Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-11-25

YOU'RE thtcf, Pinckney' no you hedr7"
and the watchers saw the CLEAN Of
pistol. They did not know the little
man now. lie stood straight up, bold.
eager. rcpentant.
Listen" be said. And any one
here who values his life will let me
alone. am the inventor of the Rhine.
strom patent. | know what Mr. Brad
Icy meant about the royalty. You're a
thief. Pinckney. DO you hear? A
thief. Why don't you speak! Deny
it IL you dare, you thief
There was gasp of surprise, Of hor-
ror.
You told me the royalty was to be
a hundred dollars an inch. Now | find
it's thousand. That was why the
patents could not be IL my nnme-you
wanted to steal. And that was why you
wanted that gun of Sommers' killed.
so that you could get the government
TO take mine mine." he repeated.
bringing his fist violently against his
chest-"not Rhinestrom's. but mine.
And you were to get nine times as
that gun before Sommers came. You
got Smith drunk and put him In
charge Of that tempering bath-you!
And you know it--and l was party
to 1t. ! stood for 1t. saw the rotten
work was done. And l waited. day
after day, night after night-sleepIess,
afraid. waited. And one day in u
whisper through the works the news
came. How do you think l felt since
then? l am murderer. and so are
you! And you not only have that on
your soul. but you would disgrace an
other man. The dead are enough for
me" His face took on a look Of aw
full. supernatural fear as he went on
They Whispered to me In the night
and the sigAtless eyes Of the lad, blind
ed. blink at me through the darkness
And it's the face Of my boy with sight
less eyes accusing me. l won't stand
it, l tell you. I'm going with my SOU
naked TO the lash before my God ant
cry for pity and forgiveness"
Amazed. horror stricken. finally dunn
founded. the listeners had hung spell
bound through the terrible confession
When it was finished for one momen
10 one moved. Then Marsh. with {
little. gasp!ng catch in his throat. turn
ed and walked quickly out OF the Of
flee. and as he went through the doc
they saw CLEAN of his revolver. Thu
door closed. and Bradley. the first t.
recover. sprang toward 1t. but ever
the quick secret service man was tO'
late. He terked open the door. Their
came sharp report. Bradley stepped
back inside and closed the door.
"He's gone" he said.
Next Pinckney. as one coming GU
Of "A daZe. looked up. and the secre
service man touched him sharply or
the arm. Those curiously shrewd hare
eyes were looking into the eyes Of tn
general manager. and In that lool
Pinckncy read that the game was up.
Twill you come with me. Mr.. Pinck
ney!" Bradlcy's voice was courteous
polite and cold and hard as steel. :"
hope you won't make any trouble.
don't care to walk you out haudcuffet
before the men,
The chief conspirator, cool to tn
} last. nodded.
I'm come" he said CURLY. Then
accompanied by Bradley and followed
by Mr.. Durnnt. he walked out COOL!
) to the door through which Marsh ha,
gone to death.
The stenographcr already had takel
her departure. Sommers and France
were alone.
"My own" he whispered.
The girls arms slipped up about hi
neck naturally.
LET ns go away" she murmured
stake me home"
THE END.