The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-05-17

haven't IF? r4z
 .I ., hope nOt;s v,t;,, or;ts Tsookheld's answer | "Weli, if you're in earnest, Of course," !" Lew apologixed: .'but don't see your EAme''
 srn not. not fully '!,lilt ]. convinced of hr'
 .Why.. he's runnin- away." Imake against met, Hardmuth blus- tered; but I'm not guilty In any de-
 sTranh,, Broohneld sternly inter- Frup&ed, 'T want to. do this thing fo1 ! you; don't make 1t too dimcult by any | lying When I said I wasn't fully convinced of your guilt, my reserva- | ton was one you wouldn't under | stand.'' He cr0sDed to the naantel and punhed the electric button. Clay had \ entered the room while he was speak ing, and stood respectfully weit1ns | of the boy"
 .Is hs gone 2?
 sl1y coat and goggles?'' :. .Below in the <eception-room. :
 Thank you. wish now you would 10 to sviola; and her mother, and keep them wherever they are. = sl t..AIl rdelst. sirr Clay left the room; Brookneld turned to Hardmuth "Hungry?
 ''No thank you"
 "Got money?"
 The darky boy came in answer to the bell. .sjo, take, Mr. Hardmuth be- \ low and lend him one of the fur coats.'' And then to Hardmuth, "Fll join you immediately"
 Hardmuth followed the boy from
 Aeain left alone with Ellinger and Helen, Brool1held turned to Lew and l said:
 Lew. called that ace of hearts. didn't I ?'' 1 ..And the three queens" Lew an | swered, with reminiscent regret.
 s.Because the three queens and the ace were In your mind.
 s'I don't see any other explanation. "
 "But suppose instead of the cards there had been in your mind we'll developed plan of assassinatiop,-the l picture of a murderer-t
 ssDid you drop to him that way ?" | aNo; Raynor told me all know o1 Hardmuth But here's the very hel
 of it." It was evident to Helen thai Brookfield's mental agony was un-
 feigned: 'Lone before scovn wa.
 and I thought 1t could be done jus as 1t was done.'
 "Jack!" Helen exclaimed. in. g .I whisper
 sT never breathed a word of it te
 a living soul, but Hardmuth planned
 it exactly as I dreamed it, and. by God. a guilty thought is almost as E criminal as 8 guilty deed! I've al. ! ways had a considerable influence . over that poor devil that's running away tonight's, and I'm not sure tha1 before the Judge of both of us thu tguilt isn't mostly mine. In her wish to. diminish Brook pathetically took his hand. That'i
 morbid. Jack. dear.' she urged-"per. } fectly morbid
 Il q hope 1t Is: we'll none of us evel : know in this life." He turned te
 "What?" asked Lew, as Brookfielt } paused.
 ssI.ive as if it were true.'' With ar } effort Brookfield threw off the som :. breness of his mood and prepared fol . action. 'I'm going to help him ovel . the police won't suspect me-. and the! won't suspect Lew, and all the less i , there is lady with us.' He turned
 again briskly to Ellinger. twill yo,
 srhe limit" the old sport answer !. ed; in characteristic phrase;
 "An right"
 Brookfield was left alone witt :. Helen. He turned to where she wa, sitting at one end of the library
 table. The hour. the lighting of th'
 room, their relative positions recalled
 with photographic vividness theil Iconversation on the night of tn, opera. the conversation in which h,
 had received the first hint of tn, power of which he had since becom,
 so responsib]y conscious, and whicl
 had worked such regeneration in hi ] life. He put one hand over her hand ] resting on the table as it had rested
 then. "You know you said I used to b, able to make you write to me whel :. was a boy at college?" 'Yes."
 :l And you were a thousand mile ! away while this fellow Hardmuth wa just at my elbow half the time.'' | Helen rose quickly and came t, him close. "It can't help you t, : brood over 1t, Jack
 He took both her hands in his, lay
 ing them upon his breast in the pro
 tective and tender way that ha, : grown upon him.
 "It can help me to know 1t ant 3 make what amends I can. Will vol go with me while I put this poo
 devil over the liner" . ,"Yess I'll go with you" she answer : cd at once. She turned and got iron
 tho sofa the Great-coat that Viola hat worn.
 sI Brookfie1d took it from her an, held 1t. assisting her to put it on. A ' hn h0n1xnA fhA obaalra Po nf $Ds