The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-27

Continued.l


 his heart against any such weakness She had been necessary. and he wouIt be a fool to pause over q, bit of senti mentality. Her appearance had dis organized his nerves; that was all Peering into his watch. he found tha' he had only half an hour before dinner And itSmay be added that he dressed with singular care.
 So did Fitzgerald. for that matter and 1t took Cathewe just as long.
 And this night Hildegarde vOn Mitter was meditating on the last throw for her hopes. She determined to cast once more the full sun of her beauty into the face of the man she loved. and if she failed to win the fault would not be herg.
 Never again would the splendor of her beauty burn as 1t did this night
 Laura. alone among them all. went sereneIy about her toilet. She was young. and love had not yet spread its puzzle before her feet.
 On the bridge the first officer was standing at the captains side.
 '-Captain.' be shouted. where did you get that FrenchmanT'
 ''Picked him up day before yestiddy. Speak fair English an a bit O dago They're allus handy on a pleasure boat. He c'n keep off tn riffraR boat men. An you know what persistent cusses they be in the Mediterranean Why 9'' -@-.' .-sssa a. -.s~ J-.~.---
 "oh. nothing. if he's good sailor Notice his hands2''
 'Why. no!'' ..-..
 "Soft as a woman's."
 'EY' don't say! Well. we'll see 'm tough enough before we sight Fun chaL"
 There was one vacant chair in the dining salon. M. Ferra ud was tndis posed. He could climb the highest peak. be could cross ice ridges with a sheer mile on either side of him. with never an attack of vertigo. but this heavinR mystery under his feet always got tine better of him the first day out. He considered it the one flaw in all otherwise perfect system. Thus he missed the comedy and the tragedy of the eyes at dinner nor saw a wo- man throw her all and lose it.
 els there anything I can do for you? ?' asked Fitzgerald. venruring his head into M. Ferraud's cabin.
 Nothing. Tomorrow 1t will all be gone. 1 am always so. The miserable wafer!" M Ferraud drew the blanket under his chin.
 "When you are better should like Eo ask you some questions"
 My friend. you have been very good I promise to tell you ali when the time comes. It will interest you"
 Fitzgerald shut the door and returned to the smoking room. Something oI other concerning Breitmann-he was sure of if. What had he done or what was he going to do that France should watch him? There was no doubt 1T his mind now. Breitmann had known of fhIa treasure and had come to the Pines simply to put his hands on the casket.
 Then Nj. Feyraud had tried to fore stall him. This much Of the riddle was plain. But the pivOts upon which these things turned! There was something more than a treasure in the balance We'll, Nj Ferraud had told him tC wait. There was nothing else for hin to do.
 little rubber at bridge was in prog 1eEz. The admiral was playing witt Mrs. CoTdneId. ana Carnewe sar oppO site Hildegarde. The latter two weru losing. She was ordinarily a skillfu player. as Cathewe knew. but tonigh she lost constantly. was reckless witt her leads and played carelessly into be opponents hands. Cathewe watched her gravely. Never had he seen he more Beautiful. and the apprehension thafsfIe would never be his was like hand straiuing over his heart
 How many times he stood on tn, precipice during the dinner hou Breitmann doubtless would never b' told A woman scorned is an old story Still, the story goes on. retoId eacl day. The red fires of revenge danced before Hpdegarde ron Mitter's eyes blurring the spots on tbe~-cards. tn blackness of despair crowding upol each fiash.s Let him beware: With word she could shutter his dream-aye and so she would. What-sit there a nt let him turn the knife in her hear and receive the pain mePklyH No. 1 was the thoughtless brutality witt which he went abeut this new affai that bit so Poiguantly. With all be beauty. intellect. genius and generOS 4ty. she had not been able to stir hin as this young girl was unconscfousl. doing. She held no animOsity for tn, daughter of her host. She was cIea Visioned enough to put the wroni where it belonged.
 ''It Is your lead" said the admira patiently.
 Pardon me-" contritely. The gen tie reproaeh brought her back to tn surroundings. "lt is the motion of th koat" haZarded Cafhewe as he sa V her lead the ace ''l often find mysel losing count in waiting for the nex 7olI''
 Mfr. Cathewe is very kind" she re piled. "The truth is. however, 1 an simply stupid tonight"
 Breitmann continued to speak fowl. to Laura. He was evidently amusing for she smiled frequently. Neverthe less she smiled as often upon Fitz Rerald-nPver a glance toward the WIG man who held his fortunes. as the. 18th believed, in the hollow of he