The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-09-13

@tMildredi'' Emerson started as if he had been struck. Are you insane? Mildred doesn't own Why, Alton never told me who put up that mon eyr'
 Don't tell me you didn't knowY' cried Wayne Wayland. 'FYou knew all the time You worked your friends out and then sent that whfpper snap per to my daughter when you saw you were about to fail. You managed well. You knew she couldn't refuse"
 'How did you find out that she held the stock?'
 E1She told me, of course.
 Don't ask me to believe that. If she hadn't told you before she wouldn't tell you now. All can say is that she acted of her own free will. l never dreamed she put up that $25,OOO. What do you intend to do now that you have taken over these holdtngsY'
 "What do you think? would spend ten times the money to save my daugh- ter.' The old man was quivering.
 ssYou are only a minority stock holder. The control of this enterprise still rests with me and my friends"
 sfYour friendsv' cried MT. Wayland. 'saThat's what brings me here-you and your friends! I'll break you and your friends if it takes my fortune"
 t1 can understand your dislike of me, but my associates have never harmed you"
 ssYour associat~ And who are they? A 1awless rufian, who openly threatened Willis Marsh's murder, and loose woman from the dance halls"
 'sTake careY' cried Emerson in a sharp voice.
 H. at loss for words. Look here! You can't be an utter idiot. You must know who she is.''
 ssDo you? Then tell me-"
 Wayne WayIand turned his back in disgust .sDo you really wish to know?' Marsh's smooth voice ques- &doned.
 sI do."
 'sShe is a very common sort" said Willis Marsh. ''I am surprised that you never heard of her while you were in the upper country She followed the mining camps and lived as such women do. She is an expert with cards. She even dealt faro in some of the camps"
 ''How do you know?''
 "I looked up her history in Seattle She is very-well, notorious"
 People talk like that about nearly every woman in Alaska .I didn't come here to argue about that woman's character" broke in MT. Wayland.
 ..You have said enough now, so that you will either prove your words or | apologize
 eff you want proof, take your own relation with her It's notorious. Even Mildred has heard of it.''
 tI can explain to her in a word.''
 Perhaps you can also explain that affair with Hilliard If so you had better do it. I suppose you didn't know anything about that either. I suppose you don't know why he ad- vanced that loan after once refusing it. They have a name for men like you who take money from women of her sort"
 Emerson uttered a terrible cry, and his face blanched to gray pa11or.
 Do you mean to say-I sent-her- to Hil1iardY
 "Hilliard as good as told me so him. self. Do you wonder that am willing to spend fortune to protect my girl i from man like you? I'm going to break you. I've got a foofhold in this enterprise o9 yours, and All root you out if it takes a million. I'll kick you back into the gutter where you be- long,
 Boyd stood appalled, at the violence | of this outburst The man seemed insane He could not find words to | answer him. "You did not come down here to tell me that.'' he said at last
 t'No. I came here with a message from Mildred. She has told me to dis miss you once and for aH.'' t'I shall take my dismissal from no one but her. can explain every thing"
 | FI expected you to say that. If you want her own words read this." With ] shaking fingers he thrust a letter be fore Emerson's eyes. Read tt!'' l The young man opened the envelope | and read in handwriting he knew i only too well:
 1 Dear Boyd = The conviction has been l growing on me for some time that you 1 and I have made serious mistake. It l is not necessary to go into details. Let us spare each other that unpIeasantness 1 I am familiar with all that father will 1 say to you, and his feelings are mine; 1 hence there is no necessity for further explanations Believe me, this is much the simplest way. MILDRED. Boyd crushed the note in his palm and tossed it away care1essly.
 ''You dictate well.'' he said quietly "but I shall tell her the truth. and she l wiIl''-
 sOh, no, you won't. YoUSwon't see her again I have seen to that. Mil dred is engaged to Willis Marsh. It's all settled. I warn you to keep away Her engagement has been announced to all our friends on the yacht"
 'I tell you won't take my dismissa | from any one but her. I shall come 1 aboard the Grande Dame tonight ''Mr. Marsh and I may have some 1 thing to say to that" l Boyd wheeled upon Marsh with g