The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-31

'bFelImann! exclaimed Laura. She caught her dressing gown closer about her throat.
 "Yes. The temptation was too great. How did you get here?" He ought to have struggled to his feet at once. but 1t was very comfortable to feel her breath upon his forehead.
 "I heard a fall and then some one running. Are you badly hurtP'
 The anguish in her voice was as music to his ears.
 Dizzy: that's all Better tell your father immediately. No. DO: I can get up alone. I'm all right. Fine rescuer of princesses. eh?' with an unsteady laugh.
 "You might have been kilIedr' 'Scarcely that. 1 tried to talk like they do in stories. with this result. The maxim is. Always strike first and ques- ton afterward- You warn your father quietly while I hunt up Ferraud and Cathewe''
 Seeing that he was really uninjured. she turned and flew down the dark corridor and knocked at her fathers | door.
 Fitzgerald stumbled along toward M. Ferraud's room murmurinR: 'An right, MT. Breitmann; all right. But hang me if don't hand you back that one with interest Where is that French man?'' as he hammered on Ferraud's door and obtained no response. He tried the knob. The door opened The room was black. and he struck a match. Nj. Ferraud. fully dressed. lay upon his bed. There was a handker- chief over his mouth. and his hands and feet were securely bound. His eyes were open.
 The hunter of butterflies rubbed his released wrists and ankles. tried his collar. cOughed and dropped his legs to the floor.
 "I am getting old" he cried in self communion. ''nearsiGhted and old. I've worn spectacles so long in jest that l now I must wear them in earnest!''
 How long have you been here7' asked FitzRernld-
 ''I should say about two hours. It was very simple. He came to the door. l opened 1t. He came in. Zut! He is as powerful q lion."
 ''Why didn't ysu caIl?''
 'I was too busy. and suddenly it be- came too late. Goner' Yes" And Fitzgerald swore as be rubbed the side of his head Briefly he related what had befaIlen him. You have never hunted bntterfies7'' "Eo." sharply. "Shall we start for him while his heels are hot?"
 ''I have laid the trap. He and his friend wf'I walk into 1t. am not a police officer. l make no arrests My business is to avert political calami- ties without any one knowing that these calamit!es exist That is the real business of 8 secret agent. Let him dig up his fortune. The trap is set. and In forty-eight hours it will be sprung. Be calm. my son. To night we should not find a horse or tarriage,ir the whole town of Ajaccio"
 But what are you going to do?''
 ''GO to Aitone to find a hole in the ground
 But the admiralI'
 'Let him gaze into the hole and then tell him what you will. l owe him that much. Come on."
 'Where2"
 gro the admiral to tell him his sec retary is a fine rogue and that he has stolen the march on us A good chase will soften his final disappointment. will tell you this: am playing against desperate men. and the Iiber- ty. perhaps honor. of one you love is menaced. They are coming. Not a word"
 The admiraI's fury was boundless, and his utterances were touched here and there by strong sailor expressions the Scoundrel. the. blackleg! And he had trusted him without reserva- ton! He wanted to start at once. Laura finally succeeded in calming him. and the cold reason of Nj. Fer raud convinced him of the folly of haste. Every one of the party was in Ferraud's room. and their voices hum- med and murmured. and their arms waved. Only one of them did Fer raud watch keenIy-Hildegarde. How would she act now?
 Fitzgerald's head still rang, and now his mind was being tortured. Laura in danger from this madman? No. over his body first. over his dead body. How often had he smiled at that phrase. but there was no melo- drama in it now. Her liberty and perhaps her honor! His strong fingers worked convulsiveIy to put them round the blackguard's throat.
 "Your head is all right now?'' as she turned to follow the others from the rOcm-
 "It was nothing" He forced a smile to his lips. I'm as tt as hddle now. only I'll never forgive myself for letting him go. Will you tell me one thing? Did he ever offend you in any way?"
 "A woman would not call it an of fense." a glint of humor in her eyes. Real ofenSe. no.'' ''He proposed to youT'' The suppressed rage in his tone R1nu hod fhrfII ed her strangely. "It would have been a proposal if had not stopped it. Good night"
 He could not see her eyes very we'll there was only one candle burning. Impulsively he snatched at her hand and kissed it. With his life, if need be-aye. and gladly.
 Fitzgerald found himself alone with