The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-05

their glance on him. what evil were they meditat1ng? What was their sin ister purpose in seeking him out to be- tray his friend?
 He returned the miniature, speaking as he did so with his pipe in his mouth-a subterfuge he had found use ful before, especially when under fire real fire-bu1lets It is the mouth that tells secrets, and. that in other ways than words. A~pipe is a help It cern.
 ''wen, what about it?" said Matt through his teeth.
 ''I asked if you recognized h1m?
 ''Seen this person before, do you mean? No, I don't know who he Is. Why, do you expect me to?
 The stranger was not at all nonplus- ed It was disconcerting how coolly he took the announcement. He care fully replaced the miniature in his pocket, remarkfng that 1t was ga pity"
 E'I've something here that may fresh en your reco1lection,'' he went on, pro- ducfng asswallet, and from the wallet a thick roll of notes. Pulling up his chair so close to the bed that his knees touched it, he began to spread green backs on the coverlet as though en- gagged in a singular game of patience. A row of six, another row of six, third row of six, and Matt, amazed, perceived that they were in denomina- t1ons of $1,OOO each.
 ''My Godr' he cried. "What are you-a mint?'
 The stranger, with gleam of yellow teeth and the first smile he had per- mitted himself, completed a fourth row from a packet that was yet far from exhausted. Then he stopped and said: t.No, not a mint. Merely a per son who seeks little information, and is very willing to pay for it.
 Matt eyed the serfed notes-$1, 900, $1 900, $1 600 in a green and over- whelming profusion; $1yO0o, $1,Ooo, $1,- poo up and down, with more tightly clasped in those stubby fingers. If anything, the sight stimulated all the obstnacy in him, enhancing his loyal ty and determination in proportion to the bribe. But it would not do to af- feet unconcern. It would be bad pol icy to convey the impression that he could talk if he would Excited in- nocence was the part that he ought to play-eager, covetous, astounded inno- cence.
 "Twenty-four thousand dollarsr' he exclaimed. Would you really give me that for recognizing a man? Just for looking at his picture and saying, That's Walter Jones or William RiIey2 Why, bless you, I'd do it for a quarter of that-for single oner' He picked up one of the greenbacks as he spoke and smoothed it out lovingly on his knee.a Even that would be enormous,'' 2 he said. People aren't paid for that kind of thing
 'sThey will be in this instance,' re- turned MT. Kay. We are desirous of finding Jones and are will ing to go to considerable lengths for any information regarding him and his present whereabouts. That money there, MT. Broughton, is but the half of what Pm authorized to offer you. Think it over a bit, MT. Broughton. Fifty thousand dollars for five min utes of-sincertty.''
 My dear man, observed Matt, ''why not make it fifty millions while you are about it? I haven't the faint est notion whom your picture repre- sents-not the slightest, believe me. I wouldn't know him from Adam if he came in this mfnute.':
 F'Is that your last word?"
 "It's all I know, if that's what you mean"
 "Oh, come, come! Whats the use of denying you could tell if you wanted to? I'm not child to be hoodwinked. There isn't a visit of yours to Sydney or San Francisco that we haven't traced. You were no trader You were in the employ of-well-that in- dividual we are seeking. You have to admit it, and, once admitted, we have & basis for negotiations
 Matt puffed at his pipe and finally remarked that it was all Greek to him.
 N'The ship was Tembinok's,'' he went on, ''oId Tembinok's, the king of Apemama, you know, and he sent me off in her originally to buy rifles at something like a white price. But I was honest with him and made her pay, carrying coprah shell and that, and so he kept me on till I lost her this winter