Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-02-16


hardly believe 1t, Homer. He
said he wanted to get home early SOS
to write a letter TO a friend of his
In New York. Mr.. Kellogg. junior
member of L. J. Bartlett & Co, about
my invention. But he insisted on
leaving everything to rights for bust
ness tomorrow. And Just look,'
But | thought Roland Barnette"-
l suggested with guile. or course I'd
heard rumor Of what had happened
almost every one in town had-and
how Roland and his friend Mr. Burn
ham had sort Of fallen out on the
way from the Bigelow House to the
train, but no one knew anything def
mite. and ! wanted to get 1.-The rights
of it." as Radville says.
So had dropped in at Graham's on
my way home from the office. as
often do for an evening smoke and u
bit Of gossip. Then started home.
After a time | became aware that
some one was overtaking me.
Good evening. Mr. Duncan" | sa-
luted.
he stopped short. peering through
the gloom Good evening. but--Mr
Littlejohn? Glad to see you Aren't
you late"
You're out late yourself, Mr.. Dun.
can. for opo OF such regular. not to
NY abnormal. he bits-one who never
misses going to church and Sunday
school. no matter what the weather.
He laughed lightly. Had letter
wanted to catch the first morning
train"
Then you're interested in Sans
burner"
mo, I'm not. but hope to interest
others Oh. yes. Mr. Graham told
yeu about it. of course 1t just struck
me that If a man of Burnham's stamp
was willing to risk $500 on the propo-
sition he very likely foresaw profit
In 1t that might as well be Mr.. Ora
hams. So I've sent detailed de-
scriptlon of the thing to a friend in
New York who'll look into it for me"
He was silent for a little
Who's Colonel Rohun:" he asked
suddenly.
why 90 you ask"
81 saw him this evening He was
passing the store and stopped to glare
In as If he hated it--stopped so long
that got nervous and asked Miss
Lock wood shed just happened in for
n parting glass-of Soda whether he
She told me his name, but was other
wise inhumanly reticcnt."
For Josie?" | chuckled. but ht
didn't respond. SO took up the talC
OF the first family of Radylle
The story runs" said |. that the
Bohuns were one OF the f + VS.
that they sickened Of slavery. freed
their slaves and moved north to settle
in Radville, believe they came from
somewhere around Lynchburg. but tina
was couple OF generations ago Wher
the civil war broke ont the old colone
up there'-l Gestured vaguely in the
general direction OF the Bohun man
sion-"couldn't keep out of il. ant
north He Won his spurs under Lee
After the war had blown over he came
home. to find that his only son hat
enlisted with the Rudyiie company
and disappeared AT Gettysburg 1t pref
ty nearly killed the Old man, though
he wasn't 40 old then. but there's fire
in the Bohun blood, and his boys &C
tion seemed to him nothing less thar
treason
And that's what soured him on tn,
world"
Not altogether, He had a daughte
Margaret She was the most heauti
full woman In the world" suspec
my voice broke n little Just there. 70
there was shade Of respectful sym
pathy in the monosyllahle with whicl
he filed the pause He swore SIN
should never marry mort herner bu
she did | guess. being Rohun, sh,
had to after hearing she must not
There were two Of US that loved her
but she chose Sam Graham"
Why" he said awk wardly. I'm
sorry"
I'm not. She was right if couldn'
see It that way They ran away. ant
so did /, | went east. but they came
back 10 Radvillc Colonel Bohun new
er forgave them. but they were yer!
happy till she died Betty's then
daughter. Of course Sans not tn,
kind that marries more than once"
We reached our gate, went In yer!
| quietly. liz our candles and with elabo
rate care avoided the homemade bur
| glar alarm.
by tho way, did you get your invi
tation to Josie Lockwood's party, Mr.
| Duncan? | happened 70 see II on tn,
hall table this evening"
yes" he assented quietly
IT'S to be the social event Of thu
year. hope you'll enjoy it,"
I'm not going IT'S against the rule
| at frst-I mean business rules III b.
so busy at the store, you know"
Alone, | was fain to confess he bal
| hed my understanding.
The rush OF business TO Graham
began tho following morning Dun
| cans hands were full almost from tn
first. and he had to relegatc such mat
tiers as making final disposition OF hi
stock and Gattins acquainted with 1t T.