Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-10-22
him3" asked Charles, again after

| a protector. DO you not know that no
man would lend that amount to you ex-
cept in unthinkablc circumstances You
arc all alone in the world except for me,
whom you won't marry, you say"
NO" she cried derisvely. Il won't
till you've built the fortune
And" Mr.. Captain resumed, al
lowing her the defiance, you are used
to taking risks. But l have a claim
he smled-"a little claim, and borrow
money from Lord Longborough you GER
tainly must notl"
Anna beat her little fists on the table
and cried softly:
"Oh, poor fool poor fooll" till Mr..
Captain stopped, and then she said: "For
heavens sake, be quiet, man, or l won't
be your partner"
} 1T is my duty to speak to you pretty
severely" said Mr.. Captain, quizzically,
: disregarding this. May | ask how
, long you have known Lord Longbor-
) ough p
"Whyi" cried Anna, 81 don't know
him at all"
Then how can you ask him for
money"
! Il shan't ask him." said Anna, her
eyes like stars of the first magnitude,
Because whyi He would say no."
"Then--" Charles began
There are many ways" said Anna.
of borrowing money"
Il wish | knew some,' replied Mr..
Captain, signing.
That" said Anna triumphantly, "is
what l am going to teach you, if you
: care to profit by lesson. l will be
brains on the enterprise, and you shall
be hands, sometimes, and in return we
will have the profits"
She stretched out her hand and shook
Charles Captains like a man.
Partner" she said, there's luck to
both of US" And clinking her coffee
cup against his, she drank.
He asked: "But what are we going
to do?"
81 shall give you the first instructions,
she answered, ION the way home. And
by the way, l am ready to CO."
| They went in hanson to the luxuri-
, Gus little fiat which she still occupied in
r spite of her Immediately restricted
means. On the doorstep she stood con-
. sidering the position with a delightful
!. gravity.
1T is only ten o'clock. You may
1 come up for few minutes"
/ Charles followed her to the drawing
room with the big divan in the center
and luxuries everywhere, and silk cush-
t ions of the softest green which color
provided just the background that suit
ed her best.
}, She seated herself at little bureau
and unlocking drawer, took there
from a small bag and counted out from
the bag twenty sovereigns.
There, young man" she said in a
. triumphal and patronizing way to Mr.
t Captain, Take il and open an account
. at Dorett's in Fenchurch street tomor-
row morning and get check book out
, Say to the clerk who attends you: is
, Jones-or any name you fancy-manager
here? No, SIR he'll say, So-and-so is
, manager here. Let me know who So
andso is when you come here with the
! check book. | shall expect you at ten
o'clock"
She took up an evening paper.
See that paragraph"
! He read
| The Jocund Damser by Vatican
| stolen from the Louvre a week ago. has
: not been traced though it is rumored
= that police suspicion has fallen upon the
{ right quarter. Meanwhile the authori-
: ties are offering a reward of twelve hun
} dred francs to any private person able
I to give information leading to the re-
, covery of the picture
5 Il have no doubt" said Anna thought
fully, when she saw that Charles had
t finished reading, that it would be q
| good speculation to buy that picture
from the dealer who has it at the mo.
ment, and who darcs not keep it much
longer. One would have to offer enough
| to make it worth his while, yet not any
t thing like the value"
IF one knew who the dealer was, Ger.
/ tainly," said MIR. Captain, smiling toler.
= antly.
s And if one had the money" Anna
, continued
e "And given the money too" added
S Charles, still more tolerantly.
D We'll" said Anna Stuart with an all
c OF dismissing the case, II may expect
|, you with one of Doretts check books
e tomorrow at tenn"
- AT ten, exactly" he replied.
n Goodnight" said Anna.
i He left her seated at her bureau
white gowned, shining haired, with two
e devils like spear points in her eyes. TIL,
devils caught Charles at the door
It brought him back, sent him away again
devastated him, and kept him exceeding
= ly punctual to his appointment, the fol
lowing morning
: He found Anna, at her bureau exactl,
O as he had left her, save that she wor,
simpler white morning gown, very Sc
a date, yet very demoralizing, and that sh,
was speaking into the receiver of hel
It telephone.
a This is what she was saying:
g That is Mr.. van Kiet? Ant
e you arrived late last night2 Yes
S, this is one who knows. = . . You keel
y quite quiet, Mr.. van Kiet, and listen.
h won't be any use you applying to Bran
= mel for certain work of art, for it il
e now in my possession. Miss Ann;
Stuart. Private room-Maxim s
r. -" | am perfectly willing to deal will
you at two o'clock this afternoon.
" This isn't any trap. it's genuine
If you like to call in at Brammels a
n one o'clock this afternoon he'll tell 20,