The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-06-21
(Continued.}

(Continued.)
 "'Concerns you and me-" he echoed sadly, and, rising, he began to pace the room Miss Randall, let me tell you something" he added at length, halting and regarding her fixedly. "One evening toward sunset I was leaning over the rail of Mississippi river steamboat, and, not finding much pleasure in what was thinking about, put my band casually into my pock- ct and drew out deck of playing cards, cards that had been used-well, considerably. I contemplated them moment and then let them fall from my hand. They dropped into the wa ter in a kind of little shower. And then a curious thing happened. Those shabby old playing cards foated along side rosebush all in bloom that some body had evidently planted too near a caving back upstream. It seemed as if they kind of hoped to go along with it on its journey, but it didn't look right. The rosebush was too pretty for bad companions like that. And then, one by one, those shabby playing cards, lying on their backs in the water, began to sink under and drown. Then along came an eddy and caught that pretty rosebush and swung it out into the current, and away 1t went down tho stream, happy and proud in just glory of sunshine and sparkle It served those old playing Se ko drowned for trying to keep company so high above them. That's what I thought looking down from the boats rail"
 Without conscious effort or any at tempt at elocution Kirby had told the little allegory with simple feeling and sincerity, bis manner growing more abstracted until at the conclusion it seemed as if he were speaking to his inner self, taking counsel with all that was best in him. Silence ensued, while Adele looked dreamily away, and he continued to stare at the cards, but seeing them not
 "Does man always stop to think whether he has a right or not? she ventured at length, speaking so low that he strained forward to catch the words.
 Doesn't woman always want him to?" he gravely returned.
 "Ah, but there is something a wo- man. wants a pan to do more than that-she wants him not to give up anything till-he is beaten" she whis- pered.
 Suppose he is the kind of man that ought to be beaten?"
 She arose, throwing the scarf about her shoulders, and walked meditatively to the door.
 ''But mightn't it be perhaps perhaps with one woman" she whispered, "he couldn't be beaten even then?"
 Astonished at her own daring, she gave a little gasp, then incontinently fled, while Kirby stood staring after her, fearing to interpret her words. He turned with a start as Bunce strode through the balcony window.
 well, have you told her goodby ?" snapped Larkin, who had interpreted the foregoing passage as a species of farewell.
 '.No,'' said Kirby violently, irritated at the interruption.
 "Well, reckon it's about time to sit down and take a good hard think, ' warned the other, pacing the room like an excited sentry. Do you think you could git this girl ?" he continued, with heavy sarcasm. "How about 1t when she finds out who you arACameo KirbyT
 Easy on that name, Larkinv'
 Easy on the namep" beloved Bunce, appealing to the ceiling "Why, it's been shriekin' through this house ever since you got here. There's been two fellers within ten feet of you all the time who never took their eyes offn you-that young Veaudry and Aaron Randall. Do you reckon they think you're Colonel Moreau? Why, seen them leave the house a short spell back, and I'd be willin' to bet my i'm mortal soul they're on to our makeups and are plannin' to raise b. with us. I tell you this place Is gittin' too hot for Larkin Bunce. You haven't said goodby to her? We'll, then, I'll say goodby to you. Somebody's got to be loose. wouldn't be no good to you nor to me either-in jail. For the last time," he pleaded, making an implor- ing gesture with his trembling hands, '.are you comin' with me?"
 Kirby, who had quietly resumed his place at the table, now slowly shuff1ed the deck and carefully inspected the card that had turned up.
 "No," he said, with grave fnality, ''I'm not going with you, my friend. The hands dealt; I'll play it out"
 "For Gods sake, Gener' implored Bunce. 'Then I got to quit you. You know what this means to me-" he add ed despairingly. T hate to go, but there's no sense in my stayin'."
 '3No. And I thank you for staying as long as you have," interrupted Kir- by, with a smile, rising and placing his hand on the others shoulder "Tm afraid I haven't been thinking very much of you, old partner. But I'm go- ing to stay-call it what you like. However, this is not your hand, Lar kin, and I don't want you to help me play it out. Go, by all means, and at once. Did you get fresh horse?"
 A fresh horse? Why, I wouldn't even durst to ask for the ore I come o1o cried Runce. mopping his face