The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-11-07

sup uOW d1u ldNh NooSC \ AA~>N~~~ money for materials. But it's all right now, Homer: it's all right now"
 And you say Roland Barnette's writ ing to some one in New York about itg"
 "Yes; he promised he would. I ex- plained it to Roland. and he seemed real int'rested. He's kind. very kind. "
 was inclined to doubt this and would probably have said something to that effect had not a shadow cross ing the window brought me to my feet in consternation. But before 1 could do more than rise Colonel Bohun had flung open the door and stamped in. He stopped short at sight of me, mis- guided by his nearsighted eyes, and singled me out with threatening wave of his heavy stick.
 "Well, sir" he snarIed. "Pve come for my answer Have you sense enough in your addled pate to under stand that, man? I've come for my answerr'
 ''And may have it. whatever it may be. for all of me-" told him.
 His face flushed deeper red. "Oh. it's only you. is it. Littlejohn? took you for that fool Graham in this dirty dark hole. Where is hep
 I looked to Graham, and he followed the direction of my gaze to the work bench. where Sam stood with his back before him. He seemed little whiter than usual. thought. and perhaps 1t was only my fancy that made him ap- pear to tremble ever so slightly. for he was quite calm and self possessed-so much so that I realized for the first time there was another man in Rad vile besides myself who did not fear old Colonel BOhun.
 'I'm here, colonel" he said quietly. "What is 1t you wish"
 The colonel swung on him. shaking with passion But he held his tongue until he had mastered himself some what, a feat of self restraint on his part over which I marvel to this day.
 "You know well. Graham" he said presently. You got my letter-the let. ter wrote you week ago?"
 "Yes." said Sam, with start of com. prehension. "Yes, I got it.''
 ''Then why the devil, man, don't you answer it?''
 Sam's apologetic smile sweetened his face. Why" he said haltingly. ''Pm sure I meant no offenses but, you see Pm very busy man. l forgot it."
 'sThe devil you forgot it! Dye ex' pect me to believe that. manr'
 'I'm afraid you'll have to-"
 Bohun was speeches. for a moment stricken dumb by a second seizure o1 fury. But again he calmed himself.
 'fVery well; I'll swallow that inso lence for the present.
 cit wasn't meant as such. assure"-
 Don't interrupt me! D'you hear. I've come for my answer. Yes, I've come down to that, Graham. If you can't accord me the common courtesy from your mouth
 Sam nodded thoughtfully. "Mebbe. he said. you forget you have failed to accord me the common courtesy o1 any sort of communication whatever for twenty years, Colonel Bohun Even when my wife, your daughter died you ignored my message asking you to her funeral"
 Be silenti' screamed the colonel ''Do you think I'm here to bandJ words with you, fool? I demand my answer"
 And as for that" continued Sam al evenly as if he had not been inter rupted. your proposition was so pre- posterous that 1t could have come oni. from you and deserved no answer But since you want it formally, sir it's mo-"
 For moment I feared Bohu1 would have a stroke. The back of tn chair I had just vacated and his sticl alone supported him through tha dumb. terrible transport He shook S, violently that I looked momentariL to see the chair break beneath him There was insanity in his eyes. Whel finally he was able to articulate i was in broken gasps.
 "I don't believe it." he stammered 'It's a lie! 1 don't believe it. It. madness. The girl wouldn't be s' mad"
 What is it. father?"
 I don't know which Of us three wa the most startled by that simple ques tion in Betty Graham's voice. Sam