Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-30
didn't your Il said.
What do you mean Inquired Drake

didn't your" IL said.
What do you mean Inquired Drake
ncrNously.
"Hnh, like that Forgotten every
thing. har" your Sorry. old snort. but
it's my painful duty to stir your .r,y
meet mo near tho fountain In half am
hour. And watch your step, IT'S tho
chair for YOU this timc II you ain't
mighty carcfulN'
Making some excuse ~ his cmploycr,
Drake went out. And the time came
all too soon when his prison friend
showed him n newspaper with tho
scare heads: Bartender Slnin IN Saloon
Brawl. Murderer Unknown. Makes
Good His Escape.'
The black typo danced before
brakes eyes. He was terrified.
How docs this concern mc?" no
asked.
YOU cackled Rnl. You croaked
that guy! Up To now nobody but mo
knows YOU done II. and aln't goin' to
sQucal on you. Joe. You believe that,
don't you?"
What are yom giving mo?" demand
cd Drake thickly.
Bits manner changed instantly.
The straight spiel" hc growlcd.
Putin up the unconscious act. arc
you: Don't YOU do II. II split,
there's twenty frlicrs who saw you In
tUHI SalobIl, NpuIu PICK you out OF
n crowd. That guy is dead all right.
and YOU killed him. 1t don't make no
difference TO me. ono way or the other,
hut youll have to toe tho line and do
as ell you. or I'll put my self right
with the cops and YOU 20 TO the chair
for sure.
Drake had 10 accept tho lamcntablc
truth.
Il haven, much money" he faltcrcd
i've been at work only II couple OF
weeks. hut might scrape up sloc-"
The other laughed derisivcly.
"ScaiCh me- he gufrawcd. THAT
rich guy you're living with can cut up
bettcrn that. Now, here's my offer
Take II or leave II. The next time he
has lot OF dough in the house. put
me wise and I'll pouch It. It's dead
easy No one Viii ever suspect you.
and I'll get away West. Now, don't
cut up rough about II. You can't help
yourself It's tho only thing to do"
The unhappy secretary saw no other
way out of tho difficulty. Sick with
despair. he gave In. Just as on that
Nrst evil day. he had helped himself
10 the banks money, believing he
would repay the loan" by the pro-
cecds OF a fortunate gamble. he salvcd
his conscience now by the resolve to
work hard, save every cent and repay
Burton In course of time.
He knew that within the next few
days his employer would withdraw
from the bank fairly large sum with
which TO purchase a small estate In
the country whittier to retire for a
Weekend when weary OF tho noise
and heat OF the city. So. having made
the wretchcd compact. he crushed It
out OF sight until tho time was ripe
for its execution.
Being restless and unstrung. how
ever. he sought Gertrude. But. on call
ing at her homc--a cheap apartment
house In the suburbs-he found that
she was not at home. Walking back.
he saw Burtons car approa ching. He
recognized II at once. OF course, and
was specializing as to what business
had brought his employer to that part
OF the city. when he noticed that BUR
ton was accompanied by a woman.
The two were seated In the closed
limousine.
So Drake reprcsscd his first Intent.
and did not signal the chauffeur. As
tho car passed. he was astoundcd by
the discovery that Rurton's companion
VAS none other than Gertrude. In
stantly the demon OF jealousy whis-
pered another reason why he should
fulfll Wall-Eyed Bits behests.
a strange episode in John Burton's
life moved on now to its predcstined
close with the merciless swiftncss of
Greek tragedy. Wholly unaware OF
the two sordid situations which were
developing. Burton's own acts con-
tributed to the dcnoucmcnt on tho
one hand. he obtained tho money
from the bank. and actually set his
secretary To check the bills and see
II the amount was right: on the other.
his kindly nature led him to take tho
pretty, but sad-eyed, dancing girl FOR
mn Irir In, III
lie grew to like her. When away
from Moretti she became natural and
unaffected. The forced Eaycty of tho
ballroom deserted her. She was Just
n shy. wistful and delightfully."- timid
young woman. In n word. her at
tributes were those most calculated 20
appeal to a man OF Burtons tempera
ment.
Unfortunately. tho girl did not con-
ldc In him altogether. Had she done
so. at least orc chapter OF this history
would never have been written. But
she was proud. and would not ask for
help. while tho bitter experience OF
hygone years had hardened her to
the extent Of believing that man
seldom gave dlsinterested assista nee
10 woman. especially n woman who
was young and pretty.
Moreover. Moretti held her in cruel
DbEThGe. Inc Crafty ltallaH hncN tnit
the girls mother was now In imminent
danger OF death unless she was sent
speedily TO n sanatorium In the West
n Gertrude fell In with his plans. he
promised her n sufficient sum of money
20 relieve her OF all anxiety in this
respect. But II she refused. she thereby
condemned her mother to the grave
and herself to penury, as she would
he dismissed instantly from her post
In the academy. and was unified by
lack Of training to fill any other posi-
ton. She argued. too. as Drake had
done. that Burton was rich. and would
suffer little II any. inconvenience from
the loss OF few thousand dollars, a
share Of which ill-gotten plumber
would fall to her Life as she had
known II had mcrcifully' calloused her
For all that. she loathed the under
taking. though she could not nerve
herself to be candid with her friend
and toll him Of Morettrs wretched
scheme. The upshot OF these despicable
plots came when the young millionaire
received the following letter:
Dear Mr.. Burton: I am In terrible
trouble and want your advice. VII