Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-27
at club on the way to cash n check.

,
at club on the way to cash check.
Upon giving their names TO the SER
geant at the desk in the station they
were ushered into the captains room,
where, to their surprise, they found
both the officer and his prisoner. Neale
was sitting by desk in the corner
He had the cramped look and the dull
eye of a man who has neither moved
nor spoken in long time. Half n
cigar with a ragged end was between
his lips, and it seemed to have been
driven in with a hammer. Any one
who had known Neale for ten years
would have said that this was the
same cigar he had always been smok-
ing. There was tradition that he
had never been seen to light n fresh
one.
Alden was standing by barred win
dow looking out into a narrow, dark
court, with dead wall on the OPP
positc side There was nothing to at
tract q rational mans eye, but Alden
continued to stare even after Maclane
and the lawyer entered the room. He
greeted the two men by name. At the
sight Of Aldcn's face Maclane, who
was advancing toward him, stopped
short. 1t is not the barrier between
them which keeps the spectator in the
menagcrie from intruding upon the
privacy of the Gagged tiger; it Is the
look in the creatures eye.
Good evening, sir" said Alden
quietly. 81 am surprised to see you
here"
Maclane started at the sound of the
voice: it was so different from what he
expected.
"My daughter told me there was
some sort of trouble" he began.
at was very kind of her." said AL
den.
"You probably heard that Mr.. Alden
was under arrest" said the captain.
THAT isn't So He's held as witness.
| There's no charge against him. He
and | had little disagreement about
what was the right thing for him to do.
You see, he doesn't understand my po-
siton. I'm held accountable in these
]
trouble for no man." he went on. with
that profusion of negatives which is
often an ornament of his language in
moments of earnestncss, land If l
could see n decent way OF letting him
20 without getting myself into trouble,
why, I'd be glad to obige him and his
friends"
Permit me to consider the legal as
poet of the case" said the lawyer, sit
ting upon n corner of the table that
was in the middle of the room and fac
ing Neale, while the others were be-
hind him.
There was silence of half minute,
and then the lawyer got upon his feet.
at seems to be perfectly simple" he
said at last.
"lf you say so. that settles It," re-
piled Neale, rising and walking toward
the door. Sorry TO have troubled you
Mr.. Alden. Good night"
And he bowed as the three men
walked out, Maclanc weak and trem-
bling with excitement, Alden perfectly
mechanical. AS they passed the ser
Geant's desk the lawyer discovered
that he had left his cane in the cap
tains room, and he returned. He was
absent about five minutes, ut the eXp
ration of which time he joined Maclane
upon the sidewalk. Alden was moi
there.
"Iie has gone to the hospital in on,
cab" said Maclanc. The man is in
trance. lie scarcely spoke ten words
What detained YOU"
The captain was showing me &:
present that he had just bought for hi
little boy" replied the lawyer. 1T
one of those iron banks. 'That'll maxi
: him thrifty, like his father said TN
captain. SO. to encourage the child,
sinking his voice to Il whisper, Il pu
$500 into ror bank while the captain
was lookin" out of the window. PEI
haps you didn't notice that | countc,
some of my fingers as | sat on the cor
ner Of the table; not so many as | ha
expected. but Neale was really glad I
2 get rid OF him. It's the easy way al
around"
"Only $500" exclaimed Maclanc
: "Wcll that was easy"