The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-01-11
copyrisiat. 1915. by &he Bobbs- Merrill co.
EORGE. RANDOLPH CHESTTR,

The -r1erriu Ca.
 if I get so fat that I have to travel in sections, like cattle train. Where's Paul Pellet and that automobHeg"
 Sad, news, 1im," commiserated B1ackie, surveying the landscape from the hilltop. s'The tracks of the tires are here, and the smiling village lies below. behold white houses and red barns; perceive windmiIls and haystacks and orchards and cows
 With groan Wal1ingford rose from his stone and took up the burden of weary life. He did not, however. take up his machine. He let 1t lie just where it had fallen and trudged up the < hill alone. He took one comprehensive survey of the wintry Landscape and E swOre with earnestness.
 Where's that village7' he del manded.
 Wonder in the middle distance ,'' re- turned Blackie, with a grins pointing to where their road was intersected by another. At the crossing were church, a school, a store and a black smith shop. This was all, nnless yellow farmhoese lying slightly nearer could be considered part of the nut nicipaIity. Robins Corners explain ed Blackie cheerfu11y; tsso called be cause q little robin redbreast makes his home in the old church tower
 esNo wonder Polly went straight on through, . decided WaIlingford, in deep aggravaticn. Hes probably stil hunting the burg r
 BIackie stradd1ed his machine HYou do wrong to desert your steed at this stage of the game he ehided 'sItss au downhiH to wonder rural hamlet ana pleasing coastings
 He gave himself start and, hiS bi- cycle gathering momentum, he threw his legs over the handle bar and went sailing down the hill with a howl of joy. like boy just let out from school. Wallingford watched him enviouslY and looked back with sad speculation at his own wheel Finally, shaking his head, he left the contraption to fta fate and started stolidiy after Blacile on foot, through with weight reducings and bicycle forever
 It was a long and slow and a pain. 1 ful walk, and, as the fates would have it, he stumbled on frozen clod and fell, just in front of the yellow farm house, and bruised his kneecap and lay there, scattering profanity into tho surrounding atmosphere until a man with ear nuns and straw hat and gum overshoes on his wrinkled knes length boots came clomping out of the yellow house. on the porch Of which gathered the mother and the three girls, whose ages could have been told by the pounds, so regularly were they graduated in roundness.
 BIackie came whfrling back and helped Wallingford to his feet but the big fellow could not stand.
 q knew your internal bicycle trip would be the death of me" he charg ed as he leaned heavily on Blackie.
 s'WeIsher.' retorted Blackie. ssIf you'd stuck to your bicycle you wouldn't have been hurt. Whats the matterg @ ssKneecap. replied Wallingford, wine ing with pain. T think I've punetuE- ed it: It's swelling to beat the band
 saThey have a telephone at the store, l suggested B1ackie. If you can only l get that far you can rest until we Io- cate the machine or until it comes back
 sI can't make it,' replied Walling ford, testing his foot on the ground and paling from the pain. Big drops of precipitation were pouring down his face. and he was quite obviously in agony.
 I q might offer to help get him into my house. said the farmer
 ssSo you might accepted Blackis with alacrity. ''If you'u just grab MT waIlingford on his light side over there I'll struggle along with his heav5 side'
 Between the two they managed td get the huge Waningford into ths house, while the row of calico clad Vfo- men disappeared like a perspective Ot bowling pins, the little one first The pain increasing with every step, the l men took Walfingford directly into the front bedroom and put him to bed and the farmer, seizing the golden op portunity, teIephoned to Pinkeyville for Old Doc Tut.
 Blackfe made an entirely useless e1 animation of his foolish little pocket flask and, urged on by the sufferins Wallingfor1, issued ah earnest requisi ton for some first aid to the sober.
 q got some, but I dassent sell it. re turned the farmer You can get M down at Sam Bludgeon's emporium" started for the door. The farmer fol lowed him out into the crape paper sit ting room.
 "Reckon you might as well registsK before you go,'' he suggested. prOduc- ing a thin ruled blank book labeled Compositions
 s.Is this 8 hoteI2'' inquired Biaelde. much pleased
 tro Be conts=aes5
 The appointment of Naval Con sfr1lc+n,. T, & Adams to tze indus