The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-06-23

messed Adele's silent contempt, and | he now laid a sympathetic hand upon l his partners shoulder.
 "You see how you stand with her, | don't you?' he said quietly. "I won't | say she ain't a fine enough woman to make any man act the fool about her.
 But, Gene, you've got to hold up your l head and git over it. It's too late for you to start your life again, and you | can't drag her into it. Take one good | look at yourself, Gene Kirby, then take l another at her. But, say, she wouldn't take you if you was an angel stepped l right out of the first front floor of | heaven. What could you ever be to | her? Nothin' but a d-d gambler.
 I seen the way she treated you" "That's because she doesn't know | what I'm going to do," replied Kirby, | striving to convince himself. Look at | that paper"
 Bunce examined the deed, then turn | ed indignantly upon the signer thereof. "Ive seen you give some pore young | feller his money back after you'd won | it, but I never knowed you to do it if | the feller slapped you in the face 1 frst,'' be said witheringly 'The girl | won't stay long enough in the same room to wipe her shoes on you. Don't | that hurt you?'
 | ''It won't hurt so much after this," replied Kirby, indicating the paper. "When the fool maker made you I reckon he quit work. He knowed he'd reached his high water mark" com | mented Bunce, with despairing shrug. | 'Now, I'll make her speak to you" Kirby shook his head, his relaxed fig ure stiffening with sudden resolution. "No,' he said quietly ''You and I'll ! get out of here. I won't see Miss Ran- | dall again.
 | But the other. giving no heed to the words, quietly left the room. while Kir- ! by remained seated at the table ab- 1 stractedly toying with the cards, utter | ly oblivious to surroundings. His feet | ing resolution had already vanished. | His grip on the present had relaxed. He felt. singularIy hopeless, heartsick | and utterly alone.
 He did not know-nor, Knowing, i would greatly have cared-that Judge l Pleydells plan was about to be exc ] cuted. He did not know that Mime. 1 Davezac, Miss Pleydell and the Gen I eral were already in the carriage wait l ing to be conveyed to their neighbor's l plantation. waiting for the coming of Adele, who had been inexplicably de | layed at the last minute-delayed by Bunce, who was putting forth every | persuasive effort, pleading. coaxing. threatening all in one breath. in a des- perate attempt to bring her back to | the drawing room, to make her grant l farewell interview to his partner. l At length, in the midst of his brood 1 ings, sound from the window at
 tracted his attention, and, islessly turning, he discerned young Randall, old Pleydell, Aaron and M Veaudry, | all scrutinizing him intently with a
 look there was no misinterpreting
 They considered the ladies safely away,
 and the time had now come when | judicial murder might be perpetrated. l Before a word had been exchanged
 Kirby fathomed their purpose, but no
 hint of cognizance was evinced in his | manner. He arose leisurely and with
 the courtesy of guest to host rather
 than with any intention of self de | fense, alarm or even interest. And | for space and in silence the four
 men surveyed the one. Then young
 Randall spoke ominously and, for him,
 with admirable restraint.
 Its pretty dark outside. MT. Kirby
 too dark to shoot straight. Shall we
 settle it here? We are going to give 1 you a chance, and you'd better get | yourself ready to take it blanked quick
 unless you prefer to be shot like
 rat"
 If you leave it to me-" said Kirby
 mildly, 'I prefer not to be shot at
 all"
 "Do you realize that in giving you
 fair show we do a common gambler
 an honor?" returned the boy, strug- | gling hard against his passion. He re
 scented Kirby's serene composure, for
 against it he was placed at a humiliat-
 ing disadvantage.
 '1 am deeply sensible of your kind ] ness to one of my profession" observed
 the common gambler" lowing with
 courteous formality. You seem to be
 making quite elaborate preparations.
 gentlemen, but I think you're putting
 yourselves to unnecessary trouble. MT.
 Randall, you and your sister, l Don't you dare mention the name
 of any lady of my family" menaced Tom.
 | ''But that is necessary, sir" suavely
 murmured the other because you and 1 your sister, Miss Adele RandalT'-
 You wolfI'' snaried the boy, and Ee
 struck with all his strength.
 | The alert and pacific M Veaudry caught the descending arm, and before
 the outraged end TOW thoroughly in
 censed boy, furious at Kirby's delib
 crate repetition of Miss Randalfs
 name, could wrest himself free an6
 renew the attack Adele herself haC entered the room, followed by the sue cessful Bunce. Her presence instant
 ly prohibited further hostilities, and
 young Randall sullenly turned away.
 raging against her delayed departure
 and unexpected intrusion. The self satisfied and beaming glance cast upon
 him by the portly veteran Bunce did
 not improve his temper, although in
 a measure it afforded an explanation
 of Adele'S presence.