Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-05-01

Tom lcBSl Alden hcld IL III his
EH Nj hands he heard one
Va ~ Ih heavy blow upon the
N/RPTM door, and then Neale
NkZS-EasD STROBE into the room.
whats thisw he demanded Gel.
mendorf, didn't tell you to let this
man alone?"
'I'll let him alone now, captain" said
Elmendorf you can bury him. And
see that you bury everything else too.
This whole case Is on the quiet. / can
steer things Mt headquarters with lit
tie money, Mr.. Alden. and Joe Neale
must take care Of the precinct. This
is a mysterious suicide, Neale: due
probably to financial trouble or i'll
health. 1t has no relation to the case
of Miss Miller"
"Since when did 1 take orders from
you?" cried Neale.
"Since got hold Of this" replied FL
mendorf, showing the partnership
agreement. 81 know the whole game.
Neale, and you can't stand it just
now"
That's off anyhow said Neale, with
deep bitterness. Duncan Maclane
was too smart. He has got the iIol-
bein company's option himself, for the
gent who was to have been his son-in-
law, of course"
And he Bowed grotesquely to Alden.
"Maclane smcllcd a rat after he had
given up to Blair" he continued, land
so he stepped in ahead of us. And
now, Elmendorf. I'm willing to call
this thing Il draw on your terms. III
attend to matters hefA strictly on the
quiet. and you take care of your own
end of it as we'll as you can. Is it a
goy'
at is" replied the detective. GAS
soon as I get my head patched up I'll
go down to headquarters and get Rob
inson out or start things moving that
way. And you, Mr. Alden"
81 am going back to st. Winifred's,
was the reply.
When Alden reached the hospital, he
went at once to Kendalls room, from
which place he sent word of his ar
rival Both the doctor and Brenda
presently Joined him.
IL think the danger is all over" said
Kendall, taking Alden's hand. ''This
last attack Of faintness was to be ex-
pected; but do not look for any re-
currence. But how is 1t with you:
Something serious has happened?"
Alden told them simply and directly
just what had occurred.
"She is free, them" exclaimed Bren-
da.
Yes, and partly by my hand" he re-
piled. Brenda. am glad Of it l am
glad to have been concerned in that
mans death. | am more than half a
savage. From the first instant, when
| learned that Elsie had been struck
down, l had scarcely more than one
idea one passion-the desire for venge.
ance. | wanted to kill with my own
hands the man who had done this
thing. All softer feelings were swal-
lowed up in that one desire"
at produced singular effect" said
Kendall, with a shudder.
you mean that | seemed to be guilty
Of this crime?" said Alden calmly.
well, there was murder in my heart
at the time, you see. and l cannot
blame any who misjudged me. And
now, Brenda" he said, drawing him
self up and cllnching his white and del
icate hands that gave so little hint of
their enormous strength, Il am glad
that l can go to her and tell her that
he IS dead; that that dreadful night
mare of the past need not hang over
her; that all these horrors"-
my friend" said Brenda, checking
him, you will do nothing of the kind.
He asked her in surprise what she
might mean.
"You will utter no such violent senti
ments," she said. ELSIE believes her
self sinner. She looks upon that folly
as If 1t were a terrible ofrense. and
what is much more important. she be
lieves that you will SO regard it, She
thinks that you will look upon her az a
girl disgraced by her own act and
saved by chance. The whole matter
has assumed shape utterly monstrous
in her eyes. Now, what will you do
thank God in her presence that the
dreadful drama closed with your hands
upon Blair's throat? Never, never
You will be very gentle always. YOU
will say to her in the beginning that
you love her dearly and that nothing
else matters In the least You will
speak as little as possible of this tan
gle OF crime. 1t is not important. DC
you comprehend? Love Is what mat