The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-01-15
fCUltinued.S
Copyright. 1909. by Joseph Medin Patterson and Harriet Ford.


 "But we'N -.4 l man on 1t two 4ays." persisted Downs. were the ouiy paper that's got it."
 sswell, we won't be the one to kick her down. pronounced Brand, turning his head away to end the conversation. .Ail right, just as you say"
 The telephone bell rang. Brand took off the receiver.
 Hello! Tell MT. Dupuy Pm busyv' he cried after taking the message. aswhat? Send him in. That's all, Downs. See that they take care of Dillon, will youY'
 The night editor nodded in the af- frmative and gazed rather curiously at Brand as he went out.
 Dupuy came into Brands office with a most circumspect and deferential air. Dressed in evening clothes. carrying his silk hat fn his hand and with a boutonniere of hothouse violets in his lapel, he gave every indication of be- ing the society figure that his name and wealth had made possible for him. The lawyer lobbyist walked directly to the desk at which Brand was seat cd. In reply to the managing editors salutation he bowed stiff1y and leaned forward over the desk.
 Several moments elapsed before Du- puy spoke. He was trying to put his opening words in the most judicious language, and we'll he might hesitate when one considers the nature of his evil errand.
 saThe gentleman who was coming to see you tonight" at last he said care fully, "has had to go to the opera with his daughter. He has asked me to. come in his stead"
 An expression of complete bewilder- ment spread over the others face. A gentleman? What gentleman" he interrrogated.
 Dupuy was momentarily nonplused. HWhy. fine gentleman who-ah, with whom you made an appointment for 9 o'clock this evening your of flee"
 Brand still refused to show his hand. q should be very glad to hear what you have to say. MT. Dupuy. but, frankly. I don't know what you are driving att
 The visitor was annoyed. He was positive that Bartelmy would not send him on wild goose errand. Surely the judge and Brand had come to terms regarding the silence of the Ad- vance as to the Lansing Iron case de cision- The editor was playing with him now, he knew-dangling him on verbal hook to tantalize him.
 "Oh, come, you know who I mean kt,n i,,d~ nsc cable. tool
 Judge Bartelmyr' exclaimed Brand in surprise. Well, what about him?" Dupuy produced a card, which the editor glanced at
 whats this?' he asked. Then he read: 'Dupuy will represent me- In what?"
 He started to put the card in his pocket
 Perhaps you would better let me have that so I can return it to hin'' Dupuy reached eagerly for the card. which Brand slowly extended to him. ssThis refers to that transaction of which you and he were speaking this afternoon" continued the lawyer. Brand laughed loudly.
 ssWell. I'asuy, I'm poor hand at guessing rid1.es. giveit up. What's the answer"
 The lawysr became impatient. sThe transaction involving the-ah- the investment-of a certain-sum of money" he explained haltingly.
 A. business deal I was going into with the judge?" in amazement.
 Precisely"
 eff I had any business with the judge, Dupuy, I would prefer to do it with the judge"
 'sBut am his pleripotentiary."
 s'Mhm, mhmr' grunted Brand nega- lively.
 <ssYou are rather unreasonable, Brand" X wearied and hopeless look began to show in the lawyer's visage. The young editor noted this and re- solved to temporize with and exasper- ate this man whom he despised above self. Bartelmy, believed Brand, even if he was scoundrel, actually had superior mental ability, was a brilliant thinker and acted boldly in many of his dishonest transactions on the bench. But Dupuy-he was to Brand the hang er-on. the skulker, the vandal jackal that devoured corpses in the night that braver animals had fought and killed by day. His eyes blinked in the light, did Dupuy's. 1t was in the under ground runways that he coursed the swiftest. And as these thoughts sped through his brain the editor looked away absently.
 Dupuy came hot on his trail
 ssShall I make an appointment with him for you. say, tomorrow morning?' he anxiously queried of the newspaper man
 'sI don't care"
 ''Then I'll do iti' he said decidedly and moved away from the desk. And -er'-1 He saw that Brand was still
 indifferent. He
 HN returned to the
 desk. "Things
 ~ will remain sta-
 EV tionary until
 U V/N then?, he asked.
 &M NV s"Thinps never