The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-09-02

| HIS manner was quite calm. how ever. and he laughed and chatted with his host as though no contretemps had
 occurred. Then. toward the end of the meal. he asked if we still meant to motor into York. "Of course.'' exclaimed old MT Stapleton. You'll come with us. won't t | you, Ralston?" he asked addressing me.
 'I'd rather be excused to-day I
 said II have some letters must
 write this afternoon" Myra glanced across at me and un-
 derstood the reason of my refusal. "The flower show is quite a good one. can assure you.-, the old squire l declared i've been every year for close upon twenty years. My gardener always shows roses. and last year he won first prize" T hope you'll have similar luck this year. for they are superb and bent down to the big bowl of great dark
 crimson blossoms before me- At half-past ? the car came round. and the party. including Miss Cham bers, departed
 
 was left to my own devices. I some plan of action For half am hour sat in the shadow of one of the big beeches on the lawn and smoked Then resolved to walk into Parnham vil- lage, on the Nation road. and send a reassuring telegram to Granny. who would no doubt be expecting one in response.
 Who was that dead woman? I won dered Had Cunliffe and the police discovered anything further? recollected how I had been watch ed. and smiled to myself when I re- membered how had tricked the man keeping observation upon me. The sun was blazing at that hour. and the walk along the broad white highway was shadeless. The heat compelled me to saunter slowly. but the road was lonely and deserted. and was afforded ample time for calm reflection. On either side stretched the wide pastures and fruitful lands of the Stapleton estate. and beyond, in the blue distance. as came down the hill, lay the town of Nation deep in the hollow.
 I had passed the cluster of houses called Howe. and was within half a
 mile of Parnham. when the village telegraph boy approached upon his red bicycle. He touched his hat. re- garding me as visitor at the Grange, whereupon it suddenly occurred to; me that if he took my message I would be spared a walk of at least a mile, which was acceptable on a blazing day like that. 4 So ,when I had hailed him he dis mounted. He seemed a bright. in- telligent lad, even though his red hair required barber's attention. and his face was freck1ed. The message I had already written out before I started. therefore. producing it. asked him to hand it in for me when he got
 back to the office. "Very we'll. sir the lad replied. when it occurred to me to. ask where
 he was going.
 I'm off duty just now. sir. The other boys on.' he explained. I'm just going up to the Grange. as I want to see the gentleman I saw this morning."
 Which gentleman?" "The gentleman dressed in gray and a straw hat.''
 "Why do you want to see him. my lad?' I inquired. The boy turned red, and hesitated in confusion.
 "I must see him privately. sir. Is he at home?"
 "why privately? What business can you have with him? Have you got message for him?" NO. sir.' the lad responded. II want to see him." But why. my lad? Tell me the reason. The gentleman probably won't see you unless he knows your busi- nesS.' To be Continued.) RIG BARGAIN