The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-10
Sc0nta6uoO '. CHAPTER TX.
The Key to Paradise.

CHAPTER TX.
 The Key to Paradise.
 HRIS was. half reclining on a sofa, propped about with pill N lows, and in Chinese wrap 0 of magnificent old brocade, all gold and twisted embroidered dragons. Her delicate beauty was unimpaired by any trace of illness, though enhanced by the unusual bri1liancy of her eyes and q flush, too hectic for health, that mantIed the fine oval of her face.
 Matt ran to her, taking her hands and kissing them, and then sank on his knees beside her. His cares, his wretchedness. the misery of his renun- ciation-all were gone as the soft bare arms closed round his neck and drew down his head Somehow, mysterious ly, he knew not how, the load was lifted from his heart
 She raised his face and scrutinized him with pretty air of ownership and a gravity that dimpled at the cor ners of her mouth.
 A tired boyr' she said speculatingly "A wondering, worried, scared boy! A boy who has been thinking too much and eating too little, and, oh, dear, what scratched boy!' 'tI got that climbing out of a Pull man window last night explained Matt, showing his wrists. 'I had to break itzwith a. shoe that an old gen tIeman kindly lent me and got out in a hurry
 Chris eyes opened very wide
 What a funny, strange, impetuous boyI" she exclaimed. Wasn't there any door2''
 There were people banging that in, rowling for my destruction,'' ccntin- ued Matt tantalizingIy- ''I don't know what they wanted. I'm sure, but they were going at it in the liveliest way with an ax, and chose the window rather than wait and find out.'
 That was a prudent boy. but-but-- where on earth did all this happen?''
 ''In a private car. sidetracked near the railway station
 But how did you happen to go there?"
 That old gentleman took me there the one who lent me his shoe. Paid me $50 for going and rode me there in an automobile" But why?''
 'Tm telling it all the. wrong end foremost went on Matt 'tIt's an ex- traordinary story-Chris, it's astound- fng I can't make head nor tail of it. 1 was actually offered $1Oo,OOO-think Of it. Chris. positively $10O; ;OoO-right there in greenbacks to betray a man l knew Had it forced on me-aImost stuffed in my pocket
 Her surprise, disbelief even, caused him to draw forth the revolver in witness.
 Its not a joke, Chris,' he said 'I bought that this morning and nar be sof7 4<xio d S7
 The momentary, flash of steel was thrilling in that quiet room and amid such peaceful surroundings. Chris ut- tered a little cry, breathing fast and gazing at him in amazement
 You ffighten me- she gasped out Matt. I'm frightened. What does it all mean? Tell mel"
 The trouble is don't know myself g he returned as a tide of depressing recollections swept over him. "I am somehow a blind cog in other peoples business. and the thing that hits ma hardest is that they have ruined me. I've IosL everything, Chris, everything counted on to make a start some where. had S4.OOo as safe as though it was in the bank, and it's gone, sto- len. God knows how, but they have got it-robbed me, Chris. robbed me-
 HIS hO1CG was SudhI1S. 4uO T0dHHd- ton of his loss was unnerving him. His shoulders heaved. T don't know which way to turn Four thousand dollars isn't much, of course, but it meant you IT hoped it meant you after what you had said; believed it did anyway: counted on it. Yes you and I together, no matter how poor, but with some sort of a home of our own And now it's gone, and haven't anything, and it means goodby, Chris. It means gOedby."
 He bowed his head in shame, reSus- ing to be comforted, while she whis- pered and whispered that she loved him; that it would never be goodby, never, Matt, never; that as long as they had each other nok3ng could hurt them; that he was poor, pre- cfous foolish, silly, devoted boy person without any sense at all, who thought he could walk away from love and leave it behind like an umbrella, Just because he hadn't $4.OOOI As though it made the least difference what he had, her lover boy, her darling. for he was strong and splendid and brave and big And if that wasn't being rich what was? And he had her, hadn't