Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-04-16

| flames. Gordon unlocked the door
quietly. He said nothing. But Paul,
| springing in front Of him, himself
| threw 1t open. It was no new dodge,
this burning man out to shoot him
as one would drown out a gopher for
the killing. lie need not have been
afraid The alarm had spread. The
street in front was rapidly filing.
One would hardly have dared to shoot
-then--if one had meant to. And he
did not know He only knew that
deviltry he'd been in the air for Cor
don that night. He had suspected
more than he had overheard, but 1t
had been In the air.
Gordon saw the action and under
stood it. He never forgot II. He
said nothing, but gave his friend an
illuminating smile that Langford I'M
derstood. Neither ever spoke OF 1t,
neither ever forgot it. How tightly
can quick impulses bind-forever.
outside, they encountered the judge
in search of his delinquent charges.
my boy. This beastly wind Is your
undoing."
I'm not worrying, Judge" respond
ed Gordon, grimly II intend for some
one else to do that"
''Hellity damn. Dick, hellity damn"
exploded Jim Munson in his ear. The
words came waistling through his lips,
.l&t i l.. 49,
play Of the storm. The cold was get
ting bitter, and a fine, cutting snow
was at last driving before the wind.
Gordon. with a set face, plunged
back into the room-already flre.lick-
ed Langford and Munson followed
There sat the little tea-service star
ing at them with dumb pathos. The
three succeeded in rolling the safe
with all Its precious documents ar
ranged within, out into the street.
Nothing else mattered much-to Cor
don. But other things we're saved,
and Jim CALAMITY tossed out every
thing he could lay his hands on before
Gordon ordered everybody on for
good and all. II was no longer safe TO
be within. Gordon was the last one
out. He carried a battered little tea
kettle in his hand. He looked at IL in
whimsical surprise as II he had not
known until then that he had it in his
hand. Obeying sudden impulse, he
held 1t out TO Louise
Please take care of-my poor little
dream he whispered with a strange,
intent look
Before she could comprehend the
Significance or give answer, the Judge
had faced about. He bore the girls
back to the hotel. scolding helplessly
all the way as they scudded with the
wind. But Louise held the little tin
kettle firmly.
Men knew of Richard Gordon that
night that he was marked man. The
secret workings of a. secret clan had
him on their prescription list. Some
one had at last found this unwearied
and doggedly persistent young fellow
in the way. In the way, he was a
menace, danger. He must be re
moved from out the way. He coulc
not be bought from the should be
warned from It. So now his home
his work room and his rest room, thu
first by many hours daily the more il
use, with all its furnishings OF bache
lor plainness and utility. that yet haC
held a curious charm for some men
friends and crOnies like LangfOrd-
was burning that he might be warned
Could any one say, Jesse Black ha
4. l. -,
down proof Of guilt by retaliation
struck too soon? 1t would seem as
he were anticipating an unfavorabl
verdict. So men reasoned. And evel
: then they did not arise to stamp on
the evil that had endured and huggeO
itself and spit out corruption in tn
cattle country. That was reserved 10
another.
, They talked Of a match throw
, down at the court house by tramT
.ikely-when it was past midnight
: when the flee broke out with the vim
: a piercing gale. and when no vagran
but had long since left such cold com
= fort and had slept these many week
in SUMMER clmes Some argued tina
> the windows OF the courtroom Nigh
: have been left open and the stow
-. blown down by the wind tearing
=. through. or the stove door might hav'
blown open and remains OF the FIRE
y. been blown out, or the pipe Nigh
have fallen down. But It was little
q. odd that the same people said Dicl
= Gordon's Office likely caught Are from
;, blocks to westward of the courthouse
, and it would have been 4 brave sparl
- and lively one that could have made
Roadway against that Northwestern.
CTO BE CONTINUED)
, Question: When is n pain not a pain