The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-21
By CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY


Well, d0nC KnOW now It relieves you. And after alPs said and done, Wilberforce was a gentleman, good player and gallant loser"
 Exactly, and he lost his all like gentleman"
 ''And you got it, at least most of it.''
 Patience, my friend; you had your share"
 q don't know but I would give it back to have poor old Geoff with US once again,'' said Luftdon, with some heat.
 s"That is a perfectly foolish state ment, my buck,'' returned the other. somebody was bound to get it. Will berforce has been. going the pace for years. We happened to be in at the death, that's all.''
 well, how does it relieve you, then2 Do you think Wtlberforce would have attempted to get you to support him?''
 The drawler laughed
 'eOf course not This''-he pointed to the dead body-'tis proof enough of the spirit that was in him. But, of course, I cannot marry the girl now.'' Y
 You can'tT'
 .ssCertainIy not. Her father a bank rupt, suicide"-
 'tBut the castle and this park?"
 ''Mortgaged up to the hilt. Speak ing of hilts"-he stopped down and, daintiIy avoiding contact with the corpse, drew from the scabbard the diamond hilted sword-"this belongs to me It's worth taking. You remen- Der he staked it last night on the last deal'
 "Good God, man, protested the first speaker, don't take the mans sword away! Let him lie with bis weapons like gentleman"
 "Tut, tut! You grow scrupulous, it seems. We will provide cheaper badge of his knighthood, if necessary"
 ''And about the girl?''
 '''Tis all off.''
 ssYou will have some trouble break ing your engagement with her, l am thinking"
 ~'Not I. To do her justice, the girl has the spirit of her father. A whis- per that am 'd1sinclined to the match will be sufficient
 faye, but who will give her that Whisper?''
 ''We will arrange that some way. Truth to tell, am rather tired of the minx. She bores me with her high airs She does not know that she is pGuull6SS dud OlSSIdCSd- AhO as TUT her good looks, 'tis a country beauty, after all"
 ''Poor girl!'' began Luftdon, whose face, though bIoated and flushed, still showed some signs of human kind ness.
 At that point intervened. could bear no more. When they spoke so slightingly of my mistress it was more than could stand. I burst out of the brush and stood before them-mad, en- ragged all through. I will admit that l lacked the composure and breeding of these precious two. They started back at my sudden appearance, from which he of the slow speech speedily recovered
 'sNow, who may you be- and what hay you want?" he said.
 'fWho I am matters nothing,'' said I, "but what I want matters a great deaI.''
 "Ah! And what is it that you want that matters sop
 t'In the first place that sword''
 '"This?" said the man, holding Sir Geohrey's handsome weapon up light ly by the blade. That" said I.
 I am accustomed to move quickly as we'll as to think quickly, and be- fore he knew it I had it by the hilt, and but that he released the blade in- stantiy I would have cut his hand as withdrew it. He swung round and clapped his hand on his own sword, fierce oath breaking from his lips, his face black as thunder.
 Don't draw that little spit" said, Cor I will be under the necessity of breaking your back
 I lowered above both of them, and I have no doubt that I could have made good my boast. The man had the courage of his race and station. He faced me undaunted, his hand on his sword hiIt.
 Would you rob me of mine own?'' he asked calmly.
 +1 might do so, and with justice,'' I replied. You had no hesitation in rob ping the living or the dead.''.
 ''zoundsr' cried the first man, cit was in fair play; we risked each what we had, and Sir Godfrey Iostsssstzs asFa
 ''Yes; see,'' replied. Having paid with everything else, he had to throw away his life I heard what you said. You wonder how Mistress Wilberforce is to learn the situation. You wonder who is to tell her. I will.'
 That is good; well thought off, said the drawler with amazing assurance.