The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-08

with buttons, still warm from the foot He seized it with ayidity, this help from a quarter so nexpected-seized it with exultation.
 Taking it by the toe, he crashed the heel through the window. Hammer, hammer, hammer, with the glass shat tertng and the Jagged, vicious edges disappearing beneath a rain of blows, disappearing till he could trust his hands on the frame and wriggle out. He went legs first, crawlfngly, scrap ing his wrists and hands on the thin knife of undislodged glass, waistcoat and shirt half pulled to his neck-buts out, no matter how, till, hanging his full length, he let himself drop to the track alongside the car.
 He heard shouts above, as though the broken window had filled with emerging heads; he saw the chauffeur jump from the automobile and Slfnk to the ground; there was a vision of the porter, with outstretched arms, rushing to intercept him, and a gut tural voice from somewhere cried out with a sort of vail, Don't shooti''
 If anything more were needed to hasten Matt's feet 1t was this thrilling command. He ran till the stitch in his side was 1nsupportable and his heart was ready to burSt-ran, trotted, fmped till, thank God, there were peo- pie all abont him and lights and anil nation and security.
 It was the hour of the New York ex- press, with passengers waiting and three hotel omnibuSes drawn up for their evening quota Matt threw him. self on a bench between two of his unconscious preservers pantfng and grateful, while they looked at him >1 appearance.
 There he sat, slowly recovering him. self and meditadng what he ought to do. His first idea was to invoke the police; to enter formal complaint and return to the car with posse of constables. But as he thought it over the wisdom of this course grew less apparent. His story was not likely to be believed; indeed, his cunning foes might turn the tables on him and in- vent . complaint of their own, with him as the culpr1t. It might resolve itself into his word against theirs-thtI word of people in private car against that of a lunatic prating of $1O0,0O0 and of a stolen ruby ring worth a for tune. Thus analysed his case was ndfculous-a fantasy.
 He hastened home in some trepida- t1on and only felt safe when he had snuggled into bed
 The next day there was note from Chris, brought by messenger: You Dear You-It was so foolish of me to be Ill and spoil everything, though I got so cross at your being turned away that improved instantly and ate whole plate of ca1f's foot jelly This is to ask you to come and share more with me on sofa, and call it an invitation to lunch Papa is going to New York on ,1T NIxynef and I'm awfuIly glad and excited, though suppose oughtn't to tell you so-or ask you at all for that matter. But come anyway, even if the heavens fall and you should get your beautiful wavy hair all covered with plaster. TweIve-thirty, please, and don't think I've changed. because haven't, and all last night was thinking and-I am awfully, deliriouslys happy, and somehow it is your fault, and I just lie back and shut my eyes-and if you are minute late shall hate you CHRIS
 It would be impossible to describe the heartrending effect of this letter on Matt. When his debts were paid he would have exactly SIP left in the whole world. True many man had succeeded with as lfttle-with less but that took time-years-and Matt had no years to spare. The only thing he could look to, the only thing that offered him a living was the sea-
 He went out to search for the pri- vate car, impelled by forlorn hope of regaining his ring Somehow, per haps, this might happen. Seen in the retrospect, MT. Kay appeared to be his friend At any rate, Kay had defend ed him and held the door against his enemies. MT. Kay might be terrified or persuaded into returning the ring. Matt stopped at a pawnbroker's and bought cheap revolver for $3: stop ped at a hardware store and bought ten .38 cartridges for 25 cents; loitered under a tree and surreptitiously shov- ed six of them into the chamber and then went on with his right hand pock- ct bulging
 He was ready for anything-was cool and determined. But there was no private car to be found. He searched the entire yard and questioned every one, but the private car had1vanished. Nobody knew anything about pri- vate car-nothing.
 Matt idled about till 1t was time to start for Fair Oaks Idled and smoked pipe after pipe and wished he had never bought that confounded revolver which weighed down his pocket like a brick. He walked all the way to save the hire of carriage and waited again at the entrance to the grounds to time his arrival exactly for half past 12. She had said she would hate him if he arrived a minute late. So, watch in hand, he dilly da1lied until he could make his appearance with the preci- sion of Monte Cristo.
 Miss darshalI?''
 ooh, yes, sir! This way, please"