Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-05-11

man ATKINS race, but the
speechmaking habit Is not like
~ ly to be broken.
Cyrus Whitaker" he stammered.
have you been drinking? Your Ian.
/ guage to me is abominable. Why
permit myself to remain here and lis.
| ten to SUCH
"If youth keep still I'll tell you why.
And If was you wouldn't be too
anxious to find out This everlastin'
cold don't make me over and above
| good tempered, and when l think of
what you've done to that little girl. or
what you tried to do, | have to hold
myself down tight-ti2ht-and don't
you forget it, Now you keep quiet
and listen tn be best for you, He
man. Your cards amt under the table
any longer. I've seen your hand. and
l know why you've been playin' it.
I know the whole game I've been
west, and Everdean and l have had
talk"
Mr.. Atkins had again risen from the
chair. Now he fell heavily back into
1t. His lips moved as If he meant to
speak. but he did not. At the mention
Of the Everdean name he made 2
! queer choking sound in his throat
II know the whole business. He
man." went on the captain. II know
why you was so knocked over when
you learned who Bos'n was the night
Of the party. l know why you took
up with that blackguard Thomas and
why you've spent your good money
hirin' lawyers for him. l know about
the mine know the whole thing
from first to last Shall I tell YOU
Do you want to hear it?'
The great man did not answer. A
drop of perspiration shone on his high
forehead, and the veins of his big
white hands stood out as he clutcbed
the arms of his chair. The monument
was tottering on its base.
IT'S dirty mess, the whole of tt
continued Captain Cy. And yet can
see-I suppose l can see-some excuse
for you at the becinnin'. When old
man Everiean and his crowd bought
you and John Thayer out way hack
there in 81. after John died. and all
the money was put into your hands
carlate you was honest then
wouldn't wonder If you meant to hnnd
over the S3T.500 to your partners Wild
ow. But twas harder and more risky
to send money east in them days than
It's now. and so you waited. thtnkin'
maybe that you'd fetch II TO Emily
when you come yourself. But you
didn't come home for some years; you
went tradin' down along the Feejees
and around that way. That's how
reasoned it out these last few days on
the train. l give you credit for eein'
honest first along
"But never mind whether you was
or not-you haven't been since. You
never paid over a cent OF that poor
feller's money-honest money. thHf be-
lonred to his heirs and belongs tn 'em
now You've hung on to IT. stole II
used It for yours. And Emily worked
and scratched for Twin and died
poor. And Mary. she died after bein'
abused and deserted by that crrssed
husband of hers. And you thoaaght
You was safe, carlate. And then
Bos'p turns up right in your own town.
!
the big dipper. it's enough to make
Teller believe that the Almighty does
take a hand in straightenin' out such
things when US humans bungie Fem
it is so!
Course l amt sure. Herman. what
yo,, meant to do when you found that
the child you'd stole that money from
| Ht,,' - 10 f0Np and
eyes till you or she died. cafate you
was afraid I'd find somethin' out.
want you? presume likely Won
Thought that ]. not havfn' quite the
reverence for you that the rest Of the
Rayporters have might be sharp
enough or lucky enough to smell rat.
Perhaps you suspcioned that knew
the Everdeans Anyhow you wanted
to get the child as fur out of your
sight and out of my hands as you
could. Amt that so? And when her
dad turned up you thought you saw
your chance. Heman. you answer me
this: Amt it part of your bargain with
Thomas that when he gets his little
girl he shall take her and clear out.
away Off somewheres, for good? Amt
it now-whst?"
The monument was swaying. was
swinging from side to side. but It did
mans cheeks hung fabby, his fore
head was wet. and he shook from head
to foot But he clinched his jaws and
made one last attempt at defiance.
IL don't know what YOU mean"