Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-05-31
Won write TO her again? ?"
cor cnurca -


me under the law TO come home an
officer, may come home a gentle
man. And say that am heartily
ashamed Of my manner and language
in the bridge car. and thoroughly
sorry--and that hope she will par
don and forget H."
flight. | will" laughed Breen
What did you do? Lay her out for
looking at you in your old ducks and
coal dust? She laid me out for It,
Worse" growled Dick. disgusted
ly. II insulted her I'm nothing but
a cad. after all"
she doesn't waste her time on
cads, Dick" said Breen, gently but
what kind OF n reputation have you
up there in that town? We've had
our names in the papers. You are
supposed to have murdered me that
that night. disposed of my body. and
escaped. Hence our disappearance"
ooh. I know" said Dick, as he
thought Of the clipping Bessie had
sent him. MY reputation will ad-
NIT of anything; but there Is one
thing cleared up, which have
learned about lately Did you know
that I left homo four years ago
proven theft"
why, no heard about It; but
you were cleared at the time, weren't
your"
Yes. but didn't know It. I
didn't know until lately. All these
years | thought ! was considered
jailbird at home, and that's what
made me so ready to lick that crowd.
Pig Jones told me a. the wheel one
night when he was drunk enough to
talk to me; but / didn't speak to you
about It on account -" He hesitated.
II understand. Dick. Yes-a
brother officer He's out there now,
bullying good men An officer and
gentleman. No, the government
made him an officer, but-the most
unpopular man in his class, they say.
7 heard about that scrape at school
long before 7 met you--not from
mis- sister. however from a friend OF
hers. You certainly acted the gen
tleman Dick, until. OF course. you
were driven to desperat ton. Butt
wish I could have seen that chase
over the desks" Breen finished with
laugh.
Il always wanted to be gentle
man" said Dick. gloomily; "hut the
navy toughens a man, and knocks II
out of him. Bat nj that time" he
raised his voice slightly, I'D a bet
ter right TO the title than he. But
HIS father was rich and put him into
the Academy, while L
Rich" queried Breen mot so
very rich-not so rich. think. as
Richard Haipin, seaman gunner for
Uncle Sam. What made YOU ship.
anyway, with all that money COM
ing to you?"
Money" repeated Dick. Yes.
there was a little due me when l
came of age"
-Four hundred and fifty thousand
dollars are waiting for YOU up In that
little town. Miss Arthur says. The
lawyers are looking for you"
What" exclaimed Dick, sitting
mp.
That's what she says. Your
mother left you fifty thousand. and
your uncle-you know he is dead.
don't your" Dick nodded in the
darkness.
Your uncle died intestate, and
you are next OF kin. Four hundred
thousand more. Whew' and I've
nothing but my pay. No wonder the
, girls like you, Dick" There was a
( little bitterness in the slight laugh
with which Breen concluded.
But why didn't I know this?
Why did no one tell me?"
'CoUldr'- find you No one knew
where you were. told Miss Arthur
on the day you cleaned out the
town; and l suppose you were shang-
haied before the news got TO the
lawyer"
-Four hundred and nifty thousen d
/ dollars" muttered Dick. as his mind
flashed back to his boyish plans for
study and advancement. why, a
man man could be gentleman very
easily with all that money, couldn't
he?"
Yes. some kinds OF gentleman
all kinds If he Is born one But the
best society IN the land will welcome
you, Dick. Cut your hair. and tune
up a little when your times out
You're all right"
But It's not sll--not enough.
Do you know that I'd give it oil for
an appointment 10 Annapolis"
IAN the money in the world
wouldn't buy the appointment at
your age. You're too old, and sv'y
the President could send you there
There may be chance in this mix II
you do good work and the admiral
recommends you. Why, with your
start you could rush through in two
years"
Then give me what chance you
can" said Dick vehemently. Give
me risky work-the craziest that
comes along. III do It"
Breen did not answer He stood
erect and elevated pair OF binocu-
lars. Something up" he remarked.
Dick also arose to his feet. and a man
hurried aft with the information that
the searchlight was shifting. and that
lights were moving about at the har-
Dor mouth.
Il see.' answered Breen. the
glasses still to his eyes. Watch the
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