The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-06-15
Gordon CraiQ SOLDIER
 OF FORTUNE
(contlnued.)
By RANDALL PARRISH
 Copyright, 1912. by A. c. McClurg &

(Continued.)
 szDon't,'' I burst forth impetuously. srYou talk of friendship when all my hope centers about another term. Surely you understand. am man sorely tempted and dare not yield to temptation
 She drew her hand away from my clasp, yet the very movement seemed to express regret.
 And we are to be friends no Ionger2 Is that your meaning?
 You must answer that question, z replied graveIy, flor it is beyond my power to decide
 Her head was again uplifted, and knew she was endeavoring to see my face through the gloom.
 sI am a woman,'' she said, "and we like to pretend to misunderstood, but am not going to yield to that inclina- ton. do understand and will answer frankly. We can never be friends as we were before
 My heart sank, and I felt a choke in my voice difncult to overcome.
 was afraid it would be so"
 Yes and both her hands were upon mine, fin our position we cannot afford to play at cross purposes. You have been loyal to me even when every in 21SGHa6EGs permitted myself to come south with you, knowing your purpose to be an illegal one I placed myself in a false position. Tn doing this I was actuated by two purposes. One was to save this property which had been will ed to my husband by his father. Do you guess the other ?r
 Mo- I said, impressed by the ear nestness with which she was speaking. You will tell me?'' q mean to; the time has come when should. It was that might save | you from crime. You had been kind to me, sympathetic. IT liked you very much, and knew you did not understand: that you were being mis- led. I could not determine then where the fraud was, but I knew there was fraud and that you would eventually become it's victim
 ssYou cared that much for me?
 'eYes,'' she confessed frankly, T did I would never have told you so under | ordinary conditions. But I can now, here, where we are-alone together in this boat.'' She paused, as though en- deavoring to choose the proper words EsWe both realize the changed relations between us.
 I drew a quick, stnrtIed breath.
 ."That-that love yous' the excIa- nation left my lips before was aware
 "Yes,'' she said calmly q could not help that At first I never deemed such result of our friendship pos sibIe. was Philip Henley's wife, and I gave this possible danger scarcely a thought Indeed, it did not seem a 1 danger. While it is true he was hus- band in name only, yet was wife forever. That is my religion Now the conditions are all changed, instant 1y changed, by his death.'
 ttYou believe, then, he is dead2''
 tI am sure of it as though had seen his body. feel it to be true. Do you understand now why because of the fact we can no longer remain frfends?'
 "Yes,'' I burst forth, ssbecause you know how I have grown to feel to- ward you. You-you resent'-
 Have I said sop
 .No, not in words. That was not necessary, but understand
 Do you, indeed" ?" l I stared toward her, puzzled, bewil- dered, yet conscious that the hot blood was surgtng through my veins.
 You cannot mean the other?'' I questioned. "9That-that you love me ?''
 .sAnd why not? Am [ so different 1 from other women2''
 held the dller still with one hand, but the other arm was free, and I reao Led out and drew her toward me There was no resistance, no effort to l break away. could see her face up- lifted, the wide open eyes. I x