The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-08-27
(Continued.l


 dreamed she was a friend of yours never would have spoken"
 The dinner was finished, and Mr. Wayland had asked for his favorite cigars, so Mildred rose, and Boyd ac- companied her. leaving the others to smoke. But. strangely enough. Marsh remained in such state of preoccupa- ton, even after their departure, that MT. Wayland's attempts at conversa- ton elicited only the vaguest and shortest of answers.
 In the music room Mildred turned upon Boya "why didEt you tell me Z about this woman before?"
 "I didn't think of her"
 "And yet she is young, beautiful, re- fined. lives a romantic sort of exist ence and entertained you'- She tossed her head. seated herself at the piano and struck a few idle notes, inquiring casually, "Kalvik is the name of the place you are going, isn't 1. it?'
 Ut is."
 "I suppose you will see great deal of thfs-Cherry Malottew Undoubtedly, inasmuch as we are spartners."
 "Partners!" Mildred ceased playing and swung about. 'sWhat do you mean?
 "She is interested in this enterprise. The cannery site is hers.''
 'T seeT' After a moment, Docs this new affair of fathers have any par ticular effect on your plans?"
 "Yes and mo-" he answered, feeling again the weight of this last compli- cation, forgotten for the moment.
 "What do you wish me to dol?
 "Nothing, only for the present please don't mention my scheme either to him or to Mir. Marsh. am bit un- certain as to my course. You see, it means so much to me that I can't boar to give it up, and yet it may lead to great-unpleasantness."
 She nodded comprehendingly.
 On that very night, in little snow smothered cabin crouching close against the Kalvik bluffs, another girl was seated at piano. Her slim. white fingers had strayed upon the notes of song which Boyd Emerson had sung. In her dream filled eyes was the pie ture of a rough garbed, silent man at her shoulder, and in her ears was the sound of his voice. Clear to the last melting note she played the air. and then pftiful sob shook her. She bowed her golden head and hid her face in her arms, for memory was upon her, a forgotten kiss was hot upon her lips, and she was very lonely. At the hotel Emerson found Clyde and Fraser in Balt's room awaiting him. They were noisy and excited at the success of the enterprise and at the prospect of immediate action.
 Boyd told them little of the news that had startled him earlier in the evening beyond the bare fact that Marsh had fioated a packers trust and that secrecy for the present was now doubly necessary to the success of their undertaking. The full signii- canoe of the merger. therefore, did not strike his associates, even when on the train the next day they read the an nouncement of its formation in the newspapers. Bait alone took notice of it and fell into furious rage at his enemy's success.
 No sooner were they fairly under way for the west than Emerson began the definite shaping of his plans. He and George carefully went over the many details of their coming work and sent many messages, with the re suit that outfitters in a dozen lines were awaiting them when they arrived in Seattle. Without loss of time Boyd installed himself and his friends at a hotel. secured competent and close mouthed stenographer, and then sought out the banker with whom hes had made tentative agreement before go ing to Chicago. MT. Hilliard greeted him cordially.
 T see you have carried out your part of the program" said he, but be- should like to know what effect this new trust is going to have on the canning business"
 You mean the N. A. F. Al?
 Precisely. Our Chicago correspond ent can't tell us any more than we have learned from the press-namely that a combination has been formed We are naturally somewhat cautious about financing a competitive plant until we know what policy the trust will pursue"
 Here was exactly the complication Boyd had feared; therefore it was with some trepidation that he argued:
 'The trust is in business for the mon ey. and its very formation ought to be conclusive evidence of your good judg. ment. However, you have backed SC many plants such as mine that you know as well as I do the big profits to be taken"
 That isn't the point Ordinarily we would not waver an instant, but the Wayland-Marsh outfit is apt to upset conditions. If we only knew
 T know boldly declared Boyd. "Mr. Wayland outlined his policy to me before the public knew anything about the trust"
 Indeed? Are you acquainted with Wayne Wayland?" asked Mr. Billiard with a new light of curiosity in his eyes.
 'I know him we'll"
 "Ah. I congratulate you. Perhaps khiS is-er--Wayland nonov behind