The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-26

| He a0ds qUithout coat, and Ms st,t41
 sLeevcs eOere rolled far above the eLbo1Us. dead" said broom. with a cackre He grinned broadly at the sight of the youths horror struck face. Go ahead and smoke, my boy. I'll light my pipe. Make yourself at home. I keep the 1 window closed to keep out the sound of those Wells street cars. It's good of you to come over here and cheer up an old mans evenings. pm-Pm not used to it," he said, with a wistful touch which was lost to Eddie.
 You ought to have a wife and lot of children, MT. Droom." said Eddie, with characteristic thoughtlessness. broom stirred the fire and scowled. l Were you ever marriedT l "No. don't believe in marriage" ]" said broom sullenly. Il saw the girl today that young Graydon Bansemer is to marry--Miss Cable" Say, she's swell, isn't she?' said Eddie. The old man slunk into his chair.
 'she's very pretty. MT. Graydon in- troduced me to her" "Gee!" was all Eddie could say. They were crossing Wells street down below here on the way home from nickel plater's in Indiana street saw her years ago, but she didn't re- member me. l didn't expect it, how ever"
 'I-how could she have forgotten you?' .Oh, she'd have forgotten her moth CT at that age. She was but three 1 months old. I don't think she liked me today. I'm not what you call a ladies' man." grinned Elias, pufing at his pipe as he picked up the volumes on Napoleon. Eddie laughed politely, but uncomfortably.
 How old are you, MT. Droom?' 'I'm as old as Methuselah." "Aw, go wayr'
 When he was a boy" laughed Elias enjoying his Quip immensely. Miss Cable seems to be very fond of Gray don That will last for couple of years, and then she'll probably be like two-thirds of the rest of 'em Other men will be paying attention to her and she looking for admiration every where. You'd be surprised to know how much of that is going on in Chi cago. Women can't seem to be satis- fed with one husband. They must have another one or two-usually some body else's."
 You talk like society man, MT. Droom."
 "Well, I've met a few society men professionally. And women. too, for that matter. Look out for a sensa- tional divorce case within the next few weeks. It's bound to come unless things change good deal. Terribly. nasty Affair.""
 "Is MT. Bansemer interested?" asked Eddie, holding tight to his chair.
 "Oh, no. We don't go in for that sort of thing"
 T wonder If MT. Bansemer knows about the mistake that came near hap- pening to him week or two ago. got hold of 1t through boy that works fll the United States marshal's ofice," said Eddie, cold as ice now that he was making the test. broom turned upon him quickly.
 What mistake? What do you meanr'
 sIt would have been rich joke on MT. Bansemer. Seems that some law yer is likely to be charged with black mail. and they got Mr. Bansemer's name mixed up in it some way. Of course nothing came of 1t, butt just wondered if anybody had told him of the close call he'd had"
 broom stared straight beyond the young liar and was silent for full minute. Then he deliberately opened the book on his knee and began to turn the pages.
 .'That would have been joke on MT. Bansemer." he said indifferently.
 T don't think he would have enjoyed it. do you?"
 "No one enjoys jokes from the Unit ed States marshars ofhce,' said broom grimly. By the way, who is the law yer that really was wanted?"
 "I never heard I believe it was dropped. The young fellow know said he couldn't talk about 1t, so I didn't ask. Say. who was that swell woman saw coming out of your office this afternoon? I was up at MT. Horn brooks"
 broom hesitated moment He seem- ed to be carefully weighing everything he said.
 ''I suspect it was young Bansemer's future mother-in-law," he said. Mrs. David Cable was there this afternoon about B."
 "Geev' laughed Eddie "Does she need lawyerw
 "Mr. Bansemer transacted business for her some time ago. A very small matter, if remember correctly. Here, listen to this. Now, here's a little incl dent found this evening that interests me immensely. It proves to my mind one of two points hold in regard to Marshal Ney. Listen" And he read at length from his book, dry sepulchral monotone that grated on the ear until it became almost unendurable
 The little clock on the mantelpiece changed 10 before they laid aside Ma poleon and began to talk about some thing that interested Eddie Deever far more than all else-Elias broom him self and such of his experiences as he cared to relate The old man told stories about the dark sides of New York Iifo foIoc rf pourdor tb;ouory