Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-09-19
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Mason, spellbound tut fearless as
ever, heard the dead mal speak, saw
him move. lie could not refuse the
evidence Of eyes and ears. AS Philip
advanced into the room the giant put
his hands wildly to his head and sob
bed brokenly:
THANK God. Thank God! For my
boys sake. not for mine!'
His extraordinary attitude. his no
less extraordinary words, amazed at
least two Of his hearers. Grener, rem
dercd Gallons now by sheer hopeless
ness, was pouring out some brandy
and lighting Il cigarette. The revul-
sion Of feeling ut the sight OF Mason
had Gained Jim. He would make the
most Of the few minutes that were left
before he was handcuGad
Dr. Scnrth took The prccautiOn Of
locking the door md putting the key
into his pocket. II Is doubtful If he
would have done this bad he known
Mason's violent character But, I'M
known to Philip, he carried revolver,
which he whipped forth when Grenier
holtcd and as rapidly concealed when
it was not needed.
"You did not kill me. you sec" said
Philip, sinking into n chair, for the OK
cttcmcnt was beginning TO tell on him.
The big man slowly dropped his
hands. His prominent eyes seemed to
be fascinated by the sight OF one
whom he threw apparently lifelcss in
to the sea.
81 could lick your boots" he said
thickly.
The queer idea sounded iidlcrous
Yet it conveyed a good deal. 1t smack
Ell Of rcmorse, repentance.
"Tell me-" began Philip. but a loud
knocking without interrupted him.
"Who is there" said pr Scarth.
abingdon. want to see Mr.. An
SON" was the reply in a voice that
Philip hailed joyfully.
Mr.. Abingdon was admitted. His
astonshment was extreme at the ma
| ture of the gathering. but he instantly
noticed Philips wan appearance and
the bandage on his head.
"My dear, dear boy" he cried, what
| has happened"
Philip told him briefly. AS the ex-
| magistrates glance rested on Mason
! and Grenier it became very chilly. 1t
| brought Portland prison near to the
, soul of one Of them. He poured out
more spirit
The respite given by Mr.. Abingdon's
! arrival gave Mason time TO focus his
| thoughts, The man had lived in an in
ferno since he slipped away from his
| sons that morning on Il plea Of urgent
| business In order to catch a fast train
! for York in the afternoon
He knew that Grenier would make
| the Station hotel his headquarters, and
| his sole desire was to stop that enter
| prising rogue from committing further
crimes which might be damaging to
| Anson's estate and disastrous to the
| peace OF mind of the girl he loved.
| In no way did he hold GrenIcr re-
| sponsble for urging him to commit
, murder. The journey to York was I'M
dertaken In the first place to save Phil
| FPS memory from the slur which was
intended to be cast upon It and second
ly to afford a plausible pretext for a
platform accident whereby his own
life should he dashed out of him by Al,
engine.
| He would stumble over barrow,
| fnll helplessly in front Of an incoming
train and end his career far from Lon
don, far from inquiry and published
reports which might be injurious to
his sons
IT might perhaps he necessary to use
forciblc means to persuade Grener TO
abandon his tactics. They would be
Forthcoming He gave earnest Of that
on the stairs.
OF course the discovery that Philip
lived gave n fresh direction to his pur-
pose. A great load of guilt was lifted
off his conscience but the position re-
manned little less serious personally.
So when at last he began to tell his
story there was n brutal dircctness, a
rough eloquence, that silenced all CUES.
tionng.
At first his hearers thought he was
rambling and incoherent as he describ-
ed his release from Jail. his visit to
the Mary Arson homo. his long and
fruitleSs search for the lost boys.
He told OF his meeting with Grener
the espionage they both prncticed on
Anson's movements and the plot hatch
ed with Langdon. whose relationship
with Sir Philip and Lady Morland now
first became known TO Philip.
He was quite fair to Grcnler, giving
him full credit for having stopped him
more than once from numbering Philip
when opportunities presented them.
selves. He dealt ruthlessly with the
scene in the Grange House, even sm!l-
ing dreadfully MS he described Gre
nicr's squeamishness over the sugges
ton that Philips face should be bat
tered into n shapeless mass,
Then followed his Journey to Lon
don. the meeting with his two sons al
Southwark police station and the tor
turing knowledge, coming too late, tina,
he had slain the benefactor of his wife
and children.
There was an overwhelming pathos
in his recital Of the boys kindness &c
him. j. "A nvc a lurid picture Of his
feelings ing the previous night as
he listened TO their praises of PhillT
Arson and their pleasant plans fol
their fathers future. Hc only winces
once, and that WINS at the remem
brance of the parting n few hours ago.
And he finished by a pitiful appea
for mercy, not for himself, but fol
Grener