Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06


first. and now I'm a kind of a sort OF
watchman. They gave me bunk IN
the summer house there"-hc jerked
his thumb backward over his shoulder
--"but know game worth two OF
that for these cold nights. III show
you. can put you up for the night
he added, III you like"
The wayfarer ghook his head. Il
must get away tonight. but I'm mucn
obliged"
Haven't done anything. have you!"
asked his one time companion curl
ously. "You didn't seem that sort"
The bearded face turned away. I'm
not wanted by the police, no. but I'm
on the move, and the sooner take the
trail the better. don't mind night
travel"
you'd be better for rest" said the
Waterman, but you're the doctor.
Come in. and We'll have nip OF some
thing warm anyhow"
His guest followed him into spa
cious hall. scarce conscious Of what he
did. A double door to the left was
shut, but he nevertheless knew perfect
" that the room It hid had tall
French window letting on to n garden
where camelias had once dropped like
blood. T'he open door to the right LED
to the library.
There the yellow light touched the
dark wninscoting, the marble mantel-
piece, dim paintings on the wall and
great brass bound Korean desk IN
corner What black thing had once
happened in that room? What race
had once looked at him from that
whec! chair? 1t was an old face gray
and lined and passionate. bis father
doubtless He told himself this calmly.
with an odd sense Of apartness
The others glance followed his pride.
fully. Its fine property" he said.
THE owners an invalid. hear, with
one leg in the grave Hes In some
sanitarium and can't get much good OF
It, Nice pictures. them," be added.
sweeping candle round. That's a
good locker over there. Must he the
old mans daughter. reckon. Well,
I'll go and get you finger or two to
keep the frost ont Of your lungs. It'll
he cold tonight Make yourself at
home" The door closed behind him.
The man he left was trembling VIC
lently. He had scarcely repressed a
cry. The portrait that hung above the
mantelpiece was Jessica's, in house
dress Of soft Romney blue and n sin.
gle white rose caught in her hair. "The
old mans daughter The words seem.
ed to echo and re-echo about the walls
voicing new agony without name
Then Jessica was his sister!
AS he stared dry eyed at the picture
in the candle light the misery slowly
passed. He must know. Who she was
what she was to him. he must learn
beyond peradventure. He cast swift,
glance around him. Orderly rows OF
books stared from the shelves; the ma
hogany table held only pile Of old
: magazines. He strobe to the desk
drew down its lid and tried the draw
: ers. They opened readily. and he rap
idly turned over their litter Of papers
written in the same Grabbed hand thai
had etched the one damning word or
the draft he bad found in the cabin or
Smoky mountain. Most Of the paper.
+ the searcher saw Mt glance were Of
no import. and they gave him no clev
to what he sought. Then. mysteriousl!
> guided by the subtle memory tina
seemed OF late to haunt him, though h'
was but hak.conscious OF its guidance
his nervous fingers suddenly found ant
pressed spring. a panel fell down
! and he drew ont folded parchment
3 Another instant and he was bendin.
e over it with the candle his fingers
q tracing familiar legal phrases Of will
q laid there long ago. He read with thu
blood shrinking from his heart:
e "To my son, Hugh. in return for tn
n care and sorrow he has caused me al
A the days Of his life. for his dissolut