Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-09-05

with tho $780, bank in York and the -
bank In leeds, and ! shall need a con-
siderable sum OF ready money Possibly
l may also opcn accounts IN bradford and
Sheffield. Today I have drawn two checks
for $4,000 each. Kindly let me know by
return the current balance IN my credit
as dislike overdrafts and would prefer
to realize some securities.
The next letter ran:
Ny Dear hbinFdon-Excusc a typcwrit.
er. but | am horribly busy. The Nor
lands affair Is n purely family and per-
sonal one. 1t brings into activity circum-
stances dating far back in my life and In
the lives Of my parents. Sir Philip is not
dying nor cvou dangerously III. Lady
Louisa Is in Yorkshire, and am making
arrangements which wiz close a long
standing foud.
Write me hero II necessary, but kindly
keep back all business or other commune
cations, save those of a very urgent char
acter. for at least a week or perhaps ten
days.
Sorry for this enforced absence from
town. 1t simply cannot be avoided. and
l am sure YOU will leave a detailed ex-
planation until We meet. / have signed
the inclosed annual report of the home.
VIII you kindly forward 1t 10 the secre-
tary? Yours sincerely.
PElllR a NSON.
Grenier dictated this cpistle from a
carefully composed COPY. He under
stood the very friendly relations that
existed between Philip and his CHIEF
agent, and he thought that in adopting
a semiapologetic. frankly reticent tone
he was striking the right key
The concluding reference to the Mary
Arson Home was smart. he imagined.
while the main body of the letter dealt
in safe gcncralities.
Naturally, he knew nothing Of the
conversation between the two men on
this very topic a couple of months
earlier.
Put Lancdon's ample confessions had
clearly revealed Philips attitude, and
the inscriptions scoundrcl was will
Ing now to dare all in his attempt to
gain n Fortune
While lie was diN'ng telegram was
handed to him:
You forgot to send your address. but
Mr.. Abingdon gave It 10 me. So Erieved
you are detained. What about blue etom ,
EVELYN
Did ever woman invent more tan.
talzing question than that concluding
one! What was a blue atom? No
doubt creations scheme included blue
atoms as we'll as black ones and red
ones. But why this reference to any
particular atom: He tried the words
il every possible variety of meaning.
He gave them the dignity of capitals
BLUE ATOM. They became more in
ezplicable.
In one respect they were effective.
They spoiled his dinner. He had steel,
ed himself against every possible form
of surprise, but he was forced to adj
nit that during the next three days he
must succeed in pcrsuading Evelyn
Atherlcy that Philip Arson was alive
and engaged in important matters in
Yorkshire. That was imperative. Was
his scheme to be wrecked by q blue
atom?
Moreover, her query must be answer.
ed. His promise to write was, Of
course, mere device. 1t would be
manifestly absurd to send her a type
written letter. and, excellently as he
could copy Philips signature. he dared
not put his skill as a forger 70 the test
of inditing a letter to her. no matter
how brief. Finally he hit upon com
promise. He wired:
Stupid Of me to omit address. Your
concluding sentence mixed up in trans
mission. Meaning not quite clear. Am
feeling SO lonely. PHILIP.
Then he tried to resume his dinner.
but his appetite WAS gone.
In postal facilities, owing to its posi-
ton on main line, York is well served
from London. At o p. m. two letters,
one bulky package and registered.
reached him.
The letter was from Mr.. Abingdon.
1t briefly acknowledged his telegram
stated that man in the Athenaoum
who knew Sir Philip Morand had in
formed him in response to guarded in
Quiries that the baronet was exceed
ingly we'll off and called attention to
some important leases inclosed which
required his sigma ture.
The other note was from Evelyn. II
was tender and loving and contained Il
reference that added TO the mystifica-
ton of her telegram
In the hurry OF your deps rtur- vester-
day we forgot to mention Blue Atom.
What is your opinion? The price Is high,
certainly. but thcn. picture tho Joy Of II
the only one in the world,
And again came another message;
referred to Plue Atom. Of course.
What did the postofiic. make 1t into?
EVELYN.
Blue Atom was assuming spectral
dimensions. He cursed the thing flu
entity. 1t was high priced. JOY, alone
in solitary glory. What could It be?
He strolled into the station and en-
tered into conversation with a plat
form inspector
by the way" ho said casually.
shave you ever heard of anything call
ed blue atom"
The man grinned. as that another
name for u. It's, sir?"
Grenier gave 1t up and resolved to
postpone decision until the next
morning.
BY late train Philips portmantcau
arrived 1t was locked, and the key
reposed in the SAFE. Green, it ulti-
mately transpired, solemnly opened the
safe In the presence of the housekeeper
and butler, locked it again without
and handed the key to the butler, who