Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-12-01

"You are only minority stock
eolder. The control Of this enterprise
still rests with me and my friends"
"Your friendsw cried Mr.. WayIand.
That's what brings me here-you and
your friends: ri break you and your
friends IL 1t takes my fortune"
II can understand your dislike OF
me. but my associates have never
harmed you"
your associates! And who are
they? A lawless rufllnn. who openly
threatened Willis Marsh's murder. and
loose woman from the dance halls
"Take care" cried Emerson In
sharp vOica
The cd nan waved his hands as II
at n loss f,s' words. Look here. You
can't be an utter idiot. you must
know who she is."
"Do you? Then tell me-"
Wayne Waylnnd turned his back ir
disgust. do you really wish tc
know Marshs smooth voice ques
toned.
II do"
"She Is n very common sort" said
Willis Marsh. II am surprised tina,
you never heard Of her while you were
in the upper country She followed
the mining camps and lived as sucl
women do. She is an expert with
cards. She even dealt faro In some Of
the camps"
How do you know"
~ looked up her history in Seattle
She Is very-wcll, notorious"
"Pcople talk like that about nearly
every woman in Alaska"
~ didn't come here to argue abou
that woman's character" broke In Mr.
Wayland.
"You have said enough now. so thai
you will either prove your words Of
apologize"
"1f you want proof. take vo"-
relation with her. It's notorious
Even Mildred has heard Of It,"
II can explain to her in word"
Perhaps you can also explain tha
affair with billiard If so you hat
better do it. suppose you dldn'
know anything about that either.
suppose you don't know why he ad
vanced that loan after once refusin.
1t. They have name for men like
you who take money from women o.
/ her sort"
Emerson uttered terrible cry. and
his face blanched to gray pallor.
DO you mean to say-I sent-her--
to Hillard?"
"Hilliard az good as told me so him
self. Do you wonder that am willing
to spend fortune to protect my CIR
from man like you? I'm going tc
break you. I've got foothold in thi:
enterprise Of yours. and I'll root yor
out If 1t takes a million. I'll kick yor
back into the gutter where you be
long"
Boyd stood appalled, at the violence
Of this outburst. The man seemed
insane. He could not find words tc
answer him.
"You did not come down here to tel
me that" he said at last
mo. came here with a message
from Mildred. She has told me to dis
miss you once and for ALL"
81 shall take my dismissal from nc
one but her. can explain every
thing"
II expected you to say that. II you
want her own words read this" With
shaking fingers he thrust letter lie
fore EmersOn's eyes. Read it,
The young man opened the envelope
and read in handwriting he knew
only too well:
Dear Boyd - The conviction has beer
growing on me for some time that you
and | have made a serious mistake II
Is not necessary to go into details. Let
, us spare each other that unpleasa ntness
l am familiar with all that father will
say 70 you. and his feelings are mine
hence there is no necessity for further
explanations. Ih,lieve me. this is much
the simplest way. MILDRED
Boyd crushed the note in his palm
and tossed it away carelessly.
You dictate WELL" be said quietly
but shall tell her the truth and she
WILL
"Oh. no. you won't. You won't sec
her again. l have seen to that Mil
dred IS engaged to Willis Marsh. It's
all settled. | warn you to keep away
Her engagement has been announced
to all our friends on the yacht"
II tell you won't take my dismissa
from any one but her. shall come
aboard the Grande Dame tonight"
mir. Marsh and ! may have some
thing to say to that"
Boyd wheeled upon Marsh with g
look that made him recol
'If you try to cross me III strip your
back and lash you till you howl like
dog"
Marshs horid face went pale. His
tongue became suddenly too dry fol
T