The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-23
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 big, I'll warrant"
 And then. for a time. they smoked like Turks, in silence.
 You will not mind if turn in7 A bit sleepy" said Breitmann.
 'Not at all. Shall we tell the ad- mtral2''
 "The first thing in the morning. Good night"
 Fitzgerald finished his cigar and went to bed also. Interesting old place" wadding a pillow under his ear. More interesting tomorrow"
 Some time earlier. the individual who was the cause of this nOcturai exploit hurried down the hill. nursing a pair of skinned palms and laughing gently to himself.
 ''Checknate! shall try the other way"
 On the morrow. Fitzgerald recount ed the adventure in a semihumorOus fashion, making a brIsk melOdrama out of 1t. to the Quiet amusement of his small audience
 "eT shall aend for the mason this morning" said the admiral i've been dreaming of the Black Cat and all sorts of horrible thtnRS. ! hate Nike sixty to spoil the old chimney. but we can't have this going o0. Wen have 1t down at once. A fire these days iS only Q nice touch to the ma hogany."
 "But you must tell him to put back every brick in its place." said Laura. ''I could not bear to have anything happen to that chimney. All the same. I am glad the matter ia going to be cleared up. It has been nerve rack ing, and l have been all alone, wait. ing for 1 know not what"
 You haven't been afrafdT said Fitzgerald
 I'm not sure that haven't" She sighed.
 "NonsenseF' cried the admiral
 'I am not afraid of anything can see. but 1 do not like the dark. I do not like mysteries"
 You're the bravest girl know. Laura" her father declared. Nov. MT. Breitmann. if you don't mind"
 Shall we begin at once. sirT'
 ''You will copy some of my notes to begin with. Any time you're in doubt over a word speak to me. There will not be much outside of manuscript work. Most of my mall is sorted at my bankers and only important Iet- ters forwarded There may be a so- cial note occasionally. Do you read speak itT'
 'Oh. yes"
 Laura invited Fitzgerald Co the esn- his court
 ''In these shoesE' he protested.
 ''They will not matter. It Is q cs- ment court"
 But 1 shan't look the game. Ten his without nannels is like duck with out apples"
 Bother! wen play till the mason comes up. And mind your ganne. I've been runner up in q dozen tour naments."
 And he soon found that she had noe Overrnted her skill. She served strong ly, volleyed beautifully and darted across the court with a heetness and q surety both delightful to observe. So interested were they in the battle that they forgot all about the mason till the butler came out and announced that the dissertation had begun. In fact. the broad marble top was on the floor and the room full of i'm palpable dust. The admiral and the secretary were graveiy stacking the bricks, one by one. as they came out
 Found anythingT' asked the girl breathlessly.
 Mot yet, but Mfr. Donovan here has just discovered hollow space above the mantei line" The admiral sneezed-
 Mir. Donovan in his usual free and happy way drew out two bricks and dropped them on the polished floor. There's your holler. sir,'' he said. dusting his hands. Unbidden. Breltmann pushed his hand into the cavity. His arm went down to the elbow and he was forced to stand on dptoe. He was pale when he withdrew his arm. but Tn his hand was a square metal case. about the size and shape of a cigar box. By cracky! Whats the matter. MT. BreitmannT" The admiral stepped for ward solicitousIy. Breitmann swayed and fell against the side of the fireplace. 'It Is noth- ing; lost my balance for a moment. 1 Will you open it. slrT' Lost his balance7' muttered Fitz- gerald He looks groggy wbyT' This was not a time for speculation. All rushed after the admiral. who laid the case on his desk. and took out his keys. None of them would turn in the ancient lock With m impatient gesture. which escaped the others the secretary seized MT. Donovan's ham, mer, inserted the claw between the lock and the catch and gave . power ful wrench. The lid fell back, crooked and scared
 The admiral put on bis mandarin l spectacIes. With his hands behind his back be bent and critically examined the contents. Then. very carefully. he extracted a packet of papers. yellow ! and old. bound with heavy cording. Beneath this packet was a medal of the Legion of Honor. some rose leaves and small glove. "Know what I think7" said the ad- miral. stilling the shake in his voice. ''This belonged to that mysterious | Frenchman who lived here eighty l years ago I'll wager that medal cost l ror1o hIOOd RV cTackv what a 6n6p"