The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-22

what This is no place for him, nor for me either," was the shrewd supple ment-
 Laura tried on three gowns. to the very great surprise of her maid. Usu- ally her mistress told her in the morn ing what to fay out for dinner. Here there were two fine looking young men about. and yet she was for se- Iecting the simplest gown of the three She was hazily conscious that they would notice this dress. whereas the gleaming satin would have passed as matter of fact Round her graceful throat she placed an Indian turouoise necklace: nothing in her hair, nothing on her fingers. She went downstairs perfectly content
 As she came into the hall she heard soft music. Some one waS in the mu- sic room. which was just o1 the libra Hy. She stopped to listen. Chopin, with light touch and tender feeling. Which of the two wanderers was it7 Quietly she moved along to the door Breitmann; she rather expected to find him. Nearly all educated Germans played The nnusic stopped for a mo- ment. then reVumed. Another melody followed. melody she had heard from one end of France to the other. She drowned. not with ddspleasure. but with puzzlement. For what purpose did a soldier of the German empire play the battle hymn of the French republic !? The Marsellaise! She entered the mu- sic room. and tine low but vibrant chords ceased instantly. Breitmann had been playing these melodies stand ing. He turned quickly. When Fitz- gerald joined them they were serious iy discussing Wagner and his i'll treat ment in Munich and the mad king of Bavaria.
 As she lad planned. both men no ticed the simplicity of her dress.
 ext is because she doesn't care,' thought Bre4trAann.
 ''1t is because she knows we don't care" thought Fitzgerald And he was nearer the truth than Breitmann.
 The dinner was pleasant. and there was much talk of travel. The admiral had touched nearly every port. Fitz- gerald had been round three times and Breitmann four. So far as the ad- pleased with the new secretary.
 
 Fitzgerald was not asleep. He lad an idea. and he smoked his yellow African gourd pipe till this same idea shaped itself into the form of re solve. He laid the pipe on the man. tel, turned over the loGs-for the nights were yet chill and a fire was a con1fort-aRd raised a window. He would like te hear some of that tap ping in the chimney. He was fully dressed. excepting that he had ex- changed shoes for slippers.
 He went ont into the corridor. There was no light under Breitmann's door. So much the better. He was asleep. Fitzgerald crcpt down the stairs with the caution of a hunter who Is trailing new game As he ar rived at the turn of the Lfst landing ke hesttated. He could hear the old clock striking or the seconds In the lower hall He cupped his ear. By Gc0rgaI.. Joining the sharp monotony of the clock was another sound. softer. Intermittent He was certain that il came from the library. That door was never closed Click-clicki Click-ciick! The mystery was close at hand.
 He moved forward He wanted to get as close as possible to the fireplace He peered in. The Are was all dead Only the corner Of q log glowed duly Suddenly the glow died. only to reap pear! unchanged. This phenomena could be due to one thing. a passing of something opaque. Fitzgerald had often seen this in camps when some one's. leGs passed between him and the fire. Some one else was in the room A S to nnd himself locked in a pair of arms no less vigorous than his own.
 And even fin that lively moment he remembered that the sound in the chimney went on!
 1t was a quick. silent struggle. The intruder wore no shoes. It would be test of endurance Fitzgerald re- called some tricks be had learned in Japan. but even as he stretched out his arm to perform one the arm was caught by the wrist while a second hand pasEed under his elbow.
 s''Don%!" he Rasped slowly. -1'n give in-" His arm would have snapped if he hadn't spoken.
 A muttered oath in German. ''Fitz- gerald7" came the query in a whisper. "Yes- Is this you. Breitmann2'
 SAs 4NOL DO A140L W10C are you doing -heFeT
 And you7"
 ''Listsni It has stopped He has heard our scufding."
 ''It seems. then. that we are both aere for the same purpose" said Fttz- gerald. pulIing down his cuffs and run. ming his fingers. round his collar.
 :'Yes: you came too late or too soon" 1" Breitmann stopped and ran hIs hands over the rug.
 The other saw him but dimly. "What's the matterT
 ''l have lost one of my studs" with the frngal spirit of his mothers fore bearA You are stronger than l thought"
 Much obliged"
 '1ts a good thing you did not get that hold first You'd have broken my