The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-01-26

ordinarily regarded those about him with an air of easy toleration. were wide with terror, and his well chisel- ed features. custOmarily wearing an air of placid conceit. were now white and drawn. His manner toward Hart ford was no longer supercilious. All his carefully constructed attitude of dignity had vanished
 You've been in this part of the country longer than l have, Hartford" said he. T want your advice as a. a friend, you know"
 Hartford nodded and withdrew his pipe from his lips.
 Sure said he succinctly. "What's the row?'
 'Why, you see," said Harrington. ''it seems that in filing the papers for Jim Busby on that last mining claim of his made slight error. I have been doing a large business, you know, Hartford-a very large business-and it was inevitable that I should make mistake occasionally. It seems that some interruptions persons have taken advantage of this purely technical slip and have jumped Busbys claim. and he is very much exercised about it.'
 q should think he might be-" Hart ford observed.
 "Yes," repeated Burlington, "he is much exercised and quite unreason- l able about 1t. He came into my office a few moments ago and demand ed an explanation. Of course couldn't tell him anything except that it was just a mistake such as any man might make, and he said I was lying to him. He said I was too smart to make fool break like that and that I was in with the gang that were trying to do him out of claim that would have made him rich. l argued with him the best l could, but it didn't budge him. He said he didn't see that it made much difference, anyhow. wheth- CT l was a fool or a knave, because either way hadn't any right to live. and he wound up by saying that he'd just go down to the Jolly Dog and get a few drinks to put him in the right frame of mind and then he'd come back and reduce the membership of the Gilt Gulch bar by one.
 It is significant of Hartford's broad and tolerant temperament that he did not remind Harrington that he had previously predicted such catastro- phe as had now befallen. Neverthe- less a slight glimmer of amusement stole across his face.
 ''So you want my advice, do you?" he asked.
 ''I should appreciate it very much," said Harrington.
 "Well, you shall have it," said Hart ford laconically, rapping the bowl of his pipe against the heel of his shoe. eff Jim Busby were out gunning for me and I couldn't shoot any better than you can, and had a comfortable little sum saved, as you have, and there were a pretty girl in New Eng land who didn't know any better than to love me, as she does you, I'd go east on the half past train, and wouldn't hurry back"
 "But the trouble is," Burlington ex- plained, ''Susie-Miss Cutler, that is will be here on the train that gets in at 2:5O. The trains pass on the first siding out, you know. The fact is we are to be married day after tomorrow at noon. You'll pardon my emitting to send you an invitation, won't you? It was quite unintentional. I've been so busy''- "Oh,'' Hartford broke in, with dep recatory wave of his arm, 'you need not apologize. It's just one of those little mistakes busy man is bound to make every now and then. l haven't Busby's disposition. I'll forgive you."
 Then Hartford looked at his watch and found that it was twenty minutes past 2.
 You'll have to move lively, my boy" he said. "Keep an eye open for , Jim, and if the coast is clear take the 2:3O. If it isn't, walk over to Sand City and take the next one there." "But about Susie," Harrington re- l monstrated.
 "Pshawr' growled Hartford. That's | easy enough. Leave note for her with the station master, telling her to go back to Colorado Springs and you'll meet her there. If you don't have time to write a note. have the station mas ter tell her you've been called away on a life and death matter and that she's to go to the hotel and wait until you send her word. Don't you worry about the girl. She'll prefer a slightly de- layed wedding to an expedited funeral Hurry up now. You've just about time 1 to make it."
 AS he slipped down the main street of Gilt Gulch on his way to the sta tion Harrington caught glimrse of Jim Busby's gaunt profile as he stood at the bar of the Jolly Dog. his back toward the entrance. Barrington's in- dolent heart rejoiced as he reflected that the ten Tile walk to Sand City l would now be. unnecessary. 1t was | just twenty eight minutes past 2 when
 he reached tse station. ? gave the necessary instructions concerning SN- sic to the station master and rushed out upon the platform. But the train | which made up at Gilt Gulch was not | yet ready to depart. A freight ear had l left the rails. blocking the track. Five. | ten, fifteen minutes passed. and still | the obstruction remained. Harrington
 grew uneasy. Jim Busby might at any moment deem that he had imbibed a quantity of liquor commensurate with 1 his contemplated task and begin to search for him. But at the end of