Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-03-27
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l!ll2 By Dodd, Mead a {
CHAPTER XVIII.


Wilfred stood motionless for mo-
ment, and then sat YEARLY down 10
rest. Scarcely had he done so when
he heard shouts far outside IN the
street, the heavy trampling of feet,
cries. directions. orders. He rose and
waIked over to the window. The cries
we're growing louder and the footsteps
more distinct. Men were approaching
the house rapidly. he could tell that
they were running. What could they
be9 What was toward? A suspicion
Mashed into his mind 1t had hardly
found Judgment there when Thorne
sprang upon the porch, leaped across
Il. and burst through the other front
window into the long room. pedes-
tai with q bust Of Washington on 1t
was standing between the windows,
As Tborne sprang back from the win
dow, he knocked against 1t. 1t fell to
the floor with tremendous crash.
He stood staring a moment toward
tho window. listening while the noise
Of the running feet died away in the
distance. 1t seemed that he had dis
tanced his pursuers or eluded them
for the time being. 1t could only be
for a moment, however he had other
shings TO think of. Well, that moment
would be enough; 1t was all he re-
yuired. He turned to go down the
room, only to find himself confronted
by the boy.
It Is hard to say which was the more
surprised OF the two-Thorue at see
ing Wilfred. or Wilfred at Thorne's APP
pearance The latter's face was pale.
his breath was coming rapidly, he was
bareheaded. His brow was covered
with sweat, and he had the hunted,
desperate look OF man at the very
end Of his resources Neither at first
said anything to the other It was
Thorne who first recovered himself.
He sought to pass by the boy. but Will
fred seized him.
Halt" he CRIED "you are under
arrest
wait moment" gasped out
Thorne; land l will go with you"
AS he spoke he shook himself loose
from the weak grasp Of the wounded
young man, and started down the
room.
Halt. say!" cried Wffred. "You
are my prisoner"
"All right, all right" said Thorne
quietly; your prisoner. anything you
like. Here" he drew his revolver
from his pocket and pushed it into the
boys hand; take this, shoot the life
out of me- if you wish, but give me a
chance to see my brother first"
"Your brOther?"
Yes. He was shot here tonight. I
~ant one look at his face; that's all"
Where Is he?"
Maybe they put him In the room
pcross the hall yonder."
What would he be doing there?"
asked Wilfred, not yet apprehending
the situation from Thorne's remarks.
Nothing" said me other bitterly;
II guess he is dead"
Wait" said Wilfred. He stepped
across the hall. keeping Thorne COW
cred with his revolver. Don't move ;
] will see." He threw open the door,
glanced in, and then came back. "It's
a lie!" he said.
What" exclaimed Thorne.
There is no one In there. 1t is Just
one Of your tricks. Call the guard"
He shouted toward the hall, and then
toward the window. Sergeant of the
guard! Captain Thorne is here, in
this house"
He stepped out on the porch and
shouted again with astonishing power
for one so painfully wounded as he
Then the boy felt a faintness come
over him. He sank down on a seat on
the porch and leaned his head against
the house. and sought to recover his
FtrenEth, fighting desperate battle:
fearful lest Thorne should escape
while he was thus helpless.
1t was Edith Varney who first re-
piled to his frantic summons by hurry
ing into the room. She was as much
surprised to see Thorne as he was to
Zee her. Her heart leaped in her bosom
at the sight of him, and she stared at
him as at wrath or a vision.
You wouldn't tell me an untruth
would you?" said Thorne. coming
closer to her. "He was shot in this
room an hour ago. my brother Henry
I'd like to take one look at his dead
lace before they send me the same
way. Who're is he? Can't you tell me
that much, Miss Vsrney? Is he in the
house?"
Edith looked at his face, shook heI
head q little, and moved away from
him toward the table. Thorne threw
up his hands in a gesture Of despair
and turned toward the window AS he
did so, Wilfred, having recovered frou
his faintness little, called out again
The guard The escaped prisoner
Captain Thorne!"
This time his frantic cutlery was an
swered. At last they were closing il
upon the wretched man. He tufne'
from tho window and faced the girl
scarcely less wretched than he, ant
laughed shortly
They are on the scent, you see," h
said; they'll get me In minute
and when they do, 1t won't take then
long to finish me cAf And as that'l
be the last of me, Miss Varney, mayb
you'll listen to one thing. We can
all die soldiers death. In the roa
and glory of battle, our friends abou
ts. under the flag we love. No. not all
Bone of US have orders for anothe
kind of work, daredevil, desperat
work. the hazardous schemes of tn