Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-09

less son. Hugh threw up his head
with an attempt ut jauntiness. but
with furtive apprehension In every
muscle for he could not solve the look
he saw on his fathers face. and said:
You act as II It were a cool million.
I'm 10 worse than lot who have bet.
ter luck than |. Suppose | did draw
the Ave thousand. You were going to
give me ten for wedding present
had to have the money then. and you
wouldn't have given 1t to me. You
know that rs well rs do. Besides,
was going to take II mp myself. and
you would never have been the wiser.
He promised to hold II. It's II low
trick for him to round on me like this.
III pay him Off for 1t some time. |
don't see that It's anybody else's busi.
ness but ours anyway" he continued.
with surly glance Mt Harry.
Harry had been staring at him. but
with vision turned curiously back.
ward-a vision that seemed to see
Hugh standing at a carpeted dais in a
flower hung room. while his own voice
have this man to be thy welded hus.
band
"Stay. Sanderson." said the old man;
then turning to Hugh. "Who advanced
you money on this and promised to
hold itT"
"Dr Moreau."
"I1e profted by IT."
~ rofv, - ut,0 crr1.
lenly.
How much margin did he get?'
"A thousand"
"Where Is the rest1 David Stires'
voice was like a whip of steel.
Hugh hesitated a moment. He had
still a few hundreds in pocket, but he
did not mention them.
debts"
"Debts Of honor. l presume?"
Hugh's sensibility quivered ut the
fierce, grating irony Of the inquiry.
III you'd been more decent with
spending money" he said with a dare
Of the old effrontery. ia have been
all right! Ever since came homo
you've kept me strapped. | was
ashamed to stick up any more OF my
friends. And OF course 7 couldn't Dor.
row from Jessica?"
Ashamed" exclaimed the old man
with harsh sternness. you are with.
out the decency of shame! II you were
capable Of feeling 1t you would not
mention her name now"
| hA
through the storm cloud Jessica was
his anchor to windward. What hurt
him would hurt her. He would pull
through!
WELL" he said, Its done. and
there's no good making such n row
about It She's my wife and she'll
stand by me. II nobody else does"
David Stires' face as came to 1t now
a sudden blaze of fury and righteous
scorn that burned 1t like brand.
"You impudent blackguard You
drag my name in the gutter and then
try to trade on my self respect and
Jessica's affection. You thought you
would take it up yourself and | would
!
1t out you counted on my love for the
poor. deluded girl you have married
to make me condone your criminality
to perjure myself. to admit the sig.
nature and shield you from the conse.
quences. You imagine because you
are my. son that you can do this thing
and all still go on as before. DO you
| I n ~
you think because you have fooled and
cheated her and me and married her
that ! will give her now to caught
thief, a common Jailblrdy
In the thoughts that were darling
through Hugh's mind there was none
now of regret or Of pity for Jcssica
His fear was the fear Of the trapped
spoiler who discerns capture and It's
consequent penalties in the, patrollins
bullseye flashed upon him. He studied
his father with hunted. calculating
eyes as the old man turned to Harry
Sanderson.
"Sanderson," said David Stires once
more In his even. deadly voice, "Jessi.
ca Is waiting in the room above this
She will not understand the delay
VIII you 60 to her? Make some ex'
cuse-any you can think ot-till
come"
Harry nodded and LETT the room
shutting the door carefully behind
him. carrying with him the covering
helpless look with which Hugh saw
himself left alone with bis implaca BIZ
Judge. What to say to herr How &c
say It He mounted the stair as II q
pack swung from his shoulders. He
paused a moment at the door. then
knocked. turned the knob and entered
There In the middle Of the blue huns
room In her wedding dress. with bel
bandaged eyes. and her bridal bouquet
ON the table. stood Jcssica. twilight
was near. but even 80 all the shutters
were drawn save one. through which q
last glow OF refracted sunlight siftei
to fall upon bis face. Her hands WERE
clasped before her. He could hear hel
breathing-the full. hurried respiration
Of expectancy.
Then. while bis hand closed the dool
behind him. thing unexpected. anon
alous. happened-a thing that took hin
; as utterly by surprise ~ II the sclit
, door bad yawned before him. slim
7 Singers tore away tie brew spc,rclinl