Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-09-10

n
went to barley, as he fire.
T-t s.ff.St quently did, to spend Sunday.
$500 On such visits he usually
stayed at the Johnston House, n great.
old fashioned brick building that had
survived the civil war and remained
untouched by the shot and shell that
hIrticd over II during that dismal pc
Rod when most of the population had
"refugeed farther south" 1t had four
stories and was too big for the town,
which could boast of only 1000 inhab-
| itants, onc-third of whom We're black.
However, the smallness of the town
was in the hotels favor, for in a place
| where no one would have patroniZed a
second class hotel opposition would
have died a natural death. The genial
proprietor and his family We're of the
best blood, and the Johnston House
was a sort of social clubhouse where
the church people held their affairs
and the less serious element gave
dances. To be admitted to the hotel
without having to pay for ones dinner
was the hallmark of social approval.
1t was near the ancient looking brick
| car shed, under which the trains of
/ two main lines ran. ana a long freight
warehouse OF the same date and archi-
lecture. Around the hotel were clus-
tered the chief financial enterprises OF
/ the town-lts stores, postolhce, BANKS
and hall for theatrical purposes Oar
ley was the seat of its county, and an
other relic of the days before the war
Nua its ponrt bnOSn 1.-Two t,,iufi,o oil ciIa-
walks We're paved with brick, which in
places were damp and green and some
times raised above their common level
10y the undergrowing roots of the syc-
amOre trees that edged the streets.
In the Office of the hotel, just after
registering his name, Alan met his
friend Rayburn Miller, for whose bust
ness ability. it may be remembered,
Abncr Daniel had such high regard.
lie was fine looking man of thirty
three, tall and of athletic build He
outdoor complexion.
"Hello.' he said cordially. II thought
you might get in today, so | came
round to see. Sorry you've taken a
room. ! wanted you to sleep with me
tonight. Sisters gone. and no one is
there but the cook. Hello, | must be
careful. I'm drumming for business
right under Sanford nose"
''I'll make you stay with me TO make
up for it," said Alan as the clerk be-
hind the counter laughed good natured-
ly over the allusion to himself.
BLAMED if | don't think about it,"
said Miller. "Come round to the Of
fee. | want to talk to you. | reckon
you've got every plow going such
weather as this"
"Took my horse ont of the field to
drive over" said Alan as they went
out and turned down to side street
where there was row of law Offices
all two roomed buildings, single sto.
ried, built of brick and bearing bat.
tered tin signs. One of these buildings
was Milers, which, like all its fellows
had it's door wide open, thus inviting
all the lawyers in the ROW" and all
students of law to enter and borrow
books or use the ever open desk.
Rayburn Miller was a man among
ten thousand in his class. Just after
being graduated at the state university
he was admitted to the bar and took
up the practice Of law. He could un
doubtedly have made his way at this
alone, had not other and more absorb
ing talents developed within him. Hav
ing had n few thousand dollars lef
him at his fathers death, he began tC
utilize this capital in mote shaving
| and other methods of turning Ovel
money for handsome profit furnished
by the unsettled conditions, the tim'
and locality. He soon became an adep
in many lines of speculation, and as h
was remarkably shrewd and cautious
it is not to be wondered at that he sooI
accumulated quite fortune.
"Take a seat" he said to Alan nj
they went into the office. and he threw
himself into the revolving chair at hi
Uttered desk. Il want to talk 10 you
! suppose you are in for some fun
Il The boys are getting up dance Mt tn
n hotel, and they want your dollar Il
d help pay the band. It's good on
It this time. They've ordered 1t from
n Chattanooga. 1t will be down on tn
n 7;35. Got matchf"
4 Alan had not, and Miller turned hi
head to the open door, An old negr'
r happened to be passing, with an AK OF
u his shoulder,
e "IIeigh, there, Uncle Ned" Mile
called out,