Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-03-27

While we were consulting timetables, Jim re
membered that several years ago a friend of his
father, a Mr.. Graydon,. an educated and travelled
gentleman, had grown tired OF metropolitan turmoil
and built a home in the heart Of the northern wild
erness. Thither he had taken his wife, and there
they were still living an isolated but happy life.
IF | have to do this outrageous thing at all"
said he, I'm going to try to do it right"
Accordingly, he wrote to Mr.. Graydon. The re-
ply, was a letter saying that inns father was de,
come Immediately and stop as long as he wished
with them:
don, and my wife and daughter join me in bidding
you, welcome to our woods"
Daughter, en-" unused Jim, that's a little more
than ! had b%argained for; but-let it go. may be
able to escape from one girl, I couldn't from a
hotel veranda cluttered up with EN-"
| went with Jim to his train and saw him off.
Jim didn't look pleased, but he was taking his share
in the unpleasant thing with carnestness and dc
termination.
Only one letter from Jim reached me during the
summer He wrote briefly, as usual, and merely to
say that he was better. that his hosts were hos
pitality personihed, and that he was to return about
she middle of August.
1t lacked only a few days of September when
Jim wrote that he had returned. dropped in I'M
announced a day or SO later and found him at
home.
The few days in town had made no impression
on his thick coat of tam remember how white his
collar looked when I found him at table just at the
evenings edge.
Jim rose joyously to grasp my hand. ! knew he
was well by the way he did it.
Jim, you ruffan," said |, ~feelingly, you're fit
0"Fit2" he laughed. az should say I am. I never
felt so keen in my life. Nothing but bone and
| were going to play tackle on the old team again
a believe you would said 7 with conviction;
"but how did it all happen? Did you enjoy your
self, Did you catch a little ashland did you man
age to keep out of the young lady's way"
1t was dusk in the room and quite impossible to
see distinctly, but I thought I detected a change in
Inns EXPRESSION. his answer was Impressive, but
none the less evasive.
The Graydons are the Lords own people, and I
never had 50 bully a time in my life
He settled back in his chair.
"Teddy, you've always been right" he confessed.
a fool long enough, and I'm going to take life easier
hereafter. This town can go hang tor a while
every summer now. I learned a lot OF things in
the woods-but the biggest lesson was that the
stock market doesn't count for much when COM
pared to a shadowy lake at evenfall."
This kind of talk from Jim-practical, unimas-
"Id like to tell you all about it tonight, Teddy,
but l can't. You will have to wait. I've got to
taks some packages up to Mrs: G%Faydo1's sister on
where you and I used to live"
AS I was leaving him, Jim said i've been down
town to-day, and the way those beggars have been
%tangling that Central 500 proposition IS a crime. They
took advantage Of my being away to win over those
wooden-headed Dutch stockholders, and now I've got
them curl up, though, before I get through with EN-.
III teach EN- not to NEEDLE with my affairs.
lent ibid ides yoG IN y ! ina ' tai w %fl tho he i,yie 's ssw 'nsff 's"sv0-
Nov, Teddy, don't get nasty" said he; you know
! can't let those fellows trim me. This is the last big
scrap I'm going into-after this one, things are going
to be smoother. Just now, though, Pm too strong to be
standing around loose, ! need action"
When | got home that night I told my wife about
him.
Something has happened to Jim" said I. "He /.
as husky as a truck horse, but: on the other hand,
5 spok soul alis sff Il 4ll ei wan N:.h ST s'rs .etf's and s s!01 1noon ai
about a Swallowed lake at e%venfall.''
Marie looked at me in blank amazement.
Theodore" she cried, he didn't!'
Those were his exact words" l assured her, and
moreover, he is crazy about ONE girl. He has her
picture in his watch. 1t is the same as a new one on
his mantelpiece, and she's a beauty, too. Add to
this that he is so robust and happy that he is going
to kill a few fnanciers tomorrow for diversion"
Id surely believe you were losing your mind. As il
is, I think Jim Chamberlain ought TO be invest
gated"
tinued, land if you can't, / will"
She failed, however, just as l did.
Jim came to dinner and gave US the story Of the
summer, except the one thing we really wanted TIC
know. Repeated hints and delft questioning were Of
no avail, and finally we gave up. -.
the wooden-headed Dutchmen singularly stolid
Jim had the fight of his life, as he had wished. and
did not win out unttlllate in Noyember' Then some
thing went wrong in copper, and he plunged into thai
like a warning Goth.
saw little of Jim during this time, and whenever
! did there were fewer eminiscences-fnally no ref
erencc at all to the past summer.
The business lust was on him again and a deep
troubled look settled into his eyes-something tha1
had never been there before.
There were strange moods on the man.
Winter fell upon the land and roared up and dowr
its streets and byways in a rage of triumph.
wildly recall the bitter day when Jim called m,
up.
please come in this afternoon said he, pre-
pared to spend a day
Night had come to the city as I creaked through
the crisp, snowy streets to Jim's apartment. Few
figures we're %scurrying, muffed and shivering, to be
lated dinners. In Jim's room, as kamoto admitter
me, there were no lights, and my friend was standin,
alone by the window. looking out across the frozer
square toward the fiery cross that blazed on tn
church tower opposite. He turned as entered, and
saw that his face was white in the pale reflection
Curiously enough, the memory of his return from tn
country months ago flashed through my mind. I re
remembered the white contrast of his collar tina
night against his sun-tanned throat. Now it was diff
fcrent. inns buoyant manner had disappeared, toe
Hi face was grave, his eyes troubled, as he greeted me
q am glad you could come, Teddy" said he. /"
shall have something to tell you directly Here ar
cigars and whiskey. Make yourself comfortable, for
want to talk to you slowly and Understandings |
may take a good bit of the night"
We sat down before the low wood fire. Subdue
e sounds from the other rooms betokened Kamoto; an