The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-16

I-you were so kind as to help me before-''
 "An' that gives me license to do it again?" suggested Caleb. '"That seems to be the rule all the world over. The rest of your crowd are either as bad off as you; or have too much sense to put cash into a sinlin' enterprise. hey: So we come a runnnin' to the easy mark. Caleb Conover. He'll be f1atter- ed to help us out"
 MT, Conover!" caughed the poor old man.
 That's all right" laughed Caleb. I'm goin' to help you out. So don't get any grayer in the face than you are already. I'm goin' to help you out don't, you're ruined. Flat broke an'-''
 ''Oh. no. MT. Conoverr' exclaimed Standish. tremblingly. Mot in the very least. It is a temporary crisis
 Which is goin' to become pertinent unless I sling out a life rope. Whats the use of 1yin' bout it?''
 Standish laughed. The pitiful. mirth- less laugh of the man who is insulted and dare not resent the affront: who compromises with trampled self re- spect by grinning where he should curse.
 Good joke. ain't it?" agreed Caleb, reading the broken aristocrat like an open page: "So much for my. first you out is because want to do you neiehborly turn. We are neighbors. ain't we. Standish?"
 "Why of course! Of courser' cried the otker wholly puzzled as to the trend of Caleb'S words; yet unfeigned- 1y hapry-and therefore eager to be genial-over the solution of his finan- cial tangle. He coughed a pleasant acQuieScence.
 But" went on Caleb, cit just occurs to me I ain't been as neighborly with you as I'd oughter.''
 Absent-mindedly as he talked. Con- over drew forth his check book from a drawer and laid it open before him. lingering it's long pink slips.
 Mo- he continued. forestal1ng Standish's perplexed reply. 'T ain't
 been around here to see me several times. now-An' I've never once re- turned any of your visits. It's about up to me to come to see you. When'll I come?"
 "Why-by all means! By all means!' declared Standish with effusion. Come and lunch with me. some day.-shall
 we say. at the Pompton Club? Why not to-day? I shall be delighted. If"
 'I don't go out to lunch" objected Conover. Haven't time. But I'd be glad to eat dinner with you"
 Certainly; IGy; Why rSf of cSs9 course; Any Any | now at the Pompton Club-'' 'I don't want to dine at the Pomp- ton Club." said Caleb sulkily. At the Arareek, then. We're both c. 'fNor the Arareek. neither" answer ed Caleb. "Eatin' food with a man at | his club ain't what I call bein' neigh , borly. I'll just drop around on you like that better"
 fWhy, ye-es.' coincided Standish. | with all the cordiality he could muster against the shock That will be de- | 1ightfu1. Certainly. Some evening | when-' How&a Friday evenin' of this week suit you?'' asked Caleb. breaking in on | the loosely strung speech of his guest. "Friday?'' echoed Standish, taken aback. "Why. why my family are to be at home that evening" White spots leaped into view at eith-
 CT side of Caleb's close shut lips. and | something lurid famed far back in his ] eyes. Had Blac2rda-in his hospital
 room at the Capitol-seen that look.
 he might have suffered relapse. But | Standish was near sighted,-except in | the eyes,-and the expression passed | unnotfced.
 "I know your fam'ly's to be home
 that night said Conover in a curious ! 1y muffled voice. "Also there's din-
 ner party you're givin' An a musicle | afterward. Twelve guests to the din | ner. Bout two hundred to the musfcle. I'm conin' to both.''
 But my dear Mr. Conoveri'' cried | Standish with forced gayety. You
 don't quite see the point-Much as T. | and all of us-would be delighted to have you as our guest at dinner that | night, yet the laws of a dinner party are unpleasant1y-per ridiculously | rigid. For instance. this is to be a | dinner for twelve. An extra man | would spoil the ba1ance-and-'' with | sudden inspiration-'it would make thirteen. So many people are foolish | Iy superStitiouS! I confess, I am, for | one. Now the next evening would "The next evenin','' said Conover,
 "you an your family are booked for the Hawarden'S theatre party. I read about it in the Star. You'd excuse yourself an stay at home an dine alone with me. An that'd be about as merry as a morgue for both of us. No, Pm comin' Friday:-if you'll be so good as to ask me-" Gro be Contin ued.l Good to the last drOD. and as