The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-05-05
6ConanuedI

E. (Conf1nue0aH "He,s d gentleman, and that's more than you can say for the tagtag of no ! biIity that paid court to Aline Tar aowsy. He was in love with her, but l he was gentleman about 1t. A thor oughbred, say 1 Good looking?" I inquired. ftWell, rather-the sort of chap wom-A ! en rave about. Ask Betty. She was mad about him. but he couldn't see anything in her. think she hates him now. He had eyes for no one but the l fair countess An awful grind on Bet ty. She's used to something different Hazard studied the clouds that drift cd over our heads. I wonder if Aline cared anything for him." ssI've always believed that she liked him better than she cared to admit even to herself.
 < @I fancy he'll not let any grass grow under his feet now that she's free" said Dr. Hazard.
 Think she'll have. him? ?''
 seWhy not2 He has a much better position in England than Tarnowsy has here and he's not after her money I hate to say it, but Aline is seeker after titles. She wouldn't be averse to adding your ladyship to her collec- tion."
 ..oh, comer' I protested. '9That is nasty thing to say, George
 .'She may, have been regenerated, ~.he said obligingly. ts'You' know her bet ter than do, old chap. What say2'
 ''I didn't say anything" I muttered
 s'I thought you did.''
 I hesitated a moment and then purg ed myself of the truth. Asa matter of fact I have reason to believe she's in love with AmberdaIe and has been for long time. I'm not saying it in l disparagement, believe me. God knows she's entitled to something decent and l fine in the shape of love. hope he's good enough for her"
 They looked at me with interest, and Smith broke the momentary silence.
 .sOh, he's good enough for her," he said, with a queer smile.
 .I'm glad of that,'' l said grufdy.
 tsThe old la-I mean Mrs. Titus-Vvill be tickled to death if the match is pulled off. said Hazard.
 t.She was tfckled the first time," said I sentenfiously, and changed the sub ject. There was no sense in prolong ing the agony.
 Toward the close of their visit a mes 1 sage arrived from the countess herself I signed with the fictitious name we had agreed upon. The news she gave caused 1 us to celebrate that night. We had z bonfire in the courtyard and drank tt the god of good luck
 Cargo safely landed in New York an6 i forwarded to the Adirondaeks for storage l and to await the appearance of claim ant Former owner has agreed to accep $1,5oo,ooO and release. all claims. Wher I are you coming oVer2 AAFtO9f. l By the most extraordinary coinci dence a curt. businesslike letter arriy ed in the evening post from Maris Tar nowsy postmarked Paris. Its content sta aggered me.
 John Bellamy Smart. Esq: Dear MT. Srnart-WiI you put pric on Schloss Rothhoefen? I am desiron of purchasing the castle if you care to sel and we can agree upon a fair price fo the property. Sentiment moves me Il this matter, and I earnestly hope tha you may be induced to part with you 7f white elephant. If you will be so kin as to wire your decision. you will find m < deeply grateful and at the Ritz for tn ensuing fortnight. Faithfully yours, MARS TARNOWSE.
 My s'white elephant!'' was so ca ger to get rid of it that would hay wired at once, naming a figure propol tionately low had it not been for tn united protests of my four friends an the canny advice of Mir. Poopendylze.
 ssSoak him!'' said he, and arose { the occasion.
 I waited for three days and then te egraphed him that would not take heller less than S25O, GOO, more tha doubling the price I had paid for tn property was prepared, however 5 come down a paltry hundred thousan or so if he revealed signs of reluctanc, Il We built another bonfire that nigI l and danced around it like so man savages-
 Terms acceptable. Will come to schlos Rothhoefen at once to complete the tran fer. TARNOWSY.
 Accompanied by H&zzard and Shit
 I went over the castle from top bottom in quest of the reason for Ia nowsy's prompt acceptance of my d
 mand. We had no doubt that he hs
 good and sufficient reason for wan
 ing the place, and but one thing su
 gested itself to our imagination; h
 absolute certainty that treasure WI
 hidden somewhere about the venerab
 pile. treasure of considerable magI
 tude, you may be sure, or he wou 5 not have revealed such alacrity in a
 cepting my terms, Sentiment hs 5 nothing to do with this surprisi1 -s move on his part. That was all bos
 He had an ulterior motive, and it VI
 for me to get the better of him at b Il own game if I could. While W