Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-20


the town. / overheard them. | want
cd to let you know!"-she hesitatcd. 1t
had grown all at once difficult to put
into words
Coming here? Why?"
"To arrest man who is accused Of
murder"
| II her eyes could have pierced the
boltcd door few feet away. IF she
could have seen that listening face
behind 1t, as her clear tones fell grow
instinct with recognition, amaZcmcnt
and evil suspicion--a look that her last
word swept into sickly gray terror.
If she could have heard the groan
from the wretched man beyond,
"Whose murder?"
"Dr. Morcau's."
Jcssica waited with caught breath,
searching his countenancc IT was told
now, but he must know that she had
not credited 1t, that for better. for
worse" she must believe in him now
II knew, oh. ! knew" she cried. You
need not tell mel"
"No," he said gravely. II am not The
man they want. 1t has all come back
to mc-,he past that | had lost. such
a crime has no part in it. Jessica," he
said. you have tried TO save me from
danger tonight. l need greater scrv
Ice of you now. 1t is to ask no quos-
ton. but to go at once. cannot cX
plain why. but you must not stay here
Il moment"
"Oh," she cried bitterly. Won don't
;,,tI Ga,
it. and you want TO spare ne. II yol
really want to spare me, you will go.
Why, you would have no chance whore
they have hated you SO. Prendcrgast
was killed robbing the sluice tonight.
and he lied-licd-liod He swOre you
did it. and they will believe IT,"
He pu, back her beseeching hands
How could he explain? Only 70 get
her away-to gain ti:ne-to think.
"I.istcn!" she went on wildly They
will wait 10 carry him to tie town
can go and bring my horse here for
you. There is time. You have only
to send me word ard will follow you
to the end of the world. Only say
you viii GO"
lie caught at the straw. The eXpedi
ent might serve.
VERY well" he said: bring him to
the upper trail and wait there for me-"
She gave a sob of relief AZ his ac-
quiescence. II will hurry. hurry" she
cried and was gone. swift as swal-
low flight into the darkness.
AS he re-entered the cabin the calm
ness fell from Harry Sanderson as n
| mask drops. ard the latent passion
sprang IN its place. He crossed the
room and drew the bolt for the wretch
cd man who, after ono swift glance at
his face, grovelcd on his knees before
him. sobcred ard shivering
"For Gods sake. Harry. you won't
give me rr:" Hugh cried. "You can't
mean to do that, Why. We were in
college together, I'd been drinking to.
night or | wouldn't have talked to You
NJ did"
Harry drew his feet from the frantic
hands th9t clasped them. Did you kin
Moreau:" la asked shortly.
ut was an accident" moancd IIurh
Il never intended to- swear to hcav-
m | didn't. He bounded me. and he
tried to bleed me. | only meant to
brighten him of. Thcn-then was
afraid, and | ran for il. That was
when came TO you at Aniston and
we played" HuGh's breath came in
Easns. and drops of sweat stood on his
forehead
when we played" he echoed. How
have you settled your debt. the debt
/ Of honor you once counted so highly:
How have you lived since then; Havo
you paid TIE those days OF decent Nv
ing YOU staicd, and lost:"
But will he exclaimed dcspcr-
ately. III you'll ouly help ne out of
this I'll 1--we straight to my dying day.
You don't know how I've suffered,
Harry. or you'd have some mercy on
me now. Let me 60, Harry, fer my
fathers sake"
Your father is dead" said Harry
Then for old times sake" He tried
to clasp Harry's knees. They may be
here at any minute. | must have been
seen as | crossed the mountain,
thought it would never come out or
wolldn't Have come. I'll 80 far enough
away. III go to South America. and
you will never see me alive again.
neither YOU nor Jessca. For Gods
sake Harry. listen, Jessica wouldn't
want to see me hung. For her sake"
1t was the Harry Sanderson of st.
James parish, OF the scrupulous con-
rclcnce-whose college career rs Satan
Sanderson had come 70 be fiery sore
in his breast-who now spoke.
Get up" he said Have you any
money!"
Hugh rose. trembling and ashen.
Hardly So" he answered
Harry considered hastily. He was
almost pennilcss. Nearly all his share
Of the strike had gone to repay the
forged draft 81 have no ready cash"
he said. but the night we played in
the chapel ! left II thousand dollars in
my study safe. have not been there
since lie took pencil and paper from
his pocket and wrote down some fig
ures hastily. Here il the combina-
ton. You must try to get that money"
Wait" he added as Hugh's hand
was on the latch. He must risk moth
, Ing. lie could make assurance doubly
sure. "A half mile from the foot of
the mountain. where the road comes in
from Funeral Hollow, wait for me.
will bring horse there for you."
Hugh crushed the paper into his
pocket and opened the door I'll
| wait" he said He dartel ont slipped