Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-07-25


through the window she could ser
James leaning over the wall at thu
foot Of the lawn engaged in deep con
with an acquaintance. 81
the outcome Of her mental argumentt
for and against this step was that She
bravely assembled the stairs. went
along the fern-decorated corridor to
the door Of the room which had haunt
ed her so much of late. To her sur
prise she missed the key from the nail
where it usually hung. Then she no.
ticed It in the lock, and that the door
was slightly ajar. Thinking this was
perhaps due TO the negligence OF the
servants, the Young wife entered and
stood in the center Of the room--a tar
get for sharp memories which were
sh ooting into her heart from esverat
iects in the boudoir-Jeanne'e couch
and chair. the divan where she had
once seen her husband with his arm
around his wife. Blapche's face was
set with keenest suffering as she
turned her back on the canopied bed
with it's lace coverings. rich tapestries
and down-filled pillows. She was
wondering if, after all, the visit wa.
going to be productive of good when
she heard q slight rapping noise about
Mrs Goddard's escritoire, which was
hidden from her view by q ia II screen
of painted silk in frame of mahog-
any Blanche advanced and looked
over it. To her horror she saw man
trying to fit key into the lock of the
desk. Happening to glance upward
at that instant his startled eyes met
hers.
Blanche uttered a scream Of fright
and shrank back
For Gods sake, don'tl am not a
thief. miss" exclaimed the man, ris-
ing head and shoulders above the
screen, the key falling from his
hands.
Blanche paused. The thought that
she was alone with MIN in the great
house showed her the fatihty o. fight,
but it was the earnestness Of his dec
laration of innocence which de tasr ed
her. Besides, now that she had the
man fully in view there Yves some
thing in the regretfui EXPIRE ssion CT
his rather sad face which INSPIRED con-
fdence. He was well dressed, his hair
and short beard were white as snow,
though his face did not bear testi-
mony TO more than 80 years Of age
Ill" began Blanche, but she was
unable to steady her voice.
~ know appearances are dead
against me-" said the intruder. but
hope you won't Judge me too harsh
lv. 7 am a sort OF detective engaged
in ferretng cut case touching lac
personally"
Blanche stood. her hand on the door.
still agitated.
Were you admitted by-by tho
servant?" she asked.
81 must confess that avoided him"
answered the intruder III you will
let me pass you, viii go downstairs;
but l want to explain. l cannot have
you think"
81 don't think I am afraid OF you"
said Blanche, strangely Gained by hts
slanuer and tone OF voice. II know
that detectives sometimes resort 10
bold methods"
Put I am not a professional detec-
tive" said the man, as he picked up
| his hat, which had fallen 10 the foor.
"As / said, l am seeking information
that concerns me alone II you wish
you may call your manservant and he
may be near while l try to explain nv
presence here. You have perfect
right to hand me over to the police.
and If you are generous enough to let
me go, should want TO repay you by
perfect frankness on my part. Be-
sides, II l am right in my suspicious, l
have a most important revelation to
make to the owner of this house"
"You interest me in spite of N.Y.
self" said Blanche. But perhaps we
ought to go down TO the drawing
room"
"You are quite right" acquiesced
the stranger. and, with a 6eferential
bow. he passed Blanche on the thresh-
DID of the chamber and descended the
stairs. OF his own accord he turned
into the drawing room. our heroine
followed and paused near the door
way, She felt perfectly secure, with
out knowing why
Twill You pardon me II I ask who
you are2" he said, with an apologies
infection Of voice. Are you related
to Maj. Goddard?"
81 am his wife - said Blanche, sim
ply,
What? Oh mol Surely not"
81 have not misinformed YOU" said
Blanche.
His face had fallen.
"Then l have made an aw'ul mis-
take" he said, land | owe You and
the major thousand apologies.
hope you will pardon me. ! have been
following false clew, and vet" He
seemed to have his first opinion forti-
fed by memory, and vet / can't see
how l can be off the track so badly
1t would undo me entirely, Surely
you did not have millinery est0 b.
lishment on Fifth avenue up 10 the
time of your marriage.
NO" said Blanche. with a start;
perhaps You are thinking of Maj
Goddard's first wife
"Has he been married twice." cried
the stranger, "Why, only two month:
aco-"
"Mrs Goddard died or was drowned
about two months ago"
"My Cod" he shrark hack as il She
Nod St1,uaL him, IN, tho fora