Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1907-01-21

I saw" He stopped with shud
der. Perhaps luck is going to stand
by me still, and the cursed thing has
been blown into the wood and is hid
den under the bracken. If So
he got up with renewed energy-'if
so, let it lie there until after the trial,
after l come back He viii be put out
of the way them"
This view of the case was Sc es-
couraging that he dwelt on it, repeat
ing it over and over again, and then
went upstairs and secretly began to
make preparations for his departure.
He prepared the way by reading one
of mis- letters, while the butler was IN
the room, and uttering EXPLANATIONS
of impatience and annoyance.
Tut, tut! 1 shall have to go to
town, I'm afraid he said.
Eyes, sir" said the butler, as he
removed the untouched breakfast.
Yes. But I'm not certain. Let
me see, what are the trains?'
There's the one at midday-you
have just lost the morning one, SIT
and the evening train
BARLEY Bradstone thought rapidly.
1t was just possible that even now,
or later in the morning, someone
might pick up the letter and take it
to Olivia, and he might hear from
her. He would wait until the even
ing train.
He passed the day going over his
papers and letters, destroying some
and placing the others in the safe
He had not opened it since the wed
ding-day, on which he had taken out
the revolver, and he stood before 1t.
looking into it's depths with dull
apathy. 1t was difficult to realize
that he-Bartley Bradstone-was--a
murderer; that but for the noole
heroism and self-sacritice OF the man
he hated most in the world, he would
at that moment be in the cell, instead
of Faradeane. awaiting his trial!
He had been a cunning, an I'M
scrupulous man, an adventurer who
had never hesitated at any mean or
base action, so long as it was just
within the law; who had never hesl-
tated to secure or push an unfair ait
vantage, at whatever cost to others.
But murder! With a shudder he
shut the case to, as if he would shut
out all remembrance of his CRIME.
Having secured and destroyed rs
papers, he finished his packing. he
had always been lavish in decking
his person with jewelry, and 5ne
trinkets and odds and ends OF gold
gems which he possessed repre-
scented a large sum OF money. re
thought of packing them with him,
but ultimately decided to leave
them behind and locked them in hls
safe.
Then he forced himself to eat a
little of the early dinner which had
been provided for him, and at last
cot into the carriage and was driven
to the station. He noticed the Grange
carriage standing at the steps, but ne
saw that it was empty, and concluded
that it had been sent to tetch t13
squire, who may have been travelling
up the line on some business
He did not see Bessie, who was
standing in the shadow; and, more
important still, he did not see Seth
and the woman who entered the tram
lust as it was starting.
Coiled in corner of first-ciass
compartment he tried to sleep, 1't
every jolt and rattle of the train
seemed to voice that sudden shrek
which rose from the lips OF Bella
Bella as the bullet struck her, and
he tossed and turned in that hideous'
acute watchfulness which is a sign
post on the road to madness.
Then it suddenly occurred to MIN
that possibly the note had been found
and the police were already search
ing for him! If so, to alight at the
London terminus would be to step
into the arms of his captors. HIS
ready brain met this new difficulty
and danger. He resolved to get CUT
at one of the stations on the line
this side of London, and after some
consideration fixed upon Basingstoke.