The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-03-26

venture to say that they never worked harder or faster. in their lives. By 12 o'clock we had the great doors open and swept on to the next obstruction
 At 2 o'clock the last door in the east antechamber gave way before our reso- 1ute advance, and I stood victorious and dusty in the little recess at the top Of the Iast stairway Beyond the twen- tieth century portieres of a thirteenth century doorway lay the goal we sought. hesitated briefly before drawing them apart and taking the final plunge As matter of fact was beginning to feel ashamed of my self. Suppose that she really had a headaehe2 What an uneouth, pusil- luminous brute I-5
 Just then, even as my hand fell upon the curtains, they were snatched aside. and I found myself staring into the vivid, uptilted face of the lady who lad def1ed me and would continue to do so if my suddenly active pereep- tions counted for anything.
 saw nothing but the dark, indig- nant, imperious eyes. They fairly withered me.
 Tn some haste, attended by the most disheartening nervousness, tried to find my cap to remove it in the pres ence of royalty. Unfortunately I was obliged to release the somewhat cum bersome crowbaF I had been carrying about with me, and it dropped with suIlen thwack upon my toes. Tn mo- ments Of gravity I am always doing something like that The pain was terrific, but I cIutched at the forlorn hope that she might at least smile overt my agony.
 q beg your pardon" I began, and then discovered that l was not wear ing a cap. It was most disconcerfing.
 HSo you would come 7 she said very cold1y and very levellE.
 stIt-it was necessary, madame, I re- piled as best I could. t'You defied me. [ think you should have appreciated my position, my motives -er-ny
 She silenced ne-luckily, heaven knows-Hith a curt exclamation.
 sYour position! It is intensely Ma po1eonfc,,' said she, with fine irony. Her gaze swept my horde of panting. wide eyed house breakers ssWhat Q noble victory!''
 It was quite time sforsme to assert myself Rowing very stifdy. re marked:
 tI regret exceedingly to have been forced to devastate my own property in such a tr1hing enterprise, madame The physical loss is apparent you can see that for yourself but, Of course, you have no means of estimating the mental destruction that has been go- ing on for days and days. You have been hacking away at my poor, dis tracted brain so persistentIy that it really had to give way In measure. this should account for my present l lapse of sanity. Weak mindedness is not a crime, but an af1ietion.
 She did not smile
 Well, now that you are here. AIf. Smart, may I be so bold 1s to inquire what you are going to do about it7"
 reflected q think, if you don't mind I'll come in and sit down That was deuce of a rap got across the toes. am sure to be a great deal more lenient and agreeable if I'm ask ed to come in and see you. Incidental 1 Iy T thought I'd step up to inquire ho7v your headache is getting on. Better hopeg.
 1 She turned her face away. T Isuspect- ed smile.
 sIf you choose to bang your old castle to pieces in order to satisfy 9 masculine curiosity, MT. Smart. have nothing more to say she said, facing me again still ominously, to my de spair Confound it all. she was such a slim. helpless little thing-and af alone against a mob of burly rufiians. esWil you be good enough to send your 1s-your army away, or do you prefer 10 have it on hand in case should take it into my head to attack you?"
 seTake 'em away, MT Poopendyke, commanded hurriedly- As they crowd ed down the short narrow stairway I remarked old Conrad and his two sons ! standing over against the wall, three very sinister figures.
 'I see, madame, that you do not dis miss your army I said, blandiy sar castle.
 oh. you dear old ConPHdf' she cried catching sight of the hitherto submerg i ed Sehmicks. The three of them bob bed and scraped and grinned. from ear 1 to ear. There could be no mistalzinE the intensity of their joy. Don't locaS so sad, Conrad. I know you are blame less You poor old dearF
 have never seen any one who look- ed less sad than Conrad Schmick rather peremptorily ordered him be low.
 tContfnued.l
 The hopeful seed catalog gardener of April is apt to be the owner of the flourishing weed patch in August