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

he knew the young woman and
"Yes," responded the captain, "thcy
were acquainted And, by the way.
perhaps you're familiar with the young
sentlcman's handwriting. We found
a note on the letter head of Ills frrl.
Let me see. what did do with it? oh,
here it is. Perhaps you'd like to glance
1t through"
lie extended his hand, but Brenda
did not take the sheet of paper which
he offered.
II could not read this" she said,
with slight shudder. ut was not
meant for me-"
A faint expression of surprise hui
manzed the officers face for n mo-
ment.
THAT don't make any difference" he
said. eth have to be published. Every
body II read It,"
Brenda glanced at DR.. Blair, who
bowed his head.
an that case" she said. though 1t
seems an outrageous intrusion
"There's no help for it," rejolned the
captain, with grin. which he used in
place of frown. "Wc've got to find
the person that done this deed, and
we've got to make use OF this note to
do it,"
Brenda took the paper and read these
words:
'Mfy Dearest Dear-All goes so well that must
send word to you at | can't wait till even
ing, when may see you, AMI, indeed, dear love.
there is some doubt whether ! shall be able to
quit work before midnight At any rate, 1t bids
fair TO be late that should not dare scandali2s
Mrs Simmons by calling upon you. So | write
this and make bold to put little money into
it--fve hundreds. Don't let them Brighten you.
remember perfectly that you weren't TO touch a
penny, but l rely upon the letter that wrote
last evening TO knock all your arguments into
smitherecns. thought Of lot of points after
leaving you. and cited the best presidents. Ii a
fellow is rich-as ! am today, thank heaven-hc
may help his sweetheart to buy her trousseau. II
you don't believe it, write to your mother, and
while you're waiting for an answer buy the pretty
clothes anyhow. All. my beloved
Brenda had come to the end Of the
pale, was flushed, and her voice was
not quite steady as she said:
II can't read any more. 1t is dis
honorable and unnecessary"
"Ah. my beloved" said the captain,
taking the letter and reading the re-
mainder aloud in a stumbling voice,
with half an eye on Brenda all the
time
I'VE shall be so happy, youth and love and
money and the whole world before us-the sum
mer in Norway, tho fall upon the continent, the
the best, and next June shall find US in Venice
and our twelfth honeymoon in the sky. Think Of
this, sweetest OF travellers, whose favorite book
has always been the atlas. Think of it as you 20
shopping this afternoon with your pocket full Of
money. 1t is all settled; the chains broken
We are to be married your mother can
come east to behold the ceremony. And then
away to see the world and the shrines OF 20
centuries Of lovers My heart and my hith to
you CLARENCE
In the captains mouth these love
words had the sound of blasphemics,
and Brenda shrank back to the limit
of the room with Dr. Blair, who seem
ed to be scarcely less affected by the
Dissertation.
"The money wasn't found" said the
officer after Il brief. shrewd scrutiny of
Brenda. The note was on the table,
I
but none Of those hundred dollar bills
that we read about. Come; III show
you where we found it,"
II don't think l want to go in there"
said Brenda family. Il am going to
the hospital to see whether can be of
any help TO her"
You'll have to arrange that through
| the police" was the reply. "and IL can't
be done until l get some word from
there, So l suggest that we take an
| other look at the scene of the crime"
He stepped back from the door, and
Brenda passed out of the room, intend,
| ing to leave the house, but again she
found herself between the captain and
one Of his men, and again she obeyed
an unspoken order, following one of
them while the other followed her.