Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-01-17
Every we'll" / said and settled back
In thp seat TO Listen


money 0irl could take no more from
Miss Croydon, since he was trying
seriously to win her affections. He was
determined to get Drysdale out of the
way under circumstances as discred-
liable as possible. confident that in
that case he would himself win Miss
Croydon. Which," he added in
thoughtful aside, from what you've
told me of him, don't think at all inn
possible"
Not in the least" I agreed. II be-
lieyc Tremane could win any woman
he really set his heart on
AT any rate. he learns of Drysdales
jealousy and of Miss Croydon's prom
ise TO explain things. He sees that at
any hazard he must prevent that ex-
PLANTATION. Monday morning he comes
to town with Dclroy, and the latter
tells him that he intends giving the
necklace the salt water treatment
You'll remember it was rremalnc who
originally proposed this, though he
could scarcely at that time have fore
seen what would come of IT,"
"Mere chance" | nodded.
"Well, Tremanc takes the early train
back to Edgemcrc and lays his plans.
He writes the note
"But you really haven't any evidence
that he did" / objected.
For answer Godfrey took from his
pocket the blotter lie had found in
Tremainc's room.
81 told You that these letters aren't
In Trcmanc's hand" he said, but if
youll compare them with the note
youll see how nearly they resemble
Miss Croydons. Again. they are only
capital Rs. G's and Is, which arc tho
only capitals used in the note. That's
pretty good cir"umstantial evidence.
Tremaine, OF course. burned the piece of
paper he practicna on. bat he didn't
think to burn this blottcr. It was only
the freshest line at the bottom of the
paper that left these marks"
But did Tremaine have sample OF
Miss Croydon's writing?'
"There's no reason TO think he didn't
have, but if he didn't he could no
doubt have found plenty Of samples
among Drysdalos things. Hes prob
ably an adept at forgery as well as mt
most other branches Of crime
"All right Go ahead" | said.
"Tremaine writes the note and lcave1
it in Drysdales ROOM continued Cod
frey. Then lie opens the trunk and
secures the revolver. Perhaps he knew
the revolver was there and perhaps lie
didn't. II he hadn't found it he'd prob
ably have taken something else belong
Ing to Drysdale for weapon.
Having secured the revolver. he re-
turns to his room by way of the bal
cony What passed in the early part
of the evening you already know.
Drysdale goes to keep the rendezvous
at the pergola. starting early. because
the house with Tremane In 1t has be-
| come unbearable to him. He stops for
chat with Graham. which the latter $
| son overhears, and then goes on to he
| pergola, which IS quite at the other end
of the grounds from the b0athouse.
"Meanwhile Tremaine has spent the
! early part OF the evening talking with
| Delroy and Miss Croydon. 1t last he
| goes to his room on the pretense of
! writing letters, gets the revolver, lets
/ himself down by the vine and starts
for the pier. lie enters the hoathousc
softly. feels his way to the cot, whose
/ position he has already seen. and caro-
! fully administers the chlorof0rm. The
/ dose was no doubt nicely calculated,
. and the boy would probably have
awakened naturally in few hours.
chat done Trcmaine walks boldly
, out upon the pier. Old Graham sees
! him, perhaps challenges him, but of
4 course allows him to approach as soon
as he recognizes him. They talk to-
gether for moment. Then Tremaine,
swift as lightning. knocks the other
down. Graham probably fell without
crying ont. | fancy | can see Ire
maine pauslng to make sure his victim
is dead before lie goes on to the end
of the pier to get the necklace
| shivered. I could see him, too, bend
ing over in the darkness, with hor-
rible calmness.
THAT throwing Of the pistol into the
boat" continued Godfrey, was one of
| those flashes of inspiration which come
to man sometimes. 1t was superb.
1t proves that our friend Is really an
artist. Not one man in a thousand
would have. thought of IT, He must
have laughed with sheer satisfaction
when he heard it clatter safely into
the boat"
ile paused for moment TO think
of H. to turn it over. to taste ii.