Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-09-03
up coldly and a wicked expression

flashed in his eyes.
Take my advice, old man." he
snarled ms he threw down his pen and
stared doggedly into Bishops face.
"Stick to your farming and don't waste
your time asking a professional lawyer
questions which have no bearing on
your business whatever. Now, really.
do I have to explain to you my per-
sonal reasons for not favoring the
Toinpkins people with al may say
any piece of informationY'
Bishop was now as white as death.
His worst suspicious were confirmed
he was n ruined man; there was no
further doubt about that. Suddenly he
felt unable to bride the contemptuous
fury that ragged within him.
IL think / know why you didn't tell
'em," was what he hurled at the law.
yer.
you think you dof"
Eyes; it was beca'se you knowed no
road was goin' to be built. You told
Pete Mosely the same tale you did me,
an Abe TOmpkins unloaded on i'm.
That's a way you have O dom busi-
ness"
Perkins stood up. He took his silk
hat from the top Of his desk and put
it IN. "Oh. yes, old man." he sneered;
In n terribly dishonest fellow. but
I've got company in this world. Now.
really. the only thing that has wor-
ried me has been your un-Christian act
in buying all that land from the Tomp-
kins heirs at such a low figure when
IT. ..sI-~aJ .-,Il -I-..-- H.
greatly. Mr.. Bishop, l thought you
were a good Methodist"
ooh, you kin laugh an teer all you
like" cried Bishop, but | can handle
you fer this"
"You are not as well versed in the
law as you are in fertilizers, Mr.. Bish-
op," sneered the lawyer. I'm order to
make a case against me you'd have to
publicly betray q matter l told to you
in confidence. and then what would
you gain? l doubt If the court would
force me to explain q private matter
like this where the interests of my clk
ents are concerned. and If the court
did l could simply show the letters l
have regarding the possible construc-
ton of a railroad in your section. IL
you remember rightly, | did not say
the thing was an absolute certainty.
On top of all this you'd be obliged to
prove collision between Inc and the
TOmpkins heirs over a sale made by
their attorney, Mr.. Trabue. There IL
one thing certain, Mr.. Bishop, and that
is that you have forfeited your right
TO any further confidence in this mat
ter. If the road is built. you'l find
out about it with the rest Of your peo-
pie. You think you acted wisely in at
tacking me This W y, but You have
simply cut off your nose 10 spite your
face. Now. I have a long car ride be-
fore me, and its growing late"
Bishop stood up. He was quivering
as with palsy. Els voice shook and
rang like hat Of a mailman.
You are a scoundrel. Perkins" he
said-'a dirty blacksnake in the grass.
l want to tell you that
well, I hope you won't make any
charge for it,"
NO; it's free" bishop turned TO the
door. There was a droop upon his
whole body. He dragged his feet as
he moved out into the unlighted CORR
dor. where he paused irresolutely. So
great was his agony that he almost
obeved an impulse To 60 back and fall
at the feet of Perkins and implore his
aid to rescue him and his family from
impending ruin. The lawyer was NOV
ing about the room. closing his desk
and drawing down the window shade.
It's no use sighed Bishop as he
made his way downstairs, II ruined!
Alan an Adele hain't n cent to their
names. an that dcvil'- Bishop paused
on the first landing like an &airnal at
bay. He heard the steady step of Per-
kins on the floor above. and Cor a mo-
ment his fingers tinGled with the
thought OF waiting there In the dark
ness and choking the life ont If tho
subtle scouudrel who had taken advan.
tage of his c%redulity.
But with a groan that was half a
prayer he went on down the steps and
out into the lighted streets. 1t the
first corne he saw a car which would
take him TO his brothor's, and 40
fastened to catch It.
William Bishops house was a mod
ern brick structure. standing on a we'll
clipped lawn which held q Gothic sum
mer house and two or three marble
statues. 1t was in the best portion OF
the avenue. Reaching It. the planter
left the car and approached the iron
gate which opened OH TO the granite
steps leading up the terrace. 1t was
now quite dark Cbeying a sudden
impulse, the old man irresolutely
passed by the gate and walked farther
up the street.
Somehow don't feel one bit Ike
It," he unused. Il couldn't tell Will
liam. He'd think | wanted TO borrow
money an I'D git skeerd right off. He
always was afeerd I'd m~ismsnage.
An then I'd hate TO Spite Adele's
visit, an she could tell thar was
, some'n wrong by LIE helm heer In sech
Il furry. l reckon | do show II. How
could a body hep it? oh, my Lord.
have mercy! us all gone, all-sll men
Betsy has saved"
!, He turned at the corner OF his broth
er's property and slowly retraced his
hating steps to the gate, but he did
-, not pause, continuing his way back TO-
ward the station. A glance at the
house showed that all the lower rooms
were lighted, as well as the big pris-