The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-05-07

SsssgsisSa ~.ss HConE1nueG.G EEETVzz--7- In silence we stood there awaiting the reappearance of Saks, who had gone into one of the adjoining rooms. 1 I confess that my hand trembled as I lighted a fresh cigarette. He was star ing moodily at the floor, his hands clasped behind his back. Something smackfng of veal intelligence ordered me to hold my tongue. I smoked plac- idly, yet waited for the outburst. It did not come. It never came. He kept his thoughts. his emotions, to himself, and for that single display of restraint on his part shall always remember him as a true descendant of the nobtl- ity.
 We tramped down the long flights of stairs side by side, followed by the su- perduous MT. Saks, who did all of the talking. He was, I think, discoursing on the extraordinary ability of ancient builders, but I am not absolutely cer- tain. I am confident Tarnowsy did not hear word the fellow said.
 In nay study we found Poopendyke and the two strangers.
 Have you made out the papers P demanded the count harshly. An ugly gleam had come to his eyes, but he did not direct it toward me. Indeed, he seemed to avoid looking at me at all.
 tfYes, Count TarnoWsy,' said the law yer. 'gThey are ready for the sigma tures.'
 Perhaps Mir. Smart may have recon sidered his offer to sell,' said Tarnow sy- Let him see the contracts
 @I have not reconsidered." I said quietly
 You may sign here. MT. Smart 9 said the notary. as he gave me the doe ument, a simple contract, I found.
 Casper Titus will offer more than can afford to pay" said the count, Please do not feel that I am taking an unfair advantage of you. am ab- soluteIy certain that he wants to buy this place for-his granddaughter, a de scendant of barons.'
 The significance of this remark was obvious, and it was the nearest he ever came to uttering the convictiong that had been formed in that Illuminating five minutes upstairs. If he suspected and I think he did-he preferred not to ask the questions that must have been soaring his curious brain. It was a truly wonderful demonstration of much to be able to read his innermost thoughts, to watch the perplexed move ments of his mind.
 ''Schloss Rothhoefen is yours, Count Tarnowsy," said I. EIt is for you to say whether his whin shall be grati- fied''
 His lips twitched. I saw his hand touch the bulging coat pocket with swift passing movement.
 sfWin you be good enough to sign, MT. Smart?' ?'' he said coIdIy. He glanced at his watch. My time is valuable. When can you give possession" ?"
 'tThe day the deed is transferred"
 tsThat will be in less than three days. have satisfied myself that the title is clear. There need be no delay"
 We signed the contract after I had requested Poopendyke to read it aloud to me. It called for the payment of 6O,Oo0 kronen. or a little over f2,o0o. at the time of signing. His lawyer handed me a package of crisp bank notes and asked me to count them I did so deliberately, the purchaser look ing on with q sardonic smile
 ssCorrect," said I, laying the package on the table. He. bowed very deeply
 "Are you satisfied, Mr. Smart, that there are no couhterfeits among them? he inquired, with polite irony; then to
 
 ceipt for the amount in the presence of witnesses. This is business transac- tion, not a game of chance" It was the insult perfect
 As he prepared to take his depar- ture he assumed an insinuating air or apology and remarked to me:
 'I owe you an apology, MT. Smart. There was a time when did you an injustice. I suspected you of keeping your mistress here. Pray forgive my error.''
 Five days later I was snugly en- sconced in the ducal suit at the Bris- tol, overlooking the Kartnerringstrasse bereft of my baronial possessions, but not at all sorry. My romance had been short lived. It is one thing to write novels about medieval castles and quite another thing to try to write a novel in one of them. I trust I may never again be guilty of such arrant stupidity as to think that an American born citizen can become feudal baron by virtue of his dollars and cents any more than an American born girl can hope to be a real, dyed in the wool countess or duchess because some one needs the money more than she does. It would be quite as impossible, con- trariwise, to transform noble duke into plain American citizen, so there you are, even up
 My plans were made. After a fort night in Vienna I expected to go west