The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-07-17


 fS0tVv days the burned area was all rebuilt, It took us just about ! the former period of time to determine ! that we would be unable to save any ting from the wreck and about the Htter period for the general public to 1nd 1t out. s,s
 Ta1bot made desperate efforts for a fnothold and in succession interviewed m the big men. They were sorry, but they were firm. Each had been hard Tt by the fire; each had himself to ! cover: each was forced by circum- stances to grasp every advantage. Akain they were soryy.
 HsYes, they are!" cried Talbot. 'AThey int reach out and grab what ought to. be my profits. We'll, it's the game. I'd { 4o the game myselfy'
 { By that night we knew that Talbot I'd lost every piece of property he dkned-or thought he owned. The de struction of the Ward block swept away every cent Of income, with the ! exception of the dividends from the Wharf company stock These latter could not begin to meet the obligations q interest and agreed payments on the dther property.
 Tho state of affairs became common ly known in about ten days simply be- , ca1Se in those rapid times obligations wjfe never made nor money lent for longer periods than one month. Atthe end of each thirty days they had to be renewed Naturally Talbot could not renew them.
 < We knew all that long in advance, and we faced the situation with some humor.
 well, boys" said Talbot "here we are. About year ago, as I remember 1t, our assets were a bundle of news papers. and less than $10O. Haven't ev6n rot . newspaper now, but reckon among us we could just about scrape up the $100."
 "I've got nearer s2,70o in my belt" ] pointed out.
 An embarrassed silence fell for mo. ment, then Talbot spoke up, picking his words very carefully.
 We've talked that over Frank, ' < said he. land we've come to the conclu sion that you, must keep that and gc home, Just as you planned to do You're the only man of us who has { managed to keep what he has made Johnny falls overheard and leaves hif in the bottom of the Sacramento; Yank z gets himself busted in road agent row; I-I-well, blow soap bubbles You've kept at 1t steady and strong and < reliable, ard you deserve your good luck. You shouldn't lose the fruits ol < your labor because we, each in oul z manner, have been assorted fools."
 I listeped to this speech with grow { ing indignation, and at its conclusion rose up full of what considered right eous anger. My temper is very slow to l3use, but when once it wakes fl takes possession of me.
 Look here, you fellows" ,cried very red in the face, they tell me, "yor I answer me few questions Are WI or are we rot partnerNs Are we or art we not friends? Do you or do you moi consfder me a. low lived, white livered Z mangy, good for nothing yellow pup. Why, confound your pusillanimou.  N me in that fashion? For just about ; I cents I'd bust your fool necks for yor --every one of your I glared vindic lively at them. Do you suppose I'i make any such proposition to any ol you-to ask you to sneak off like 2 whipped eur, leaving me to take the"-
 "A on, Frank" interposed Talbo soothingly. T didn't mean'-
 Didn't youg, cried. Well, wha < did you mean? Weren't you trying tt make me out a quitter?" had sue ceeded in working loose my heavy golt belt, and I dashed it on the table ii < front of them. There! Now, 70, send for some gold scales right nov and you divide that up! Right here Hang it all, boys" I ended, with wha Co cynical bystander would hav' saemed rather funny sluznp into tn