The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-06


 figuring in a miracle. But Matt built no hopes there It was impossible to associate Bless you, my children with that keen, proud face-rather, a whitening sentiment and a glance that would strike like knife. The miracle would be how to get out a1ive-how to escape with the lest shred of self re- spect
 No, with $4 1000, with Daggancourt and the aid of Chris intrepid spirit, it had been within the bounds of reason. The rose could have been p1ucked, general or no general, and carried in triumph to that Kentucky farm. But $50 was eighty-nothing
 By supper time he had somewhat re- covered his composure and, though very pale, contrived in other respects to conceal the crushing nature of his misfortune. He announced gravely that he had received bad news and begged that he might be excused from giving the particulars.
 After supper he got his overcoat and settled himself in a dry corner of the veranda, where his reflections were suddenly arrested by the stoppage of an automobile at the gate and the de scent of a vaguely familiar figure. It was an immense limousine, not unlike, the one he had associated with Mir. Rays departure the night before, In fact the vaguely familiar figure was MT. Kay himself, advancing hurrfedly up the board walk.
 Brought the mint with you ?' asked Matt.
 "Why. certainly I have" exclaimed MT. Kay with undisguised eagerness. q am ready to raise our offer to 8 hTndrod fbo1ISand and shall hQ most pleased to settle the matter at once on that basis.''
 1T gave you my decision last night Matt said. ssOr rather I told you I hadn't the information you wanted. You surely can not have any better proof of 1t than this. What man in his senses would refuse a hundred thousand dollars? I know I wouldn't. I was only joking when I raised you. It was only to see how far you would go. MT. Kay, you are trying to buy i something I haven't got, and there it Is in nutshell
 ''Then who was the violinist you referred to in that newspaper account? i The man who played on the ship, and queI1ed the savages when they were ready to attack you? Answer me that, please. It is very inportantAit is the | key to everything"
 Matt started; he had completely for gotten that chance reference to John i Mort; the indiscretion of 1t now took his breath away. What an ass he had been ever to let Hunter Hoyt extort 1t from his lips!
 Answer me that,' continued the 1 stranger, with a gleam of his yellow teeth, and clutching at Matt's arm again.
 
 pretending to laugh lt'He was nothing 1 to get excited about. Tn reality, lie wasn't a violinist at all, but played the concertina, and he didn't queIl any body. That was all the newspaper mems work, like most of the interview. It was simply that we had a scare once down in New Britain and kept him playing till we could get at our pistols
 Then there was nothing in it?'' l "fWell, there had been a massacre in 1 the next bay, and''-
 "But no violinist? No one at all re sembling the miniature I showed you ?'
 ttNo, no! He was a Dutchman nam ed Van TasseI and had been a waiter in a Sydney restaurant. He was hot tempered little fellow and had hit somebody over the head with bottle That's how we came to take him-paid us f2O to smuggle him out of his scrape.''
 "I see that you can't help us," said MT Kay after a pause. Its disap- pointing to have to admit it. I wish I could persuade you to go before my principals and tell them what you've told me. They. blame me for my fail ure-are not convinced, you know think they could have got this infor- nation out of you-this information that isn't there. Perhaps might make it worth your while. to come out of my own pocket, you know-out | of my own pocket. Would you con sfder it?'
 1 Where do you want me to go?'
 "Only to the railway station, to a private car we have sidetracked there i You could show them that we are on 1 a wrong scent-support fin what I have already reported. I Should be glad to pay $50. Surely that would be worth half an hour of your time? l What do you say?" l Matt hung back. He was confused. undecided and not unconscious of a vague apprehension. Yet the $50 was terribly tempting. It would allow him to extend his stay in Manaswan; to put off hts departure for a couple of weeks; to be near Chris-to see her, to talk to her, to finger in paradise before i he would be cast out of it forever. 1 Nor would it be any disloyalty to John l Mort, but merely repetition of eva sion and falsehood, possibly even help 1 fu1 now that he was better forewarn- ed. AS to their doing him any harm that was preposterous. Threaten. per haps? We'll, let them threaten! One could stand a lot of threatening for $50.
 Gro be Continued)