Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-02-04

He had been called into the sanctum
and had found McCune, white and
shaking, leaning on the desk.
Parker" said the editor, exhibiting
a bundle of papers he held in his hand,
II want you to witness a verbal con.
tract between Mr. McCune and myself.
These papers are an affidavit and
COPIES of some records Of street car
company which obtained charter
while Mr.. McCune was In the legisla.
ture. They were sent to me by a man
I do not know, an anonymous friend OF
Mr.. McCune-in fact, q friend he
seems to have lost On consideration
of our not printing these papers Mr..
McCune agrees to retire from politics
for good. You understand, IL he ever
lifts his hend again politically we pub.
lish them, and the courts will do the
rest. Now, in case anything should
happen to me-
Something will happen to you all
right! broke out McCune. you can
bank on that. you black
Come" the editor interrupted not
unpleasantly. why should there be
anything personal in all this? l don't
recognize you as my private enemy
not at all--and think you are getting
Oft rather easily, aren't you? You keep
out Of politics and everything will be
comfortable You ought never to have
been in 1t, you see. It's a mistake not
to 20 square, because in the long run
somebody Is sure to give you away.
like the fellow who sent me these.
You promise to hold to strictly pri-
vate life?'
You're traitor to the party" groan.
ed the other; "but you only watt
The editor smiled sadly. "Wait moth.
ing! Don't threaten, man. Go home to
your wife. I'll give you three TO one
she'll be glad you are out of it,"
"Ill give you three to one" said Nc
Cune, that tho White Caps will get
you if you stay in Carlow. You want
to look out for yourself, l tell you. my
smart boy"
Good day, Mr.. McCune," was the
answer. LET me have your note of
withdrawal before you leave town this
afternoon" The young man paused n
moment. then extended his hand as he
said "Shake hands, won't you? II
haven't meant to be too hard on you.
hope things will seem easier and gay
er to you before long, and Tiff any
thing should turn up that can do for
you in private way III be very glad,
you know. Goodby."
The sound of the Herald's victory
went over the state The paper came
out regularly. The townsfolk bought
it, and the farmers drove in for it. Old
subscribers came back. Old advertis
ers renewed. The Herald began to sell
in AmO, and Gaines county people sub
! scribed Carlow folk held up theil
heads when journalism was mentioned
, Presently the Herald announced news
, connection with Roucn, and with thai
and the aid Of patent insides" bcgar
P an era of three issues week. appear
: ing on Tuesdays. Thursdays and Satur
, days. The Plattville brass band sere
naded the editor.
During the second month of the new
} regime of the Herald the working force
, Of the paper received an addition. On'
, night the editor found some BARRON
! loafers tormenting n patriarchal ole
man who had n magnificent head and {
: grand white beard. He had beer
} thrown out of q saloon, and he wa
r drunk with the drunkenness of three
l weeks steady pouring. He proppet
: himself against a wall and reproyet
his tormentors in Latin. I'm walking
4 your way, Mr.. Fisbee," remarked tn
: journalist, hooking his arm into the oil
mans. Suppose we leave our friend
\ here and go home"
= Mr. Fisbee was the one inhabitant o
/ the town possessing an unknown past
and glamour of romance was thrown
: about him by the gossips, who agreed
that there was dark, portentOus Sc
!, cret in his life. an opinion not too wei
@ confirmed by the old mans appearance
n His fine eyes had habit Of wandering
v to the horizon, and his expression wa
$ mild. vague and sad. lost in dreams
+ At the first glance one guessed tina
e his dreams would never be practicabl
i in their application. and some such i'm
$ preston Of him was probably wha
/. caused the editor Of the Herald to nick
G name him, in his own mind. 1.-THE Whit
s Knight"
4 Mr.. Fisbee. coming to Plattvlle fror
o nobody knew where. had Taught in til
It high school for ten years, but he prove
4 quite unable to refrain from lecturin
r to the dumfounded pupils on archa
d ology, neglecting more and more tn
v ordinary courses of instruction. grow
It ing year by year more forgetful an
l. absent, lost in his few books and hi
" own reflections, until at last he ha
II been discharged for incompetency. TIL
n dazcd old man had no money and n
q way to make any. One day lie droppe
y in at the hotel bar. where Wilkersol
IS the professional drunkard, favored hi
t. with his society. The old man unde
l. stood. He knew it was the beginnin
Is Of the end. He sold his books in orde
C to continue his credit at the PalaC
n bar. and once or twice, unable to pr
20 coed to his own dwelling, spent til
T. night In a lumber yard, piloted thitht
lie by the harder veteran Wilkerson.
& The morning after the editor too
,r him home fisbee appeared at the He
n aid Office in new hat and decor
ID suit of black. He had received his So
he airy in advance, his books had been r.
v, purchased and he had become the r