The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-07-07
Copyright. 1909, by Albert Payson Tcrhune
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 The time was long since past whel could receive the lightest of their lead CTS forecasts with doubt. Hence tn Steeloid ring reJoiced nightly; ant plunged so heavily in the stock tha the price took a swift preliminary climf even before it's promised rise was due
 Caine, and more than one other O. Conover's business associates wonder ed at the subtle change that two weeks of absence had wrought in theil champion. He was as shrewd, as dar- was a difference. Caine voiced the general opinion when he said to Stan dish, the day the Assembly opened:-
 If I believed in miracles I should fancy a stray grain of humanity ha6 somehow found its way into the mans brain."
 The first days session of the Assem- ply was given over to the usual for malities. On the morning of the sec ond, so Conover's agent in the enemy's camp reported that night. Blacarda in tended to put forward his bill Calet was well prepared for the issue. One thing only puzzled him. Knowing Bla- carda as he did. he could not under stand why the man had tried no sub- terfuge this time, to draw his arch opponent away from the scene of ac- tion- That such a trick could be at tempted without Conover's learning of 1t seemed impossible. Yet no tidings of the sort had reached him. And it was not like Blacarda to go into battle against a stronger foe without trying to weaken the odds against himself.
 These things Caleb was pondering in his hotel room, early on the evening before the Starke bill was to be pre- sented. He was dressing to go with Cafne to conference of political and business associates. to be held mile or so distant. And, as he made ready to start out, the answer to his con lecture was received.
 It came in the form of a telegram:
 'Train derailed near Magdeburg Miss Shevlin badly injured. At Magde- burg hotel Wire instructions and come by next train. Dangerous.
 J. Hawarden, Jr.
 For the briefest of intervals Con- overs blood settled down stif1ingly up- on his heart. Then he laughed in grim relief.
 ''I thought Friend BIacarda was too sharp to try the same trick twice on to Caine, "an' I thought he'd be afraid to- Seems I was wrong. He knew Dey was at the Antlers with the Ha- wardens, of course. But he might a took the pains to find out she wasn't goin' to leave there for a fortnight. I had letter from her, there, to-day. An any railroad man could a. told him." he went on contemptuously, that no train either from Moo York or the Ad'rondacks passes through But most likely he chose that because it's an out-of-the-way hole that takes fever to get to. Why couldn't he a. 1attered my intelligence by fake that had little cleverness in it. Come on. We'll be late to that meetin'. I'll settle once more with R19narda affarward m Q won't forget so soon."
 "I doubt if Blacarda had any hand In it," said Caine, as they left the hotel. There are only two general Blacarda belongs to the species that doesn't put his fingers in~>the same flame second time.'
 "You don't mean you think there's a ghost of chance the tePgram's the reel thing? If T."
 shown, it's a palpable fraud. But there are others beside Blacarda who want the Starke bill to go through. The story of his ruse last spring has gone abroad in spite of Blacarda's at- tempt to strangle it. And some one how well the trick work ed then has tried its effect second time"
 'I'n put some of my men on the track of it tomorrow" answered
  [ guess there won't be many crooks left in the State who'll dare to use Dey Shevlin's name in their fake mes- s'ges. Maybe you're right bout it's not bein' Blacarda himself. I'm kind of glad too. He'll get enough gruelIin' tomorrow without any extrys thrown n'
 Poor old Bla carda, I'm afraid you'll ,ake away his perpetual grievance against you and leave him nothing but yrief.''
 'Grievance!" scoffed Conover "He's got no grievance. Alrs he's got is a srouch. There's all the diff'rence in he world between the two. A white nan with sense may have a grievance. But only a sorehead an a fool will let heir grievance sour into a grouch. 3lacarda's grouch against me is doin' 1im more harm than all my moves ,ould. He hates me. That's where he makes his mistake. Hates the heavi- | fight. If you've got grievance against man or want to get the best if him. don't ever spoil your chances | 'y hatin' him. It won't do him any | lurt, an it'll play the dickens with | your own brain an uerves4' "I suppose" queried Caine ironically | there was no hatred in your attack | m Blacarda in his hotel room last | bring? Pure, high-souIed justice?'
 "No." grumbled Caleb. Tt was hate
 
 quickest, easiest way I could. If I'd | bottled all that up an let it ferment i ill now, I'd be layin' awake nights | osing sleep an health an nerve while fingered out how cute he'd look with lis throat cut from ear to ear. As it | s, I've no more hard feelin' about rushin' Blacarda than I'd have if he l vas a perfec' stranger. Yes. son. hate arms the hater a lot more'n it harms he hatee. You can bank on that
 EJ ar-6o gree with your peaceful doctrine," azarded Caine, when he hears how ome financial heeler has taken his ame in vain in that telegram?"
 Hell most likely hunt the feller up n' lick him. responded Conover. He's all right. that boy is. I've took
 shine to him. Pity he ain't got ome commonsense ambition instead of ankerin' after litterchoor. Kind of etty trade for a grown man, ain't it?'' "No," dissented Caine. ''I should call low starvation one of the big things f life. There's nothing petty about it