Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-02-06

country and demonstrating his fitness
for his position OF responsibility and
trust aleo added to his satisfaction,
but this was greatly enhanced by the
| fact that Thorne was his rival, and he
could make a guess that he was suo.
cessful rivel in love as well as In
war.
You have never pleased before"
persisted Edith Hundreds Of sus.
pioious cases have come up--hundreds
of men have been run down-but you
preferred to sit at your desk in the
war department. until"
Edith Edith" interposed her
mother.
Il can't dtscues that now" said Ar
relsford
NO, we WIN not discuss II. win
have nothing more TO do with the af.
Fair"
you won't" whispered Arrelsford
threateningly.
Don't say that" urged Mrs Var
ney.
Nothing, nothing. at all" said
Edith.
AT your own suggestion, Miss Var
ney,' persisted the secret service
agent vehemently, Il agreed to accept
a plan by which we could criminate
this friend Of yours or establish his
innocence When everything ls ready
you propose to withdraw and make
the experiment failure, perhaps al.
lowing him to escape altogether and
being a party to treason against your
own country"
Edith looked from Arrelsford's set
face with his bitter words, the truth
Of which she was too Just not TO 40
knowledge, ringing in her ears. TO the
face Of her mother. II was sweet
face full Of sympathy and love, but it
was set In the same way as the man s.
The patriotism OF the woman was
aroused The kind of help that Edith
wanted In her mothers look che did
not find there.
You mustn't do this, Edith; you
must do your part" said Mrs. Varney.
The resolution of the girl gave way.
He is there, she faltered piteous-
~, "he Is there at the further end of
the veranda. What more do you want
of me?" Her voice rose in spite OF
her efforts to control herself.
Call him to the room, and do it
naturally If anyone else should do it
he would suspect something immedi-
ately and be on his guard
Very well" said the girl helplessly.
~ will call him"
She turned toward the window.
Watt" said Arrelsford, zone thing
more. want him TO have this pa
per" He handed Edith the communi-
cation which had been taken from
Jonas earlier in the evening.
What am l to do with this ?" asked
the girl, taking it.
Give It to him, and tell him where
It came from. Tell him old Jonas got
II from a prisoner at Libby prison and
brought 1t to you"
But why am to do this?" asked
tho girl.
why not? II he is innocent. what S
the harm? II not, If he is in the plot
and we cant catch him otherwise, the
message on the paper will send him
to the telegraph Office tonight, and
that's where we want him"
But l never promised that" said
= the girl with obvious reluctance to do
anything not only that might tend to
narm the suspected, but that might
work to the furtherance of Arrels-
lords designs.
do you still believe him innocent ?"
sneered the man.
Edith lifted her head and for the
first time she looked Arrelsford full in
The face
y still believe him innocent" an
swered the girl slowly and with delib-
crate emphasis.
Then why are you afraid to give
aim the paper?" asked Arrelsford, di-
rectly with cunning adroitness.
The girl, thus entrapped, clasped
he paper TO her breast, and turned
coward the window. Her mind was
made up, but 1t was not necessary for
ler to call. Her ear, tuned to every
sound he made, caught the noise OF
lis football on the porch. She turned
aer head and spoke to the other two
whispered expressonlessly. unless
you want to be seen, you had better
60"
Here, this way. Mrs. Varney," said
Arrelsford, taking that lady by the
arm and going down to the far end to
he door covered by the portieres.
, The two disappeared. and 1t was
impossible for soul to see them in
The darkness Of the hall, although they
y could see clearly enough, even in the
9 1imly lighted drawing room, every
y hing that would happen. Edith stood
b rs If rooted to the floor. the paper still
n her hand. when Thorne opened the
II lash which she had closed behind her
and entered in his turn t,-S window
=. through which she had come a short
8 lime before. He stepped eagerly To
d ward her.
s you were so long" he whispered
, coming for me, that" He stopped
3 abruptly and looked at her face. 'is
anything the matterH"
r mo"
You had been away such lone
d lime that thought"
only few minutes"
r. only few years." said the mar
g passionately. His voice was low ant
II gently modulated, not because he hat
anything to conceal but because of the
= softnesss OF the moonlight and the few