The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-29
CHAPTER VIII.
Some cIaee.


 JACKIE caught his breath, but
 stood the shock nohlY, beam.
 ing upon her with gallant ado
 ration until she had quite fin ished; then he replied, 4 shade of dis tress crossed her face when he began and it deepened as he continued When he had finished she said fa1nf1y, Thank you" and Charlie, glowing with pride over her, Accomplishment pulled five dollar bin from his waist coat pocket and handed it nonchafant ly over his shoulder to B1ackfa. There was some class to the gaE1g he could win, and it took a man Of class to win a girl Of guch class!
 Biackie, his eyes dfBteHded at the sight of that green paper as If some one had offered to pull his nose, was about to make hasty tracks away from that table, when hand touched his ell bow and voice, which he instantly recognized, addressed him as ''S1gnore Matteo!''
 Turning, Biackie behela, with sink ing heart, the dark v1sage Of Umberto, 1awlessIy dressed except for his beard, and once more a stream of 1i1npid Italian assailed his ears. Distinctly confused, Blackie pointed hastily te his throat and hurried back into the kitchen for comfort. But Henra, in a white coat and a huge white apron that came up to his neck, was busy among the stewpans, measuring and weighing with chemical exactneas.
 What troubles, monsiear?' he ask ed perfunctorily, though he drowned slightly as he, noted the distinguished chefs lassitude.
 s'Money," replied Blackie dfsgustedly ssPve been lodging 1t all night. I wish you'd go out and get it and let me stay here and boil eggs.
 sImpoesible.'' returned Henri quickly. brought to a realization of how busy he was. stI am with my own hands preparing the dinner for Mfr. Walllng ford and his friends. You should be on the floor"
 BIackie's head strengthened with jerk That last remark of Henri's had been peremptory, and. indeed, for 8 deeting second Henri had almost for gotten that he was not talking to a paid officer Of his army. Blackie feit his neck beginning to swell and moved out Of the hot kitchen.
 The hall of dazzling light was still ablaze with gayety, and he tried to walk straight through it without a turn of his head to the right or to thc left: but, try as he woulds he could not escape the now angry face Of Umher- to, who, as he passed, shook dark forefnger at him and h1ssed:
 .sRoyallstf''
 That was slight relief; but, as he passed the length of the dining room. there was stdn the table Of 1oVia1 faced Jim Wallingford to pass. That unprin- cipled scoundreI, dining with Hickey and the directors and their wives, now added a probable bitten ear to his list of future casualties by snapping his fingers sharply as B1ackfe came Abreast. The signal could not be ig nored.
 stVittoreot. called WaIlingford in the tone of friendly Iofiness he would use to a favorite trusted butler.
 Blackie's impulse was to stride straight on, but there sat the pleased directors of the Cafe Haut watching the well known and justly famous Wit toreo Matteo, and Blackie never yet had tsthrown the game" WallingfOrd xnew that and counted On it, tloggong him! .sYes, str,'' said Blackie, wheeling, md, searching anxiously but hopeIessly under the bottom hem of his waist coat for pin, he approached and lean ed over Wallingford's chair. ssVittoreo," directed J. Rufus in the suave tones of kind master, 'sI think i there is a little too much draft in here from those top windows. wish you | would see to it."
 eyes, sir" strangled Blackie, feeling 1 nnder the right lapel of his coat. No i pin!
 .sAnd, vittoreo7'' '"Yes, sir.''
 T wish you would get me a foot stoul.'' i .sY-yss, sir" Blaclxie felt under the other lapel
 '.vittoreos" called Hickey.
 BIackie, adding Hickey to his list of | future massacres, but determined now since he was in it to bear all and beg | for more, with submissive 'sYes, sir,' hurried over to Hickey.
 'sI wish you'd have your drink mixer put up a bottle of those cocktails for f me-" he gently requested. And at the | same moment B1aclxie felt something | dipped into the hand which hung be-