The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-02-03
inspect the horse.

inspect the horse
care you questioning my good faith?'
'tBe it far from mel Tn a good deal
tickled, though. by your genial as
sumption that if I offered myself to
this lady I should be declined with
thanks
He was again belligerent. It may
have occurred to him that I might
know as much as he, but at any rate
he grinned. 1t was a saturnine grin
did not like.
I'm starving to death at the door of
an inn, and you must excuse me. Have
you seen Hartley Virgins lately7''
ST have indeed. He's taken to lonely
horseback rides. He's off somewhere
now. He hasn't the stamina for con-
test like this. One by one the autumn
leaves are falling he added, with spe-
cial intention, land have given you
your chance
Thanks, light bringing Socrates
from the lands of the OgaIa1Ias. For
so much courtesy I shall take pleasure
in reading all your posthumous works.
Let US cease being absurd
With this left him and entered the
low raftered Office. 1t was really a
pleasant lounging room, u1spoiled by
the usual hotel Office paraphernalia-
Dick had followed close behind, and as
paused, hearing voices raised angrily
in the dining room beyond, I turned to
him for an explanation. As the suitors
had been the only guests of the inn
since their advent, I attributed the com
motion to strife in their own ranks.
you'd better take a look at those
fellows. I've quit them-quite out Of
It. Remember that" said Dick.
The dining room door was slightly
ajar, and 1 flung it open.
Ormsby, Shanenberger, Henderson,
Hume, Gorse and Arbuthnot had been
engaged with cards at round table in
an alcove, but some dispute having ap-
parently risen, they stood in their
places engaged in acrimonious debate.
As near as could determine, some one
of thern-I think it was Ormsby-wish-
ed to abandon the game, which had
been undertaken to determine in what
order they should be permitted to pay
visits to Hopefeld in future, the calls
together having grown intolerable.
They were so absorbed that they failed
to note my appearance.
sIt's no good, tell your cried Orms-
by. There's no fairness in this unless
all take their chances togetheri''
you ought to have thought of that
before we began. This was your
scheme, but because the cards are run
ming against you you want to quit. I
say Wen go on!' This from Hender-
son, who struck the table sharply as he
| concluded.
you knew Virgins and Dick weren't
going in when we started, and you are
not likely to get them in now. Your
anxiety to cut the rest of us out by
] your mind shouted Gorse "I say
let's drop this and stand to our original
agreement that no man speak till the
end OF the fortnight
after that whole scheme has been
torn to pieces like paper! There's been
nothing fair in this business from the
start! We ought to have kept Arowood
here and held together. And we ought
to have got rid of that Annes fellow
he didn't belong in this at allv'
OrH0&Sby's voice rose to a disagree
able squeak as he closed with this in
dictment of me. Shallenberger seemed
to be the only one of the group who
had not host his senses. He was in the
farther corner of the alcove, out of
sight from the door, but 1 heard him
| distinctly as he addressed the other
suitors with rising anger.
Were acting like cads, and cads
OF the most contemplate sort! I only
agreed to this game to satisfy Ormsby.
The idea of our sitting here to draw
cards to determine the order in which
we shall offer ourselves to the noblest
and most beautiful woman in the
world would be coarse and vulgar If it
were not so ridiculous! I'm out of it,"
My interest in this colloQuy lad led
me further into the room, and hearing
my step they all turned and faced me.
Dick had continued at my side, but
the black looks they sent our way
were intended, I thought, rather for
i me. My appearance reused Ormsby to
fresh outburst.
you're responsible! If you hadn't
forced yourself upon the ladies al
Hopefield there wouldn't have been
any of this trouble!'
you're only an impostor anyhow
| You went 70 the house to fix = o11i'a