the trouble"
"No trouble mt all. | intended to stop
there anyhow, you know. VIII You
| write the message, or shall
"Certainly not. Just tell him that
1t is very important that he should