The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-08-26

dSdlH 4ney came llke ld11DS, ing that I was about to finance them. When the whole ten of them were inside the room I locked the door, and going to the table I clamly said, in prisonr You should have seen their faces. By love! they were a study. Yes I went on, you've tried to induce me to finance a concession sion from the Hungarian government is not complete. and isn't worth the paper it's written upon. And you've tried to get two hundred thousand tempted to obtain money by false pre- lenses! The whole crowd were fab bergasted. Some of them, when they could speak begged me to let them off Others were inclined to be defi-
 And you soon dealt with them. I suppose, Granny?''
 Dealt with themr' he cried. why, whole bag of tricks in my hands. syndicate, concessions-such as 1t was |-and the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds advanced to me to go to Hungary as their agent and get the concession completed!"
 ''Bluffi"
 "Bluf, of course! I simply struck them so suddenly that before they Budapest with two hundred and fifty to go on with the very fair bit of business to transact. I've already made another five hundred over it,
 You're marvel. I shall begin to be frightened of you soon," declar-
 My dear Phil, I'm always straight know" he said. "But I like to get even with some of these business sharks sometimes. I love to do a bit of sharp practice and so teach them lesson. On that day in Cologne l was in a very tight corner for money. You can't play the American fnan- cier without cost-you know. You re- collect how I got that big order from the Russian government to buy Chill can and Argentine warships during the Japanese war. I posed in Peters burg as a millionaire, and through a lady's influence got in touch with the admiralty. I sold them four ships se- cretly paid the lady fifty thousand francs for her services as my secret agent and made a. pot myself.
 And you've lost it all-already- chr"
 "Yes-every red cent" he laughed. 'T invested ten thousand pounds to provide for little Gertie. That's in- tact, I'm glad to say, so she'll never
 "How is the child? asked, knowing the strange, romantic story and how dear the little nine-year old girl was to his heart.
 "She's bonnie, I went down to see her today. She's growing fast, and I only wish I were not such a wand erer," he sighed. Then I could see her more often. But the people she's with at Brighton are very good in deed to her.
 She's a delightful little thing" I declared, reflecting that out of his stroke of good fortune he had provid- ed for the tiny orphan child he had some four years before adopted as his daughter. Men might call him hard names if they choose, but surely he had a big generous heart-just as he had a big hand, a big beaming face and a burly imposing figure.
 True, he loved Myra Stapleton with a deep, honest and devoted affection. But perhaps if the truth were really told fairhaired little Gertie, with her nine-year old prattle held first place
 I knew the circumstances of her adoption, and they were. indeed TO- mantle.
 We were silent for a few moments, the Crimson London sundown flooding the room My thoughts had reverted to that mysterious tragedy in Redcliffe Gardens, and suddenly. said
 Granny. you recollect that woman who joined Garshore at the Cecil last night Was she Lydia Popescu?"
 He started forward, staring at me.
 sswhy?" he gasped. What do you mean? Didn't I tell you she was?
 ''Yes, but thought you might have mistaken her."
 "why? Why should I mistake her? What-what do you know about her? You know somethingi Tell mer
 And he looked straight into my eyes.
 Was he bluffing me, as he bluffed others?
 "I know nothing" I declared, re- turning his gaze.
 That's a lie, Phil!" he said plain x<U ft,; ,;r,or about that woman"
 "You hate her? You told me so. Granny"
 sIn confidente. Promise me never to repeat what I said concerning her." he begged in a strange harsh voice, with a curious look in his eyes. NO, Phil you are my friend-my best friend, Promise me that one thingY'
 CHAPTER VII.
 D