Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-11-26

their examination"
ALLOW me to commend your discre-
ton" said the officer.
81 think that is all the informa ton
I can give vou." said Wright, speak
ing as though weight were off his
mind.
81 would like to ask you few more
questions. which you can answer or
not. as YOU see it," said the chief,
kindly.
every WELL" said Wright resuming
his seat.
Before we get Al that. however.
YOU HAD better give me IA clearer idea
as to how we can find the body"
Are you familiar with the paths
leading through the woods p
"Ncs. there are two. One goes
straight through them and tcrm-
mates in thoroughfarc which leads
into the heart OF the city, while the
other makes detour and runs to-
ward the river, a person coming to-
ward Nilus aud having the choice of
paths would naturally take the
straight cut. as the other would cause
him considerable delay. suppose, of
course. that the body will be found
along HE direct path"
THAT would be the path taken by
an ordinary trHvclcr.' replied Wright
"but nay father. Nou must remember.
was ont hunting. and he would have
30 object in taking the short and fire.
quentcd way. His body was found
on the other path
"Trtc." said the chief. relcctively.
"a hunter rambics around consider
ably. We're Nou out hunting. too.
Mr. Wright?"
The question caused Wright to
change couutcnance. Evidently he
began to see that n suspicion was
creeping into the mind of the officer,
for there could be no doubt that he
was quick Of apprehension. He raj
lied and answered with sort of
honest defiance: III was merely n
whin. and / don't suppose that | am
accountable to the police for my
vhims."
NO one has minated that you
were accountable to the police for
anything." said the chief. coolly.
You come to me with certain infor-
nation. and ! am trying to get out
OF you all of the facts that | can
! find that you are Withholding
something from me. don't say
thar YOU haven't a good reason for
doing so. Nou come 10 NiluS for Il
purpose YOU will not reveal. and YOU
take an out-of-the-wav route for a
reason you will not give. You arc
moreover. the only man 50 far as is
known. who has seen the body Of
John +. Wright. Now. il is Just pos
siblc that YOU may know who the
murderer is; Or lie paused and
then said bluntly: ~ on may your
self have killed your father"
"Stop," cried Wright starting mp.
his eyes flashing. ~ on have no right
to make any such Inference. am
here NJ the dictates of duty TO give
you information that may lead to the
punishment of thC man who commit
ted this murder. The man who was
killed had treated me like IA dog in
stead of a son: but ! want to see his
small detective tactics viii not avail
you in my case. Your suspicious Of
my motives are absurd. and they do
no crelit - your sagdcitN. ! am an
unfortunate man. but if You were
good Judge of human nature. YOU
would know that | could never have
done such Il fcndish thing as this"
The chief listened to this impas-
stoned outburst with rather a bored
air When it was flushed. an amused
expression fitted across his face. He
had evidently made test and was
satisfied with the result. Without
paying the slightest attention to the
Young mans criticisms he resumed
quietly: "Well. since You have re-
fused to answer my last question.
will come TO another. With whom
do you live"
II live with my wife and child in
small cottage beyond the Bayou
Woods"
"\h! Nou are married? Have YOU
any objection 10 stating the condition
of your family?'
Wright's countenance fell. his ewes
became WiNiiul and he faltcrcd as lie
answered; III is terrible. My wife
we have-have nearly starved"
"Would no one help you?~
"No one"
Not even your father!'
"AIy father? You do not know
him. He was more ohduratc than