Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-03-15

years before the murder Of the fifth
baronet. The youngest. Charles. had
entangled himself in disastrous
speculation in the city. and bitterly
reproached Alan and David (the
narrator) because they would not
come to his assistance.
The old gentleman labored
through many pages to explain the
reasons which actuated this decision,
but Brett skipped all OF them.
Finally. he suspected no one Of
committing the crime Itself which
was utterly inexpllcable.
At Stowmarket the barrister
sought a few minutes' conversation
WITH the stationmaster
Have YOU been long In charge Of
this station" he asked. when the
Official ushered him into private
Office.
Nearly FIVE years. sir" was the
surprised answer.
"Ah. then you know nearly all the
members Of the Hume-Frazer fam
fly"
Yes. sir. ! think So"
DO you remember the New Years
Eve when the young baronet was
Killed.
Yes. generally speaking. I DO
remember It,"
The stationmaster was evidently
doubtful of the motives which actu-
ated this REORGANIZATION. and re-
solved not to commit himself 10 posi-
two statements.
"You recollect. Of course. that Mr..
David Hume Frazer was arrested
and tried for the murder OF his
cousin
Yes"
VERY we'll. Now I want you to
search your memory well and tell
me IL you saw anyone belonging to
the family in the station on that
New Years Eve. The terrible occur
renee at Beechcroft the same night
must have fixed the facts In your
mind.
The statonmaster. 4 cautious man
Of kindly disposition seemed to he
DO YOU mind If | ask you. sir,
why you are seeking this informa-
tion?" he inquired, after a thought.
= full pause.
"A very proper question. Mr.. Da.
vid Hume-Frazer is a friend OF mine
and he has sought my help to clear
away the mystery attached to his
cousins death"
But why do you come TO me-"
Because you are n very likely
person to have some knowledge on
the point I raised. You see every
person who enters or leaves Stow
market by train"
That is true. We railway men
zee far more than people think" said
the official. with a smile. But it Is
very odd that you should be the first
gentleman to think OF talking to me
in connection with the affair. though
! I can assure YOU certain things puz.
Fled me a good deal at the time"
And what were they?"
you are the gentleman who came
here three days ago with Mr. David
whom, by the way. l hardly recog.
nized at frst?"
EXACTLY"
We'll, I suppose II Ia all right.
did not interfere because I could no,
see my way clear to voluntarily give
evidence. or course, were sum.
moned by the police. 1t would be Q
different matter. The Incidents OF
that New Years Eve fairly Devil.
, dered me-
Indeed"
"It was stated at the trial, sir
that Mr., David came from Scotland
that morning. LETT Liverpool Street
/ at $40 pm, and reached Stowmar
ket at 5.22 D. m"
! yes"
! Further. he was admittedly tn.
second person TO see his cousin.
dead body, and remained at the Hal
until arrested by the police on a war
rant"
Brett nodded The sta.ionmas
ter's statement promised 10 be IN
intensely interesting.
We'll, SIR" continued the man ey
! citedly. II was mystified enough or
New Years Eve. but after the muir
| der came ont | thought I was fairly
bewitched. That season Is always 9
/ busy one for us, what between par
( cells. passengers. and bad weather
On the morning OF December 81.
fancied ] saw Mr.. David leave thu
London train due here at 1918 mid.
day. ] only caught a glimpse of him
| because there was crowd OF people
and he was all muffied up. ! didn,
give the matter second thought un
| I'll saw him again step out OF a first
class carriage at 220 pm. look ed
! at him rather sharp that time. He
was differently dressed, and hurried
off without any luggage. He lef,
the station quickly, SO I imagined
had been mistaken a couple OF hour,
earlier. You could have knocked me
down with feather when he ap
peared by the sac pm. This time
he had several leather trunks. and Q
footman from the Hall was waitins
for him on the platform. Excuse
me. sir, but 1t was a fair licker:"
1T must have been. / wonder YOU
did not speak to HIM"
81 wish had done So Mr.. David
is usually very affable young gen.
tleman. but. what between my sur.
prise and the hustle of getting the
train away, | lost the opportunity
However, the queerest part of m,
| eft - ~. IL