Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-04-18
CHATTER Y.

the assertion" upon its front
n page that "the scene at the
Pike mansion was one Of unalloycd
festivity. music and mirth fairy
bower Of airy figures waiting here and
there TO the throb of waltz strains:
verltahle temple CT Terps chore, shin
Ing forth with a myriad OF lights,
which, together with the generous pro-
fusion of floral decorations and the
delights afforded by Minds
orchestra of Indianapolis and Caterer
Jones Of Chicago, was in nll likelihood
never heretofore surpassed in elegance
n our city. Only one incident" the
Tocsln remarked. married on other
wise perfect occasion, and out of re-
lard for the culprit's family conncc-
ions, which are prominent in our So
- q! world, we withhold his name. Suf-
zee 1t to say that through the vigilance
" Mr.. Norbery FNtcroft grandson Of
olonel A. \, Fltcroft, who proved
q nself n thorough Lecoq (the cele-
rated French detectivel. the rascal
CAS seized ana rccopnizod MI Fit
oft. having discovered him IN hiding.
I'D a Gordon Of walters Drawn up
round his hiding place. which was the
harningly decorated side piazza of
We Pike mansion. and sent for Judge
. ike. who came upon TIE intruder by
urprise. He evadcd the judges in
ignart grasp, bat received a we'll
,cr' ted blow over the head from a
okcr which the iu,lro had concealed
pout his person while pretending TO
,pprcsch .hc hiding place casually.
,;trJ tod 20 the scene hy the cries -
r.. littr0ft. who standing behind
O, &c Pike. accidentally received n
7 iov from the same weapon. all the
guests of tire evening Sprang to view
= uc scene. only to behold the culprit leap
lhN,uch n cregice between the strips
g! canvas which inclosed the plazzA
- vas seized by the colorcd coach.
: - OF the mansion. sam Warden, and
,nIre1istely pounced upon by the cor
Gon CT Caterer Jones dusky assistants
from Chicago. who were In ambush
outside. Unfortunately after a brief
struggle be managed TO trip Warden
nd the others stumbling upon the
p ostrata body of the latter to make
his escape in the darkness"
Not quite mile above the northern
most O. the factories on the water front
there projected into tbs river near the
eni Of The crescent bend above the
town a long pier. relic Of steamboat
days, rottirg now nnl many years
fallen from lts maritime uses. About
midway Of it's length stood huge,
crazy shed. long ago utilized as n
freight storerOoC. This had been
patched and propped and a dangerous
hanging the water. Above the door
way was placed a sign whereon might
be rand til. words. BEAVER Beach,
Mikes Place" The shore end Of the
pier was SO ruipous that passage was
offered by single row OF planks,
whicb presented an appearance 30 tom
porary as well as insecure that ore
might have guessed their office TO be
something In the nature % draw
bI dye From these a narr 80 path ran
through a marsh left by i.le receding
river TO a countr. road Of desolate ap-
pearance. Here here was a rough in
closure or CORA: With some tumble
down sheds which afforded shelter on
the night of Joseph Loudens disgrace
for a number OF shaggy teams attached
TO those decyep.t and musty vehicles
known picturesque!y and accurately as
night hawks
BY o'ciocl, Joy at Mikes place had
become hey Qud question unconflned
and the TOKEN of It were audible for
long distance in nll directions. IT,
however. there Ia no sound where ~"
ear hears, silence rested upon the couA
tryside until an hour later. Then -
lonely figure cane shiver!ng from the
direction Of the town not by the road
but sinking through the snow upon the
frozen river. 1t came slowly, as though
very tired, and cautiously, too, oft"u
turning it's head 10 look behind. Fin.
ly 1t reached the pier and stopped as Il
to listen.
Within the house above Il piano Of
evil life was being beaten to death for
It's sins and clamoriug its last cries
horribly. The old shed ratified in every
part with the thud OF many heavy feet
and trembled with the shock of noise,
an incessart roar of meas voices, pune
fuatpd with wOmen's screams Then
the riot quoted somewhat There was
a clappng Of hands, aHd n violin be
gan to squeak measures intended to be
oriental The next moment the listenel
scrambled up one Of the rott!ng piles
and stood upon the veranda. A shaft
of red light through broken shutter
struck across the figure above the
shoulders, revealing bloody handker-
chief clumslly knotted about tho head
and beneath 1t the face OF Joe Loudeu
Joe opened the door and went in. Al
Of the merry company (who were able
turned sharply toward the door as It
opened. One or two nearest the dool
asked the boy, without great curiosity
what had happened to his head, lie
merely shook it family in reply and
crossed the room to an open hallway
beyond At the end Of this he came tc
n frowzy bedroom, the door OF which
stood aJar. Seated at q deal table aud
working by dim lamp with broker
chimney. close cropped red bearded
red barred man in his shirt sleeves was
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