Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-04-07

tinued suavely, "mOunt your wheel
aud take n run out to Winchester and
sec If that mortgage OH the Scaver
estate has been satisfied. The exercise
and air will do you good"
Page was nonplused.
"He has some deep laid plot in his
mind" he thought as he looked al
Frye. lie was glad TO escape the office,
however. for his head felt full Of bees,
and. thanking his employer for the
permission, he quickly left the city be
exercise soon drove away some Of the
self reproachcs at his own foolish con
duct of the night before.
The errand at winchester was at.
tended to, and then he headed back for
the city, taking another course. BY
the time he reached town he was faint
from hunger, for he had eaten nc
breakfast. A good dinner restored him
to his natural self possession, and then
he went to the office.
For a week he reproached himself
every time he thought how much his
escapade had cost and felt too ashamed
TO answer Alice's letter. When he did
he assured that innocent sister that he
was saving all ne could and should
send more money as soon az possible
Frank called twice and the second time
urged him TO join the club, TO which
Page assented
at will serve as u place 10 spend Il
lonesome evening" he thought.
Several times Frye had made casual
inquiries as TO the progress Of his In
timacy with young Mason, all of which
led Page to wonder what his object
was and why it concerned him. Al
last. one day at closing time and after
he had told the Office boy he might go
Frye let little light into that enigma
"Sit down u moment, Mr.. Page" he
remarked az the latter was preparing
10 leave. II have proposition of ar
important nature to make to you
And then as he fixed his mercilcss eyes
on bis clerk and began to slowly rut
his hands together he continued: "Yor
have been nearly three months in my
employ. Mr.. Page, and have FULFILLED
your duties satisfactorily. think tn,
time has come when | may safely en-
large them little. AS / told you
John Mason pays me IA yearly retainer
to attend to all his law business.
have reason to feel he is not entirely
satisfied to continue that arrangement
and am forced to find some way tt
bring little pressure to bear on hin
in order that he may see it is for hi.
interest to still retain Inc.
Now, believe John Mason Is not on
tirely happy in his home relations ant
that a certain young lady receives {
share of his attentions. While they are
never seen in public together. GOSSIP
links their names. What l want is fol
you to find out through your acquaint
ancc with the Nasons just what bono
there is between the elder Mason ant
the young lady and eport 20 me. d,
not intend to use the knowledge TO
any illegal purpose. but merely AZ ;
leverage to retain Nason's business.
am aware that to prosecute your In
Quiries discrpetly by means of your in
tmacy with young Mason will requir,
more money than an paying YOU
and therefore. if | can depend on YOU
To do Il little detective work. | shall
from now on increase your salsry frou
So To $40. What do you say
The first impulse that Page felt was
to absolutely refuse there and then T.
have anything TO do with Frye's n"
fariOus scheme, but the thought of hi
situation. the unpaid debt at home an,
the certainty that a refusal woul,
mean loss of his position conquered
his pride and kept him silent. For ,
moment he reflected trying hard (,
seq a way ont of the dilemma, and ther
said:
at is rather a hard task you ask. Mr.
Frye, for | am not accustomed TO thu
role of detective, but l am in your EN-
ploy. and as long as am will do TIT
best can for your interests.
1t was a temporizing reply, and Frye
20 construed 1t at once
Il must insist II you accept my Of
fer" he said that you give me you
promise TO do your best to earn TN
money. 1t doesn't pay TO be toe
squeam iSh in this world he continued
in soothing tone. "All business is t
a certain extent game OF eXtorlion
q question of do the otEer fellow or h.
will do you" Then arising and hold
ing ont skinny hand to grasp Pages
he added. Il shall expect you TO keel
faith with me, Mr. Page" and the in
terVipw ended
When Albert met Frank at the clu'
that evening he was preoccupled an
morose. and Frank, noticing his fran
| of mind. tried to cheer him.
You look as if you had been givel
a facer, Old man." he said. "Wha
. is the matter? Has Frye been call
ing you down for something's
Page looked at his friend moment
and the impulse to make clesl
: breast of it and relieve his feeling
. was strong. but he did not
IL do not like Frye" he said in
, stead, land the more | see OF him tn
less like him. At times he make
me feel as If he was snake ready I
uncoil and strike. Have You ever nc
t ticed his eyes and the way he has o
,, rubbing his hands when talking"
Il have" was the answer, land h
, has the most hideous eyes l ever say
in Il human being. They look like
cats in the dark. Dad told me one
, he saw Frye look Mt "A witness he wa