Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-20
AN ITEM OF NEWS.

yFN-"-J | IIuulilUIS. t1uitlg lIlC
>---a------> creature could not
have souirmed through that tangle of
humanity between Brenda and the
door of the car. Yet there he was.
standing close against her knees and
looking straight up into her face.
Often the eyes of children seem to
read our hearts it is because they are
superficial views. Adults try to look
in through our eyes, and they fail, and
we note the failure; but children do not
try. and we, seeing them satisfied, trem-
bic for our .nmost secrets.
Brenda shook her head to intimate
that she had no wish to buy the news,
but the boy did not move. He contin-
ued to hold his papers before her, gaz-
Ing over them into her face meanwhile
with an unwinking stare.
1t was probable that if she bought a
paper the boy would pass on so Brcn-
da laid a hand upon her purse. The
hand remained there rigid, and for
some slow seconds the ragged urchin
and the smooth product Of all the social
rn6nements were like figures on can
vas, both for fiXty Of pose and for bal
ance Of contrasting expressions, the
child still calmly staring, his utter ig-
norance countcrfeiting wisdom, the wo-
man tense and eager, her eyes search
ing and unsatisned.
II will take this paper" she said,
speaking with considerable effort and
She gave the boy a coin.
Presently she stood upon the side
walk Of Broadway, gazing across at the
ugly hrick front of the opera house
with confused notion that it could
give her important information, but
was perversely refusing to do so.
She merely wished to know where
she was, and the familiar scene i'm
pressed her as if she had not been
there in long time and had forgotten.
Then her mind became clear. She
paused in deep thought and at its end
raised her hand as if TO beckon to a
cabman; but. changing her purpose
she stepped into n doorway and read
once more the item in the paper that
the little boy had thrust under Der eyes.
At the first glance one who knew
y
lay outside her world and could not in
terest her. However, it was what
journalist might call good news" and
therefore it was printed with the lines
very far apart by way of emphasis,
and it bore the marks Of haste. Thus
it ran:
Elsie Miller. an actress living at 14s West Thir
ty.eiFhth street, was stabbed by person un
known in h r room this afternoon.
Il is lodging house owned and occupied by
M. Alice Simmons. Miss Miller had lived in the
rear room, cu the first floor for some months.
The crime was discovered by servant who en-
tered the room and found Miss Miller unconscious
pn tie floor. DR., A. g. Blair Of 100 West Thirty
Eighth street VS. hastily summoned, and lie pro-
bounced the wound mortal 1t is jus, below the
rollar bone, on the left side, extending sharply
downward within the body and undoubtedly pierre
Ing the outer wall of the heart. That Miss Miller
Mould have survived the wound longer than few
econds is regarded miraculous by Dr. Blair
md other ply sicans, several Of wholn including
Ambulance Surgeon Darlington Of st. Winifred's
hospital. at the house within a few minutes
after the discovery OF the crime.
The weapon hunting knife, having long
blade and a deer's foot handle. The blade is PEE
ruliar, being much thinner than that of the ordi-
nary bunting knife. 1t found the floor
beside the body A servant says that She has seen
the knife in Miss Muers within the las,
lew days.
On a table in the room was letter which may
Explain the whole affair. The police have it and
.tfuse to divuse its contents. but it is known
Nat sne writer is Clarence NJ. Alden. a broker
NTH an office Broad street. He is the only son
81 the late St Clair Alden. who practically dis
Inherited him
Miss Miller is a very beautiful girl, tall and Of
Ne brunette type. Size is % years old, She play
ID the part OF Mamie in The Houeybee," al
-ftl urOduCrd in this
FEARS ago. Since then her work has not been seen
here.
Brenda walked down Broadway to
Thrty-eighth street and turned west
ward. Immediately she perceived the
motley crowd which the news of the
crime had brought together, and she
hesitated. Then, shutting her lips
FIRMLY together, she resumed her orig
inal purpose.
The house numbered 14S had high
stoop and yard the size OF n dinner
table, il which the grass was green and
well watered though the neighboring
yards were brown with the heat and
drought of that remarkable month OF
June. The house itself had an air OF
noatncss and the flavor of home, but
lis privacy had been invaded first by
crime and then by all the train that fol
lows il. The door stood ajar for pry
ing eyes, and the two gigantic polite
men lounging at the head of the steps
seemed the chief intruders rather thar
the guardians OF the place. Brenda
for all that was upon her mind, felt tie
dissertation and shuddered at it,
The policemen. who had been leaning
against the ratings stood erect anC
put their shoulders together as Brenda
assembled the steps, They seemed tC
fill all the space and their heads to tow
er to the house top. But the thing must
be gone through with now, and Brenda
gathered all her force.
II am a friend OF Miss Miller" she
said. ''Please LEI me 90 in"
Nobody can 90 in now" replied ON
of the men.
rs she ucad e.
Brenda was framing other question
in her mind, but this one uttered itself
The policemen exchanged glance
Then one Of them replied with a single
word, NO" At this moment there wa
stir in the hall. Hearing it, the 20
licemen began slowly to descend tn,
steps, Brenda retreated before them
and not a word was spoken She wa
UrpCSp1 into tba a1ua of bo ,rn,rd n