Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-02-11

tOwn-tn1S cold man town. linen, OF
course, there's Sylvester. | know be
amt as bright as he might be. and I've
spent-well. more than twice your sal
airy trying TO get him through fresh
man year at Harvard, and | couldn't,
but still he's my son, and II he wants
to run around with these other sports,
why not? ] can afford II. and | guess
the kids got TO SOW his wild oats any
way. My wife and children ought to
be happy with the money I've got. and,
as l figure it, If join this Oak Door
club l can help them to get what they
want. Do you follow me. Brand"
"Yes; l understand" sighed Brand.
people. and you are continuing at it.
But you and your family have become
ambitious. or at least. so far as you
are concerned. you are ambitious for
them. When you begin to associate
Familiarity with rich men as their friend
you'll soon find yourself playing golf
or billiards with one. drinking whisky
with another, and your son will marry
the daughter Of a third. You will for
get all about the people. Your paper
will become decadent and feeble. The
circulation will dry up" He paused
for breath and added warningly in
strong tones. THE Advance is now at
its zenith. but its decline begins the
very day that you are elected to the
Oak Door club"
Nolan reached over and seized Brand
by the shoulder.
Wheeler. you're a decent sort Of
fellow. like you and the things
you've made the paper stand for but
you don't know what II means to put
people that you love on the altar and
cause them suffering for the sake Of
these-these general principles"
Don't |" exclaimed the young ed
ltor. well, that's exactly what I've
done. gave up the girl loved, who
had promised to be my wife, SO that
might write the truth" In spite Of
the emotion which his words had
aroused in him Brands voice never
faltered as he spoke.
you did" exclaimed Nolan amazed
ly. "Well, my boy. don't understand
you. couldn't do that" he confessed.
Don't think that 1t was easy for
me to Go. I've thought of her every
hour of every day since. but she"--now
his voice wavered-"well, she's forgot
ten, so it doesn't matter Mr.. Nolan,
do you remember what 1t was that
first brought US togetber?"
that Gtnrv honf Ind0o pa al h.
my. and it was a good one, and you've
followed 1t up with lot of good ones
since. Why. Wheeler. there Amt a
man in the country that can work up
series like you can. But. do you
know, I'm beginning to think that the
judge is not all bad. Mind you, I'm
not forgetting old scores. but"-he
seated himself-"did you ever think of
it, perhaps we haven't all the facts of
that affair? Some things have hap
pened Are you sure that he's SO all
fired wrong?'
Mr.. Nolan. the half hasn't been told
about Judge Bartelmy" cried Brand
We'll. this is getting TO be a pretty
serious affair. We can't be too sure
about our facts"
Mr. Nolan, Judge BarteImy is not
only dishonest judge. but he seems
to have destructive influence on
every one near him. He's corrupt and
corrupting, not only III his public but
in his private life"
Wasn't wasn't it his daughter that
you were engaged to"
ha,'c har St1ot
as he did her mother before her"
You amaze me. What do you
mean"
Brand took a deep breath.
why, he surrounded her mother
with machine politicians and shady
financiers and crooked lawyers. He
sent her 10 the state capital when he
wanted to be senator, but il was im-
possible: 10 Washington when he want
ed TO be minister to France, and she
failed. and again when he wanted to
be judge, and she succeeded. and when
she found out that he was using his
judicial Office 10 steal and that she had
only been a lobbyist for his rotten
schemes
"Wc ll"
"Well. 1t killed her, Mr.. Nolan, aud
now he's using his daughter in the
same way. Hes filling his house with
corporation jackals like Dupuy. He
sends her here to muzzle you by work
ing on your wife and daughter. He
hates me. but he would let her marry
me to have his enemy in the family
and make him silent"
why don't you go to the girl and
tell herr" suggested the newspaper
owner.
About her mother and why she
died?
well. perhaps not But hope you
won't follow the Bartelmy story any
further. I'll be just as we'll pleased"
1--WE got to follow it, Mr.. Nolan.
can't STOP" calculated Brand. 1--WE
got the goods on him now. I've got
story that will drive him off the bench
when we print it"
"What?' half rising.