The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-19

for the sake of the adventure, would have left the truth to be found out later. to the disilIusion of all concern ed. The abrupt manner in which Miss KiIligrew had abandoned him merited some revenge.
 Admiral. I'm afraid there has been a mistake. and before we go any fur ther I'll be glad to explain I'm not a private secretary and never have been one. should be less familiar with the work than Chinaman. am a special writer for the magazines and have been at odd times war correspond ent." And then be went on to describe the little comedy of the statuettes. and it was not without some charm in the telling.
 Plainly the admiral was nonplused- That girl. that minx. with her inno- cent eyes and placid facel He got up, and Fitzgerald awaited the explosion. His expectancy missed fire. The ad- miral exploded. but with laughter.
 q beg pardon, Mir. Fitzgerald, and I beg it again on my daughters be- half. What would you do in my placer
 "show me the door at once and have done with it."
 'T'm hanged if dol You shall have a toddy for your pains. and. by cracky. Laura shall mix it." He pushed tue buffers bell. ''TelI Miss Laura that ! wish to see her at once"
 @'very well. sir."
 She appeared shortly. If Fitzgerald admired her beauty he yet more ad- mired her perfect poise and unconcern. Many another woman would have ev1nced some embarrassment. Not she.
 Laura, what's the meaning of this hoax7' the admiral demanded sternIy. ''Mr Fitzgerald tells me that he had no Idea you were hiring him as my secretary"
 'T am sure he hadn't the slightest" The look she sent Fitzgerald was full of approval 'He hadn't any idea at all save that I asked him to come here at this evening. And his confession proves that haven't made any mis- take"
 ''But what in thunder"-
 s'FatherP'
 F'My dear, give me credit for rea1st- ing the desire to make the term strong CT. Mir. Fitzgerald's joke. l take if, bothered no one. Yours has put him in peculiar embarrassment What does it mean7 You went to the city to get me first class secretary"
 "Mr. Fitzgerald has the making of one. believe"
 "But on your word sent a capable man away half an hour gone. He could speak half dozen languages"
 ''Mr- Fitzgerald is, perhaps, as eff ncient-"
 Fitzgerald's wonder grew and grew.
 ''But he doesn't want to be a secre- tary. He doesn't know anything about the work. And I haven't got the time to teach him. even if he wanted the place"
 leaving her eyes and her lips becom- ing grave. HI do not like the noises at night have not suggested the police. because robbery is not the motive"
 Laura. that's all tommyrot. This is an old house. and the wood always creaks with a change of temperature. But this doesn't seem to touch MT. Fitzgerald"
 The girl shrugged.
 ''WeIi. I'm glad I told that German chap not to leave till he heard again from me. I'll hire him. He looks like man who wouldn't let noises worry him. You will find your noises are entirely those of imagination-"
 "8ave it that way" she agreed pa- tiently.
 "But here's MT. Fitzgerald stilI," said the admiral pointedIy.
 Mot long ago you said to me that if ever saw the son of David Fitzgerald to bring him home. Till yesterday I never saw him; only then because Mrs Coldheld pointed him out and won dered what he was doing with, a tray of statuettes around his neck As could not invite him to come home with me, I did the next best thing. I invited him to call on me. was told that he was fond of adventures. so I gave the invitation as much color as could Do stand pardoned3"
 Indeed you dor cried Fitzgerald So this was the Killigrew his father had known7
 David Fitzgerald your father? That makes all the difference in the world" The admiral thrust out a hand "Your father wasn't a good business man. nor was he in the navy. but he could draw charts of the At lantic coast with his eyes shut.  Laura, you get the whisky and sugar and hot water. You haven't brought me a secretary, but you have brought under my roof the son of an old friend.''
 She laughed. It was rich and free toned laughter good for any man to hear. As she went to prepare the toddy music echoed through the hall.
 ''SometimeS wake up in the morn ing with a new gray hair." sighed the admiral. What would you do with a girl like thatT'
 I'd hang on to her as long as could" earnestly.
 ''1 shall,'' grimly. ''Your father and I were old friends. There wasn't a yacht on these waters that could show him her heels. not even my own. You don't mean to tell me you're no yachts mani Why, 1t ought to be in the blood"