The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-03-22
great distress

great distress.
 .sHerr Brftton has them wearing their souls out. turning wfndlass outside the gates-ach, that terrible invention of hisY' groaned old Conrad. My poor sons are faint with fatigue. mein herr You should see them perspire and hear them pant for breath"
 Happily a new idea struck me almost at once.
 Tn jiffy half a dozen carpenters were at work constructing 8 substantial ladder out of scantlings. while l stood over them in serene command of the situation.
 When the ladder was completed [ mounted to the top and peered through the sashless window. It was quite black and repeliing beyond. Instruct ing Britton and the two brothers to fol low me in turn, clambered over the wide stone sill and lowered myself gin gerIy to the floor.
 will not take up the time or the space to relate my experiences dn this first fruitless visit to the east wing of my abiding place. Sunice to say, we got as far as the top of the stairs in the vast middle corridor after sum bling through a series of dim, damp rooms, and then found our way enee- tua1ly blocked by a stout door which was not only locked and bo1teG. but bore a most starting admon1tton t0 would be trespassers.
 Pinned to one of the panels there was dainty bit of white note paper, with these satiric wonds written across its surface fn bold fenaiuine hand;
 Please keep out. This is private property-" "
 have been incensed by this calm dea- ance on the part of a sQuatter, either male OF female, bat not I. Inc very impudence of the usurper appealed o me. What could be more delicious than her serene courage in d1zpoegeBs- l ing me with the stroke Of pen oG at least tv7o-thirds Of my dOm1cile and what more exciting than the thought of waging war against her in the ef- fort to regain possession of tt2 Really 1 it was quite glorious! Here was happy, enchanting bit of feudalisn that stirred my romantic soul to ita very depths.
 We returned to the courtyard and held counsel of war. I put all of the Schmicks on the grin. but they stub born1y diseIaimed all interest in or knowledge of the extraordinary occu- pant of the east wing
 .sWe can smoke her out, sir, said Brttton.
 I could scarcely believe my ears.
 sBritton, said severely, you are l brute. I am surprised You forget there is an innocent babe. maybe q collection of them, over there and q l dog. We shan't do anything heathen- ish, Britton Please bear that in mind There is but one way-we must storm the place I will not be deded to my very nose, I felt 1t to see if it was not a little out of joint. Tt is a good nose.''
 @It is. sir.'' said Britton And Poo pendyke la perfect ecstasy Of loyalty shouted, sLong live your nose. sir!'' My German vassals waved the4r hats, perceiving that 8 demonstration was required without in the leagt knowing what it was about. That night was very black and tras- 1 ic, swift storm clouds having raced up to cover the moon and stars. With a hind me I sat down with my pad and my pipe and my pencil The storm was not far away. I was scribbIing away in serene con tempt for the physical world when there came to my ears 8 sound that gave me a greater shock than any streak of lightning could have pro duced and yet left sufficient life in me to appreciate the sensation of being electrified.
 A wDman's voice, speaking to me out of the darkness and from some point ruite near at hand!
 ''I beg your pardon. but would yOu
 mind doing me very slight favor7 Those were the words, uttered in q clear, sweet, perfectly confident voices as of one who never asked for faFSfgs but exacted them. l I looked about me, bltakdng. utterly beWildered No one was to be seen She laughed. Without really meaning to do so, also laughed d-aervouzlys Of course.
 Can't you see meT' she asked looked intently at the spot from which the sound seemed to come-a perfectly solid stone block less than three feet from my right shoulder. It must have been very amusing. She laughed again. I flushed resenffu1y.
 Where are you ?" cried out rather tartly-
 q can see you quite plainly, and you l are very ugly when you sccwl, air Are you scowIing at meT
 (Coninued.)