Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-12-10
investiRationsr

can hardly believe It," said the
lawyer because it implies the DOS
session OF power almost unlimited
not TO speak Of the money necessary
to hire al the agents"
At this juncture the door oren.a
ana De'eotive Fenton entered the
yoom
he said. ' '''" "''e'
hou'vo struck something new in
'he wright case?" asked Irving.
Yes; L have been DISCHARGED from
the police force on account OF nv ec-
tivity in the case"
no" do you know that?" said Mr..
Everett. DO you mean to saw that
the chief Of police has lent himself TO
plot 10 prevent the truth from COM
ing out?''
MOO at ALL The chief is my friend,
and he did not want to sec me 90
1 nave been on the force IS years and
nave never had complaint lodged
against me. The chief has no more
power to retain me than / have my.
self"
ferhaps II was politics? ?"
Couldn't haven't been. happenet
TO nave been one of the most activ,
supporters Of the present mayor"
Nuat causes you to think tina,
your activity in the Wright CAT,
pro ught about your dismissal?"
hrst asked the chief on what
grounds was retired. He replied
VefS warmly that he had received g
peremptory note from the mayor to
olscharge me from the service. ]
looked up the mayor and put the
same question to him. He replied
tnat no fault was found with ma
Whatever, and he could give me no
reason at all. Now, while the mayor
controls the chief, he is in turn con.
Tolled by the boss"
"The boss?"
Pat Kernigan, you know; the man
VINO can vote the sluns as he plcases.
VINO Knows every wharf rat, every
uen Keeper and every criminal that
haunts the Rest and other places Of
the same order, and who can make
ana unnake mayors. This man vir-
tually Appoints the police. He is
shreWd enough not to abuse his pow
or. He knows that there must he
good men on the force, but he draws
the line at any interference with his
followers. Last night Billy McGee
resumed his place behind the bar at
Peters Rest, and the place is now in
full blast again. This morning I saw
McGee in close consultation near the
mayors Office. AZ noon came nv dis
misssl"
That is only case Of circumstan-
tial evidence" said Everett. but I
believe I Am getting infected with tho
theories of yon two. If there is any
thing in It, however, some other in
Auence than Billy McGee's must have
persuaded Kernigan to this step, and
it must have been a pecuniary or
very peremptory influence McGee
would have stopped when he secured
permission to reopen his dive. There
is something beyond"
There always Is in this beastlv
case" said Warde.
''If this organization can. in ad-
dition to its power to commit crime,
discharge at will members of the DO
lice force, why nobody-nothing- As
safe from 1t. I can hardly imagine
any cohesive power That can bind to-
gether such diverse elements"
"A great prize must be at stake,
Cor which some one is willing 10
spend vast sums of money, and TO
take very ticklish risks"
81 see that 1t will be necessary to
have some detective work done in
this case, and If you are willing TO
continue in the line you have begun,
/ will pay you enough TO keep you
goinr, and If the result Of the Wright
estutc element is favorable Won
shat nave handsome fee beside"
"Ta.' will suit me" said Fenton,
"for D tell you the truth, I have be-
oonc Interested in this case, and
there re few points which have
sug,'c ID themselves to me. and |
would ke to work them out"
"No. mad better do your work as
quietly ~ possible, and when You
have anything to communicate come
to my lone after dark. II the theory
we are working is correct, your life
will be in danger the first time it is
known that you are pursuing the
case. And you, too, Irving, must be
careful. think you had better let
it be understood that you have had
enough of it. and that your interest
in the affair has cooled. If it Is
agreeable 10 you both, suppose you
meet me at my house tomorrow
night at eight o'clock. ] shall see
Wright in the morning, get his theory
of the murder, and then, perhaps, we
can make some use Of the disjointed
facts in our possession"
The next evening Warde sought the
residence of Mr.. Everett, on Union
street, some distance out. He took
caro- 10 mufle himself up consider
ably, and as 1t was a very dark night
and no lamps hgh ted, because the al
manac called for moonlight night,
he felt safe from Identification. lie
was ushered into the lawyers library,
which was very cheerful and inviting.
All the walls were lined with books
A few ornaments graced the mantle
piece, and from the generous CRATE
came the warmth that filed the en-
tire room.
Hardly had Warde taken off his
and ensconsed himself in a
chair. when the bell rang and Fenton
was announced. BE came In disguise,
~. 1. -. 4.