The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-01-07
busHORGE RANDOLPH CHESTI
copyrial1t. 1913. by khel bbs-r4arrin Go.

tCOnt1nU60.1
 ~That's a reasonable excuse" agreed Wallingford. "I suppose, in order to square the greater liberty, you'll do something worse. MT. Twist laughed as jovially as his evaporated nature would permit. t'It isn't so bad as all that" he stated. My man. who was down digging the, tulip bed, you know. told me that jolly little joke of yours about the tunnel and the underwater sun baths.'
 Wallingford looked across at Blaekia and Paul Pollet. Those two irrespon. sfbIe brats were choking with joy.
 1T see,'' he said "It was a good joke, wasn't it?'
 '.Too good to keep!' responded MT. Twist enthusiastically. That's why Pm going to ask you to let me give it to the papers, and from what my man said of you, MT. Daw, I'm sure that if anybody came and asked you about 1t you'd be quite willing to keep up the joke
 Blackie Daw, watching Wa1ling ford's eyes, suddenly stopped snicker- ing and sat straight up. Paul PoIIet watching Blackie, did likewise.
 q am the grandest little person in the world to keep up, joke" assert ed Wallingford. ssIf you publish this merry little jest in the local papers and somebody should ask me about it, how do you want me to carry on the 1augh?'
 ''Oh, tell them that you intend to build the sun baths with glass domes under the water and palm gardens and fountains and a grillroom and all the other trimmings you invented for that farmer this morning
 s'I see Great joke, isn't it?'. com mented Wallingford, looking specuIa- lively over at BIackie.
 Well, it's more than joke,' ad- mitted MT Twist. judging that Wal ltngford was not approaching the com edY -yas much as he should. etTaIk like that is good for the town
 q believe you, responded WalIing- ford, studying him acutely. "Tm very strong for helping town; but, aside from that, who cashes this joker Mr.sTwist. became more juieelessly jovial than ever. "It's an il wind that blows nobody any good" he con fessed. teWithout harmfng you in the least mfght-I say just might, rs- 1 member reap a tri1ing advantage from it.''
 q begin to suspect that's why you calIed,'' remarked Wallingford, now bending serious attention to the prob. lem. "Come on, MT. Twist. and tell me all about it. You own that prop erty, don't your
 tsWell. yes.' 2
 You want to sell it."
 'sYou are very shrewd,' compliment ed MT. Twist.
 CT can see joke so fast I haven't time to laugh at it,r declared Walling ford. 'sYou have a possible buyer, and printed as an on the level proposition you can not only bring your buyer to showdown. but get a better price
 That's a good guess adI2itted Mir Twist, his hilarity fast fading as he saw the impressively quiet earnestness of J. Rufus There's no harm ir that, I hope.'
 None at all," granted Wallingford. 'sNot in the least. Only I don't see where come in. Who is dickering with you on this property ?''
 MT. Twist hesitated and rubbed his dry hands over each other meditatiye- I 1y. You'd scarcely know them, I think. They're some out of town peo- ple.',
 "Hotel,'' murmured Blackie and Paul Pollet in unison and Wallingford said l it out loud.
 "sI see no reason for concealing the fact that I have been discussing the property with hotel syndicate" as- sented MT. Twist reluctantly.
 ''IsI not be a party to it." suddenly | decided WaIIingford.
 "I hope that you will,'' urged MT. Twist, beginning to be distressed ssI had no doubt that you would stand by | your little joke since you had carried l it so far, and, as matter of fact, l. Ihave already given it to the pa pers.''
 Paul Po1Iet was halfway across the floor when wallingford stopped him. What are you going to do, Polly P he demanded.
 l "Get a hold of those reporters!' de clared Paul indignantly. tIf that gau- dy little fake goes in you don't sup pose Blackie and I are going to allow it to be written by possible dubs, do you?'
 -What's the difference?' retoFted | Wallingferd s1 shall deny. it, any how If that story is printed I shall state that my engineers report the properly to be underlaid with quick -sand.''
 "Great .scottr, walled MT. Twist, ex- uding. *eWhy, you are fairly malig- nant about the thing"
 You have taken an unwarranted hberty,'' sternIy charged Wallingford. What has been your best offer on i that property?''
 
 Seventy thousand" stated the crest fallen Twist.
 You mean that was your pest OF fer,' corrected Wallingford. You o ps tickIed to death to sell it for fifty