The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-11-30

% <STsSN9-- fiFS tVNN . rYou three shall answer for this. do not forget"
 outwait you in this game. You shall stay here on bread and water till the snoHs come.,'
 Cranford puffed his pipe three or four times, knocked the bowl against his ; heel and turned toward the ladder.
 ItNo candles this time-twenty-fou hours in the dark" Smead warned.
 ''So long as you're not bent on starv- ing me, a day or two more in this hole will not matter" Cranford began, the ideseentA He heard Hanchett laugh.
 s"Cranford, I'm beginning to like you. I'll make it two candles and a box Of matches.D tg
 .'FooIr growled Smead.
 'sYou be stillr retorted the son. "He's right. You don't appreciate hf1ns. side he is lon. A brave-man isn't tso common these days that we can afford to ignore him when we meet him. He'll have his candles and matches, and tomorrow night he may be little tanner and tell us who has them''
 What do you mean by that?' de- handed Smead.
 Why. he really hasn't got them. but knows who has,; You're as dense as sand bank. Found them, but gave them to some one else to keep. CIeverY
 On the farmhouse veranda, some times called the front porch, the stoop and often the piazza Diana sat in her steamer chair. Her arm was still in a sling and over her injured foot furry carriage boot.
 Whenever she saw the. figure of man in the distance she would lean forward from her pillows; only to re- cline again, embittered that she could not resist the impulse. Why should she wait andswatch? He was busy perhaps he had gone away. Had it. not been her wish. that he should go and no more waste his time in thought of her? The gender feminine-to wish one thing and desire another.
 ssIt's no use, Frances. T am not lis-. tening to a word you're reading.'' Fa
 T have not been reading for the past ten minutes, Diana replied she face. 'sYou are watching for some one. You look always toward the viii lage.'' The fingers of Diana's free. hand drummed tattoo.
 ssYou have been so good to me" said Frances. s.I have been very unhappy. One by one let my rings go. hated to part with single one of them, but needs said must. They were so beau tiful. But had starved else.''
 Foolish Frances! Well, yes; we are both of us unhappy, only you ac- cept your fate resignedly and T. rebel against mine, always and eternaily. I rebel against the accident which makes me what I anl which stands as a wall between me and what might be. 1re- bel against the lack of money, my love of fine clothes and comforts Ex1 travagance is the heritage of all wo- men. but am one of those who war against the desire. have saved half of all have earned. ; 9s
 You have only to ask,'' said Fran ces, <sand all these things are yours.'' \ s'What?" wrathfuIly 'sOn my knees,s IT rather believe not. Humble ny pride in the dust for nothing perhapsa been hurt. terribly hurt, through no fault of rnine.''
 And so have T..
 ''Ah. you, tbrust yourself into that hurt! You were warned Mine was given me gratuitously."
 l''Di, you are cruelty right in whal you say:'' ts E. Diana saw some one, coming along the road afoot. its Uncle Billy. wonder where he's been keeping him. seIf?''
 Hello. Miss Wynne!'' hailed Uncle Billy. How v gittin' along2''
 Finely. Where have you been keep ing yourself?'
 Awful busy.'
 Uncle Billy sat down on the steps "Hsd t take tn engine all apart T co busy to come out and ask hoE was getting along2" reproachful1y s.Uncle. Billy, you're a mighty poor fI teller. What has happened?"
 ''I ain't bringin' good news.'', t'Is Mir Cranford iIl?" she asked.
 Mot that I know of. was goin l t tell y tn day it happened. Well l Mir Cranford's ben kidnaped.' e'Kidnapedr' from both women.
 6Tso Be Continued.O