The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-04-08
.GOontinned.l


 aIt would be too much like spending a day with relatives" she said. Well go treasure hunting on Monday. I haven't the faintest notion where to look. but that shouldn't make any. diff ference. No oneKelse ever had. By the way, MT. Smart, have a bone. to pick with. you Have you seen yester- day's papers Well, in one of them there is a long account of my-of MT. Pless' visit to your castle, and a lengthy interview in which you are quoted as saying that he is one of your dearest friends and a much maligned man who deserves the sympathy of every law abiding citizen in the land. " .sAn abominabIe lie.' I cried indig- nantly.
 ..Another paper says that your for tune has been placed at his disposal in the fight he is making against the criIn- finally, rich Americans. In this partIc- u1ar article you are quoted as saying that I am a dreadful person and not it to have the custody of a child '''
 .tGood LordH I gasped heIplessly. ssYou also expect to do everything in your power to interest the administra- ton at Washington in his behalf.''
 srWell, of all the Oh, say, countess, you don't believe word of all this, do you? She. regarded me pensively. tfYou have said some very mean, uncivtl things to me-
 -eIf I thought you believed'- be gan desperately but her sudden smile relieved me of the necessity of jump ing into the river. "By love, shall write to these miserable sheets, deny ing every word they've printed. And what's more, I'll bring an action fo1 damages against all of 'em- Why, Ii is positively atrocious! The whole 1 world will think I despise you and9- I stopped very abruptly in great con: | fusion.
 N{. .., s.Ard you don'tY' she queried, witt real seriousness in her voice. sYoJ don't despise meg
 "Certainly not!'' cried vehemently Turning to Peopendyke. I said: MT Poopendyke, will you at once pre- pare complete and emphatic den1a of every word they have printed abou | me. and I'll send it to all the Amer l ican correspondents in Europe. Vel cable it ourselves to the United States 1 I shan't rest until am set straigh in the eyes of my fellow countrymen The whole world shall know, countess that I am for you first, last and al the time. It shall know''-
 seBut you don't know who am, MI I Smart she broke in, her cheeks yer. warm and rosy. "How can you pub licly espouse the cause of one who's name you refuse to have mentioned your presence ?''
 dismissed her question with way l of the hand. tsRoopendyke can suppl the name after have signed the state ment. give him carte blanche Tn name has nothing to do with the cas 1 so far as I am concerned. Write i Fred, and make it strong"
 She came up to me and held out he hand. s.I knew you would do it, ]" sh said softly. 'sThapks.,
 She not only came for dinner wit I us on Sunday, but made the dressin for my alligator pear salad. We wer besieged by the usual crowd of SuI day sightseers, who came clamorfn at our stanch, re-enforced gates an k mathematical me soundly for refui ing admission One beurgeeise part of fifteen refused to leave the plaz until their return fares on the ferr barge were paid, stoutly ma1ntainin that they had come over in good fait and wouldn't leave until had rein bursed them to the extent of 50 heller apiece, ferry fare. sent Br1tten ol with the money. He returned with u rather disquieting news that he hs recognized two of MT. Pless' seer agents in the mob.
 ssI wonder if he suspects that a here,'' said the countess, paling pc ceptibly when mentioned the pre- ence of thetwo men,
 did not sleep well that night. TT presence of the two detectives eutsit my gates was not to be taken too ligt ly.