The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-12-08

 VOWS, stretching back to the time when the man before her had taken upon himself the solemn obligation to Hove, cherish and honor," clouded her face again. 5
 s.No;'' she said duly, tits no use. It'll be just the same as ever"
 'I tell you it won't" he said. What more do you want? I give you my word I know that broken it be fore, but this time I'm in earnest.''
 There was solemnity in her tone as she said:
 Gerald if do this it is the last time.'
 It was with genuine relief that he exclaimed: Good! We'll begin all over again!''
 He kissed her. Oh, trusting heart of womanhoodie She took his words at their face value and returned the kiss. But there was still misgiying in her mind that was not stilled by the wild, glad beating of her heart.
 Gerald 7 she said, you'll keep your word ?''
 tive said so," was his reply.
 Then promise me that you'll break of with this woman
 What woman ?Y
 The one who called up.''
 ssOh, pshawr' he said. There's noth- ing in that. You're wrong. You've misjudged me this time"
 They kissed again. With parting good night Trask switched off the lights in the library, and the two went. to their respective rooms. Such was the last talk of Gerald and Joan Trask, The woman went to her room with the joyous hope that she had regained her husband as he was in the first few months of their welded life. She had reclaimed himi
 And the stars sang to her as she peer ed from the window of her room, and the voices of the city, stiHed in the night, spoke only of the happiness that was to come to her at last after years of suffering Gerald was to be hers again, and all was we'll
 And the man? He left his wife with a lie on his lips and in his heart. Not love. but fear had prompted the recon ciliation. The storm had blown over for the time. He would live quietly until Joan had time to forget a bit
 Forget2 Joan forget? He laughed Il little bitter laugh. Curse itt Her memory was too good Thirteen years since the Deane affair at Great Neck love, how lucky he had beeni Why, il might have brought him a penitentiary sentence! Joan had remembered ever5 detail Of the affair. it seemed. and had flung it into hss face that night Wo- men remember some things much bet ter than men, But there, it had pass ed, fortunately for him, and he had squared" Joan this night. So whaf was the use of remembering one affair in many
 Besides, he was dog tired and must rest. Tomorrow he would plan how to get around Joan. Thus Gerald Trask went to his rest on the night that was to be his last on earth.
 Other persons are .astir with the af- fairs of the Trasks this night.
 It was but a few minutes after MT. and Mrs Trnsk had left the library. All was in darkness. but the quiet of the place was broken by queer grat- ing sound from the aIcoye in which stood the safe. It was metal moving upon metal. a slithering and scratching noise. To the nerves of Joan Trask. tautened and thrilled by her talk with her husband. an sensation is magni- fed, and she heard the sound She moves toward 1t. entering the room. The figure of a man rises from before the safe. seizes a scarf from the library table and glides to where the hesitant figure of the woman stands. Before she can give voice to the words of 1n- quf1y on her lips he has sprung upon her, BtrangliuG her as he enVelops her head in the scarf. He forces her to the floor. but as he does so another man enters the room at the rear.
 It is Robert Strickland, come to the home of his "friend'' for a purpose. In his hand is something bright and strange of shape.
 The man who~is choking Mrs. Trask hears him and locks up, desisting frena his terrible work. Joan is too far gone to scream. however. He has succeeded in his aim of siIencing her But as Strickland enters the room the stran- gler glides off to one side and leaves the newcomer looking down in bewil derment at the figure of Mrs. Trasi on the floor.
 Then, for the second time en this Hateful night, tho telephone bell rings A moment more and Gerald Trask in his shirt sleeves stumbles into the dark room. With one hand he reaches for the telephone receiver, with the other he switches on the electric light.
 HIS eyes are turned rom the 0thel two occupants of the room, and he does not know of their presence Mrs Trasx cannot call to her husband for she has but little breath left. Be sides, her eyes are fixed in fascination on the revolver which Strickland has 1 pointed at her And Strickland, dag zled by the sudden glare Of light, seems | beWildered by the sight of the woman 1 lying on the foor
 8To Be Contipued.)