The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-11-18


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 The man called~ Fagin tickled the ends lof his wiry fingers against his nristly black Amustache. .sI suppose I'll have to act as his guardian angel.',
 That's the ticket-'s
 s'I'l1 play the Uncle Tom game-bIack face. I'd hate to cut this mustache again. I'll be able to shine my boots with it one of these fine days. And Pidgin island ?''
 s'I'l1 look out for that.''
 tHThe old man made a foolish move coming uD.''
 'sHe'l1 keep to his room.''
 FaGin let an adn1iring glance stray over the strong, handsome young face. Here was a Iadi The real boss, the chap who-had the imagination, even. if Smead took all the. credit. Never. hummed and hawed, but struck out on first thoughts and generally hit the bu1lseye.
 Queer old cock, though Moody when everything was running smooth ly, and whistling gay when his back was to the wall.
 tDonny,. the Princess xenia has gone broke.9
 ssshe has2 Well. what of it?' May ask you a question2s'
 Not if it has anything do with her Fagin, put this in your pipe-nny private affairs are my own. I know Isexactly what's on your mind, but it's none of your business. Read your pa per. Here comes the conductor for the tickets. Don't bother me. again for awhile. I've got a lot of thinking to I do.~ want to map out eyerything.''
 Mum it is.''
 Fagin opened his / newspaper and searched for the news of the sporting 1 world, but once he founds it the usual 1 intelligence blocked and GoIumned be fore his eyes failed utterly to hold his interest.
 / His thoughts persisted in rowing to the boy at his side Who was he? Where did he come from? Wasn't a I day oyer thirty. Lucky too.
 Fagin had known the boy but three eventful years. <1The Princess -Xenia! ] The paper sank slowly upon Fagfn's \, knees, and his gaze roved to the river, sparkling Ah the distance. It was none ] of his business, but nevertheless curl osity was very strong within him. i At the villa on the way between I Paris and Versailles he had seen the tanta1izingS will O the wisp on her knees before this boy. He had heard her passionate sobs. He had seen the cigarette smoke curl from the boys smiling lips, seen the shrug; of. the graceful shoulders-she who had hout ed dukes and princes and rajahs and i weaved her spider web for the ruin of many an honest man!
 He 4knew-he, Fagin. Half million in Semeralds had slipped through the boys fingers. He remembered the i flush days of,last winter. He had seen 
 bles. A beautiful golden rain of louis 1 had gone up the spout instead of down!
 At identically the same time the or I 1inary sand the exceptional rogue ar rived at Watertown there stepped down from another train a slender woman dressed in black and heavily yelled. Guided by one of the station porteTs, she proceeded directly to the nearby hotel and was assigned to room
 The two men asked to be directed to the best garage There, after some i dickering, they rented a comfortable car They expected to use the car for week at least The terms were $1o the day and $500 deposited against ac- cidents to the Car.
 ''You are total $ arangers to me, Sir ? said the proprietor of the garage. q q must protect. myselfp
 .sThat's reasonable enough agreed the exceptional rogue
 He counted out five $10o bills and laid them on the desk. f'Now, suppos- ing you make out a check dated one week hence. Then we'll go over to your bank and leave it with the cash fer. When the car is returned I'll go to the bank and get my money"
 That's easy,'' replied the proprietor Fagin's expression was one of puzzle ment.
 The affair was accomplished in shori order, and the two set out for the river
 t.Donny, what new kind of fimfan is this going to be?''
 "Fagin, you can't even think honest 1y, can you? This is as straight as the road. That was real money-Smead's mapped out most of this last night No piking this trip When we get out into the country I'm going to show you another little trick Nothing like being thorough"
 Half an hour later he turned the cal into a deserted lane and stopped
 From out of his suit case he took two new license numbers, state of Penn syIEania. These he substituted for the ones in use, and out into the main highway they sped.
 You're a wonder admitted Fagin ]. grinning. But what a chance to dc some fancy business in buzz wagons my, my, or hold up a bank messenger!' Our business is to give this fellow Cranford vacation He'll be wide awake and wondering. Smoke up an6 let me see what speed can get out o1 this junk..''
 cHAPTER x
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