Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-12-17


your note book and write her UP in
big type. I've got something in m,
pocket here" tapping his breast
(which Col. Franklin would like tc
have. He don't know I've got it
either"
Irving's curiosity was now aroused
and he made up his mind to find out
what it was that Hillsman had. His
thoughts wavered between the
Wright case and the mysterious Mer
ivale, and he felt intuitively that the
paper to which fIillsman referred haC
some connection with the matter in
which he was deeply Interested I,
was easy to see that the clerk would
in the course of an hour or two be
densclv intoxicated. and Warde con.
cluded that he would cling to him and
wrcst the secret from him if it took
all night. He accordingly called for
another round, and they ate and
talked and drank so freely that
Warde himself gave every evidence
OF being intoxicated. II was two
o'clock when they arose from the ia.
ing, rather uncertainty. but with COM
mendable frmness, assisted his more
unbalanced compa Mon out. and they
locked arms with the intention Of GO
ing to Hillsman's room. On the way
they became very affeCtionate and
confidential, and Warde in broken ac-
cents. swore that Franklin had trea r
ed Hillsman like brute.
"Thsh paper II fix him" said Hills
man thicklv.
What paper?" said Irving. no less
thickly.
"Thish paper in my pocket. I bet
he'll give me $1,000 for it,"
Hope you'll make him pay every
cent of it,"
See here, Irv. you're my fren,' amt
you? Well, now. ! want you to look
over this paper, and tell me how much
to ask for it. Look al it when yoush
shober."
He handed the coveted paper over
TO Warde. who placed it with drunken
deliberation in his inside pocket and
then buttoned up his coat.
They pursued their zigzag way up
the street until they were suddenly
stopped by dark. stalwart man in a
heavy cloak. II was Col. Franklin.
"Nou're the very man | want to
see" said Franklin roughly.
Hello. Colonel, how are you?" said
Frank. gayly.
Colonel who" said Irving. "Oh,
yesh; it's Col. Frank Ben iamin. Lesh
all go and take drink"
"You're both drunk enough. now"
said the colonel sharply. land I refuse
to participate in your beastlJ revels.
But | want to see this drunkard
here" indicating Frank, ''if you can
spare him"
"All right" And Irving leaned heav-
lily, but gratefully, against the door
of store, while Franklin rather
loudly demanded of Hilsman;
What have you done with the pa
per Morris gave you for me?"
what paper, colonel?" said Frank,
sobered and frightened at the sudden n
ness of the question.
"You know what paper 7 mean. |
have heard from him to-day by letter
from China, and he writes me that he
gave the paper to you. and ! propose
to have it,"
Irving broke in here: "Come. gen
tlemen, don't quarrel here. Lesh all
have a friendly drink
"Oh, go to grass" said the colonel
anGrily.
Colonel. I won't do it," said Irving
with dignity. "Ive got to take Frank
home"
Never mind Frank. III take him
home. You've got a big enough job
to take yourself home"
"All right, Colonel. I'll hold You
personally responsible when you so
Der up. Goudby III see you later
And he reeled away. leaving Frank
| and the colonel to fight it out. As
soon as he reached a cross street he
turned into it. Strengthened himself
up. and walked briskly to a hotel;
for he did not care to be found in
his room that night. The clerk gave
him a room without entering his
ldIlt on 'Ie TtplS'tI. dN'i Tic I''ll"'i
at once to read the paper which he
had obtained from Frank Hillsman.
Warde's INVESTIGATION that night was
of course all trick. Though he had
ostensibly disposed of several drinks
of whisky he had as matter of
fact simply elected the liqnor into the
glass OF wafer which accompanies
IL. I, : /. L.
room at the hotel he was as sober
as he had been when he met Hillsman