The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-09
. EXCOMMUNICATED
Bv c. w. DAWSON

chickens hint of danger. he passed He won dered whether Lucy in the old days, before her hus- band had become a pariah, would have behaved like that. Billy didn't wonder. He didn't to notice He had been too long ecornunicated ito be able to
 muster the of resentnent after forty years of such treatment. he took it matter of course
 On presenting themselves the ticket office, they learned that eastbound would be due in halt hour. The agent looked at them hard. and fol- lowed them with his eyes they moved away. On opportunity he communicated his suspicious the train despatcher; the train despatcher handed on his information the baggage master; when the east-hound train drew in the baggage master warned the conductor and the brakeman; so by the time the conductor had collected all the tickets, sengcr the train aware that two ex-conv1cts aboard
 Knightfy glued his face to the window, trying not to notice the cruelty of the questioning He watched the brightness of the spring. and feasted his fancy the greenness of the It two whole years since he had anything like that; in the jail all had been the interminable stretch of grayness s. ..,s-.
 At midday they drew into Seaford pleasant little manufacturing town, and there they a1ighted.
 Billy he said, turning to his companion. this is where lived before my trouble My wife has been true me- and has always believed that was She promised, when they took me away, to keep everything just the same, that when back we might pick up life where it dropped She hasn't kept her word though; eight months after they carried off our baby arrived, it'll be all different. She hasn't in two years-l wouldn't let her; and I've had glimpse of little child. So you first meeting will be very hard, and-and," his voice broke and he whispered the last two words "very sacred-Billy, good-by; I'm going home now"
 He held his hand and the old took it gently. "Good-by pard. and good luck to you," he said T never had home and never had wife; but I can guess what they to those have Our friendship was made in jail and don't yet know what made swell like you stoop to such rotten old bum I've become at seventy I'll be back behind bars in fortnight, l reckon; forty years in qaod have spoiled for the world I'll never forget you, pard; and I hope to God I'll never set eyes you again"
 Knightly let go his hand and cutched him tightly by the arms swaying him to and fro, peering down into his eyes He couldn't himself speak yet; when he did his voice trembled and his face quivered like woman's.
 "See here Billy" he said, you're old enough be my father. My fathers dead; he died two years ago. I'm going give you piece of my mind. You're an old fool You're good God has made, and don't know it. I'm not going to let you drift back jail dyou hear what say? Another sentence would kill you. Here all the money I've got;
 don't need it any longer. In four hours time you be round by the station entry when I've explained things my wife, I'll back and fetch you You're going to live with until you find work. Dyou hear that?'
 Without giving Billy time to thank him. he hurried away.
 The troileys didn't run in Seaford on Sundays, he had to walk He remembered with a smile that this delay his doing, for. years ago. when he was a prominent citizen, he had helped to put through the Sunday ant-trafhc law.
 He came last. the outskirts of the within sight of a house. surrounded by woodlands, standing on hill Even that distance he watched to face the windows. When he reached the entrance the grounds he could longer restrain hinsc1f doubling up his he broke into He arrived the front door pantng, and tugged at the bell The sound of echoed faint1y through the house. He a little disappointed in Lucy; he had notified her week ago that this to be the day of days. That had him the station quite in order, for he had begged her not to do SO; but she might have a carriage-and she kept him wait ing. He grew impatient and rang again. Still He took battering the panels of the door with his feet and hands
 Presently he heard movement in upper room. A window pushed open and shril voice claimed: Good Lordt Don't you know it's Sunday7 Making such a and disturbin' folks resti'
 He stepped back from under the veranda the lawn. A frowsy looking down him from his bedroom; her eyes sleepy and she fore Well speak up. man." she called. What is it that you want?"
 q get into my house," he said, sharply. And who the devil you7"
 "Your own house. indeed!" the sneered. You look like it. This house is Mrs. Knightly's, and she's gone away to the country, nine miles from here. I guess know who this house; I'm left in charge"
 She had withdrawn her head and preparing slam down the window. when he stayed her by saying Well I'm MT. Fnightiy and I know my wife's address"
 She leaned again with interest. "Oh, you're Mir Knghtiy, your" she drawled surveying him from top to "Well, never I've heered about you Got anything to prove it?".
 "Yes.. I describe to you everything that's in that room"
 The woman laughed bruta1ly "Bet yer you can't; everything that in this has been moved out"
 After much paIaver and anger and coaxing he per-