Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-09-28

was six or seven blocks to the ONCE OF
the lawyers. and he was actually run
ming before he stopped at the entrance
of the big building.
Never had an elevator travelled more
slowly thnn the one which shot him To
the seventh floor. A light shone through
the transom above the attorneys door,
and he entered without 30 much as Il
rap on the panel. Grant, who was pac-
ing the floor. came to a standstlll and
faced his visitor.
"Close the door. please" came in
steady tones from Ripley. Mr. Grant
dropped into chair, and Brewster
mechanically slammed the door.
"1s 10 true?" he demanded hoarsely,
his hand still on the knob.
"Sit down, Brewster. and control
yourself" said Ripley.
Good Cod man. can't you sec am
calm?' cried Monty. 600 on; tell me
all about It. What do you know! What
have You heard?"
"He cannot he found. that's ALL" an
nounccd Ripley. with deadly intent
There Is no explanation. The whole
thing is inconceivablc. Sit down, and
will toll you everything rs quickly as
possible"
"Thcre isn't much to tell" said Grant
mechanically.
~ can take II better standing" de-
clnred Brewster, shutting his Jaws
tightly.
Jones was last seen in Butte on the
3D. Of this month";" said Ripley. I'VE
sent several kilograms to him after
that day. asking when he expected to
leave for New York. They never were
claimed. and the telegraph company
reported that he could not be fourd.
We thought he might have gone Off to
look after some of his property and
were not uneasy. Finally we began to
wonder why he had not wired us on
leaving for tho east. tologra rhoG
again and got no answer. 1t dawned
upon us that this was something I'M
usual We wired his secretary and re-
ceived response from the CHIEF Of
police. He ASKED in turn II we could
tell him anything about the where
abonts Of Jones. This naturally alarm
ed us. and yesterday We kept tn" wires
hot. The result Of our inquiries is ter
rible, Mr.. Brewster"
"why didn't you tell me!" asked
Brewster.
There can he no doubt that Jones
has fed. accompanied by his secretary.
The belief in Butte ia thar the secretary
has murdered him
Ripley moistened his lips and went
on.
I'VE have dispatches hero from the
police, the banks. the trust conpa MES
and from half dozen mine managers
You may read them il you like, but
can tell you what they say. About the
1st OF this month Jones began to turn
various securities INTO morey. 1t is
now known that they were once the
property OF James T. Sedgwick, held
in trust for you The safety deposit
vaults were aftorward visited. and in
spection shows that he removed every
scrap Of stock. every bond, everythin;
of value that he could lay his hand;
upon. His own papers and effects
were not disturbed. Yours alone have
disappeared. 1t is this fact that con
vinces the authorities that the secreta
~ has made away with the old mar
and has fed with the property. The
bank people say that Jones drew out
every dollar OF the Sedgwiok money
and the police say that he realized tire
mendous sums Oh the convertible SO
curties The strange part Of it is thai
| he sold your mines and your real es
tate the purchaser being man nameI
Golden Brewster, tit looks YER,
much as If he had disappeared Will
everything"
brewster did not take his eyes from
Riplcy's face throughout the terrible
speech. He did not move fraction o
an inch from the rigid position rs
sumed AZ the beginning.
us anything being done" he ask Il
mechanically.
1.-The police are Investigating. lie i
known to have started off into tn
mountains with this secretary on Mn
Sd Of September. Neither has beer
seen since that day so far as any, on
knows. The earth seems to have swal
lowed them. The authorities ar
searching the mountains and are max
ing every effort to find Jones or hi
body. He Is known to he eccentric, an'
Mt first not much importance was mt
tachcd to his actions. That is all W
can tell you at present. There may b
developments tomorrow. 1t looks ha'
terribly bad. We've had the utmoS
confidence in Jones. l wish coui'
help You, my boy"
II don't blame you. gentlemen" sal
Brewster bravely Its Just my luck
that's all. Something told me all aloni
thAt-that II wouldn't turn our right.
wasn't looking for this Kind of end
though. MY only fear was that-.Ione
wouldn't consider me worthy 10 receiv
the fortune. II never occurred to m
that he might prove TO be thc-the nm
worthy one"
II will take you little farther int
our confidence. Brewster said Gran
slowly. mfr. Jones notified us In IN
beginning that he would he goveinc'
largely In his decision by our Opinion
OF your conduct. That Is why we fel
no hesitation in advising you 10 con
time as you were going. While yo'
waro off at con xve had many letter.