Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-10-08
ear he hain't a cent of it now.~

"Do you mean that. PoleW Abner
stared across the wide hearth ut him
fixedly.
He hain't got It, Uncle Alb" Pole
was beginning to smile mystcriously
"He did have 1t, but he hain't got 1t
now. l got it from i'm, blast his ugly
pictur'!"
"You got it?' gaspcd Daniel. you"
"Yes. ! made up my mind he had it,
an 1t deviled me so much that l dc.
tcrmined to have it by hook or crook
Of it killed me or put me in hook the
rest O. my life" Pole rose and took
packet wrapped In brown paper from
under his rough coat and laid it on the
table near Alan. God bless you, old
boy" he said, "thars yore money! It's
all thar. l counted it. It's in ffties
an hundreds"
Breathlessy and with expanded eyes
Alan broke the string about the packet
and opened 1t.
Great Godv' he muttered
Miller sprang up and looked at the
stack of bills, but said nothing. Abner,
leaning forward, uttered a little, low
laugh.
"You--you didn't kill i'm, did you.
Pole, old boy-you didn't, did you?" he
asked.
Didn't harm a hair Of his head"
said Pole. "All wanted was Alan's
money. an thar it isw
Well grunted Daniel, I'm glad
you spared his life. And thank God
you got the money"
Miller was now hurriedly running
over the bills.
"Nou say you counted 1t, Baker," he
said, pale with pleased excitement
Three times--fust when it was turn.
cd over to me an twice on the way
out heer from town"
Mrs Bishop had not spoken until
now. standing in the shadows of tn
others. as il bewildercd 10y what seem
Cd mocl-ins impossiblity.
rs it o." Il oney-is it ourn ?" sh
fpalt,' i,scd voice to say. ooh, is it
Pole, =
"Yes'm." replied Pole: cts yo'rn."
He produced q crumpled piece Of pa.
per and handed 1t to Miller. "Heers
Craig's order on his wife fer It, an in
it he acknowledge it's the cash depos-
tied b. Mr. Bishop. He won't give
me no trouble. I've got i'm fixed. He'll
Rave barley in the mornin'. He's
afecrd this ii git out an he'll be
lynchcd."
Alan was profoundly moved. He
transferred his gaze from the money
to Poles face and leaned toward him.
YOU did It out Of friendship for me-"
ne said his voice shaking.
That's what I did it fer, Alan. an
I wish could do it over ag'in. When
| laid hold o that wad an knowed it
was the thing you wanted moren any
thing else, felt like flynn"
Tell us all about it, Baker" said
Miller wrapping up the stack Of bills.
"All right" said Pole. but Mrs. Bsh-
OF interrupted him.
wait fer Alfred" she said, her voice
rising and cracking in delight. wait;
I'll run fir d i'm"
She went out through the dining room.
toward the stables, calling her hus-
band at every step. alfred. Oh. AL
frod!"
"Heerl" she heard him call out from
one of the stables.
She leaned over the fence opposite
the closed door, behind which she had
heard his voice.
"Oh, Alfred she called. Come
out, quick I've got news fer you
big, big news
She heard him Grunbling as he emp
lieG some ears of corn into the trough
Of the sta containing Alan's favorite
horse and then wi IA a growl he emerg
ed into the starlight.
That fool niger only give Alan's
boss six ears o corn" he fumed. II
know, beca'so | counted the cobs. The
boss had licked the trough clean an
gnawed the ends o the cob3. The idea
- starvin' my stock right before my
"Oh, Alfred, what do you think has
happencd:" his wife broke IN. we've
cot the bank money back. Pole Baker
managed somehow to get it. He's go
m to tell about it now. Come on in"
Bishop closed the door behind him.
He fumbed with the chain and pad
locF for an instant, then he moved to-
ward her, Bis lips hanging. his eyes
protruding
"Ill believe my part o that when
But" she cried, opening the gate
for him to pass through the moneys
thar in the house on the table, it's been
counted. | say it's thar! Don't you
believe it,"
The old man moved through the gate
mechanically. He paused to fasten it
with the iron ring over the two posts.
But after that he seemed to lose the
power Of locomotion. He stood facing
her, his features working.
I'm believe my part O. that cat-an'
bull story when | see
We'll, come in the house, then" she
cried. You kin lay yore hands on it
an count it. It's an awful big pile, an
nothin' less than fifty dollar bills"
Grasplng his arm, she half dragged,
half led him into the house. Enter
/ ing the sitting room, he strobe TO the
! table and, without word, picked up
/ the package and opened 1t. He made
an effort to count the money, but his
| fingers seemed to have lost their cum
ming and he gave It up
ITS all tfere," Miller assured him,
land rs your money. You needn't
bother about that"
Bishop sat down in his place in the