The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-09-12
@ 6be @ @ Silver Horde Rv REX REACH and A~Z 1>A~@@
 coPYR1eHr. 1909. BY HARPER
By REX BEACH
Ncentinued.l
COPYRIGHT. 1900. BY

NCQnGnueQ.l k
 Te knows I di6n't do that-every- 1oaJ knows 9t!' he cried. 'sHe lied to Eou.'H
 we won't discuss that said Wayne Tgsyland curtly. What do you want s=s to dor"
 .sI want you to end this persecution. I want you to call him off,
 sIn other words, you want me to save you"
 Emerson swallowed. ''I suppose it amounts to that. I want to be let alone. I want a square dea1.''
 'eWefI, I won't Way1and's voice hardened suddenly; his sound, white teeth snapped together. You are get ting exactly what you deserve. You be nayed me by spying upon me while you broke bread in my house. I see nothing reprehensible in MT. Marsh's conduct, but even if did I would not eensure him Any measures are justif1able against a traitor.''
 Boyd Emerson's face went gray be- meath its coating of tan, and his voice threatened to break as he said:
 CT am no traitor, and you know it. thought you a man of honor, and I [ came to you not for help, but for jus tice But see was mistaken. am beginning to believe& Chat Marsh acted under your illstructionsB from the frst''
 ssBeIfeve what you ehoose''
 You think you've got me. but you haven't. I'll beat you yet.
 'eYou can't beat me at anything MT: Wayland's jaws were set like iron.
 Not this year perhaps, but next You and Marsh have whipped me this time, but the salmon will come again, and I'll run my plant in spite of hel1I'' < Wayne Wayland made as if to speak. but Boyd went on unheeding: You've taken a dislike to me, but your conduct shows that you fear me. You are afraid I'll succeed, and wiIl''
 "Brave talkr' said the older man. NBut you owe $1O0.0oo, and your stockholders will learn of your mis- 1nanagement''
 -Four persecution, you mean.'' cried the other. 'I can explain. They will wait another year. I will raise more money. and they will stand by me.
 Perhaps I know more about that than you do"
 Emerson strode toward the desk nenacingly, crying in quivering voice:
 T warn you to keep yonr hands of them@ DOu't try any of Yotr financial trickery with me, or 1'll''--s
 Wayne Wayland leaped from his chair, his face purple and his eyes flashing sayageIy.
 "Leaye this yachtr' he thundered s'I won't allow you to insult me. | won't stand your threats. I've got you where want you, and when the time comes you'll know it. Now, get outr: He stretched forth a great square hand and closed it so hercely that the fingers cracked. .In crush you-like thatY'
 Boyd turned and strode from the cabin
 Half blinded with anger, he stum- bled down the ladder to his launch
 Back to the plantE' he ordered, then gazed with lowering brows and defiant eyes at the Grande Dame as she rest ed swanlflze and serene at her moor ings. His anger against ATfldreds ia ther destroyed for the time all thought of his disappointment at her own lack of understanding and her cool accept ance of his failure He saw only that his affairs had reached a final climax where he must bow to the inevitable or-Big Georges parting words came to n-strike one last blow in re prisaI.
 It was the hour of his darkest de spair-the real crisis in his life There are times when it rests with fate to make a strong man stronger or turn him altogether to evil Such man will not accept mfsfortune tame1y. He1 is the reverse of those who are good through weakness. It is his nature to sin strongly, But the unexpected happened, and Boyd's black mood vanished in amaze ment at the sight which met his eyes. Nfoored to the fish dock was a. lighter awasE with cargo that made him stare and doubt his vision. He had
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