Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-11-14
copyrighted 1911 by Harper & Bros.)


dered whether Lucy in the old days, before her hus
band had become pariah, would have behaved like
that. Billy didn't wonder. He didn't to notice
He had been too long communicated to be able to
muster the power of resentment after forty years OF
such treatment. he took it as matter of course.
On presenting themselves at the ticket Office they
learned that east-bound train would be due in half
an hour The agent looked at them hard and fol-
lowed them with his eyes they moved away. On
the first opportunity he communicated his suspicious
to the train dispatcher; the train dispatcher handed
his information to the baggage master; when the
eastbound train drew in, the baggage master warned
the conductor and the brakeman; by the time the
conductor had collected all the tickets, every pas
senger the train was that two ex-convicts
aboard
Knightly glued his face to the window, trying not
to notice the cruelty of the questioning eyes He
watched the brightness Of the spring, and Toasted his
fancy the greenness of the grass 1t two whole
years since he had anything like that; in the Jail
all had been the ntermnable stretch
of grayness
At midday they drew into Scaford pleasant little
manufacturing town. and there they alighted.
Billy" he said, turning to his companion, this
is where lived before my trouble came. My wife has
been true to me, and has always believed that
innocent She promised when they took away to
keep everything Just the same, that when I came
back we might pick up life where it was dropped
She hasn't kept her word though; eight months after
they carried off baby arrived, it'll be all
different She hasn't me in two years. wouldn't
let her; and I've never had glimpse of Our little
child So you first meeting will be very hard
and-and" his voice broke and he whispered the last
two words, very sacred.-Bily, good-by; I'm going
home now"
He held out his hand and the old man took It
gently. "Good-by, pard, and good luck to you" he
said. 81 never had no home and never had wife;
but / guess what they means to those as have.
Our friendship made in jail, and don't yet know
what made swell like you stoop to such rotten old
bum as I've become at seventy. I'll be back behind
bars in fortnight, I reckon; forty years in qaod
have spoiled me for the world. III forget you,
pard; and hope to God III never set eyes you
again"
Knghtly let go his hand and clutched him tightly
by the arms, swayng him to and fro, peering down
into his eyes. He couldn't himself to speak yet;
when he did, his voice trembled and his face quvered
like woman's.
"see here, Billy" he said. you're old enough to
be my father My fathers dead; he died two years
ago. I'm going to give you a piece of my mind.
You're an old fool You're good man as God has
made and you don't know it. Pm not going to let you
drift back to jail; dyou hear what say? Another
sentence would kill you Here all the money I've got;
don't need any longer In four hours time you be
round by the station entry; when I've explained things
to my wife, III come back and fetch you. You're going
to live with until you find work. Dyou hear that"
Without giving Billy time to thank him. he hurried
away
The trolleys didn't run In seaford on Sundays, so
he had to walk He remembered with smile that this
delay his own doing for. years ago, when he was
prominent citizen, he had helped to put through
the Sunday anti-traffc law.
He at last the outskirts Of the town. within
sight of house, surrounded by woodlands standing
on hill. Even at that distance he watched to see
face at the windows. When he reached the entrance
into the grounds he could longer restrain himself:
doubling up his arms, he broke nun He arrived
the front door painting, and tugged at the bell The
sound OF it echoed family through the house He was
little disappointed in Lucy; he had notified her a
week ago that this was to be the day of days That
she had not met him at the station was quite in order
for he had begged her not to do so; but she might
have sent carrage-and she kept him wait
ing He grew impatient and rang again. Still no one
answered He took battcring the panels of the door
with his feet and hands
Presently he heard movement in upper room.
A window pushed open and shri voice ex-
claimed "Good Lord! Don't you know its Sunday?
Making such and dsurbin' folks restr
He stepped back from under the veranda on to the
lawn frowsy woman was looking down on him
from his bedroom; her eyes were sleepy and she
was only partly dressed He had never seen her be-
fore well, speak up man" she called What is
it that you WANT"
II want to get into my own house." he said sharply
"And who the devil you?'
your own house. indeed" the woman sneered.
you look like it. This house is Mrs Kniehtly's
and she's gone away to the country nine miles from
here ! guess I know who this house; I'm left
in charge"
She had withdrawn her head and was prcparinp to
slam down the window, when he stayed her by saving
well, I'm Mr. Knghtly, and | wan, to know my
wiics address
She leaned again with interest "Oh so
you're Mr. Knightly YOU" she drawled surveying
him from top to toe Well never! I've hecrcd
about you. Got anything to prove it?'
"Ies. Can describe to you everything that's in
that room
The woman laughed brutally. "Bet yer you can't:
everything that was in this room has been moved ON,