The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-14

y claims. I knew it was coming"
 "She told her mother of the horrid treachery, and mother lugged the com pIaint to Gordon and placed it in his lap. Result, confession and defiance from him. Even the family jewels are gone.''
 "Is Gordon broker
 He's weltering in money, but the coal claims are lost, and he wants to know what they're going to do about it. The women are ruined. He mag unanimously offers them his bounty; but, of course they refuse to accept it.
 Hasn't he made any provision for them?'
 Coffee and cakes three times day. That's all He won't even provide transportation, and the troupe can't walk home. They refuse to stay there. but they can't get away. I've cabled ] the Review, overdrawing my salary scandalously, and Dan is eager to help, 1 but the worst of it is neither of those women knows how to make living. 1 Natalie wants to work, but the extent l of her knowledge is the knack Of frost l ing a layer cake. and her mother never l even sewed on a button in all her life. It would make q lovely Sunday story, and it wouldn't help Curtis Gordon with his stockholders." ]" l 1sYou won't write it, of course.'' "Oh, suppose not, but it's madden I ing nor to be able to do something. Since there's a law against mansIauG1 1 ter, the pencil is my only weapon. I'd like to jab it clear through that ruff fam Eliza's animated face was very stern, her generous mouth was set l firmly.
 You can leave out the personal ele- ment," he told her. There's still l big story there if you realize that it runs back to Washington and involves ! your favorite policy of conservation. Those claims belonged to Natalie and l her mother. I happen to know that their locations were legal and that there was never any question Of fraud in the titles; hence they were entitled to patents years ago. Gordon did wrong, of course. in refusing to obey the orders of the secretary of the inte- rior even though he knew those orders to be senseless and contradictory, but the women are the ones to suffer. The l government froze them out This Is only one instance of what delay and l indecision at Headquarters have done i I'll show you others before we are through. As for those two You say they want to do somethingT'
 It's not 8 question of wanting. They've got to do something or starve. They would scrub kitchens if they 1 knew hoW.n
 Why didn't they come to me?'' Do you need a cook and dish washer?''
 Murray frowned. .our new hotel is nearly finished. Perhaps Mrs. Gerard i would accept a position as-as host l ess.''
 Hostess. In a railroad camp hotel! Who ever heard of such a thing?'' l Eliza eyed him incredulously.
 O'NeiPs flush did not go unnoticed as he said quietly:
 ''It is unusual, but we'll try it She ! might learn to manage the business I with a competent assistant. The sal ary will be ample for her and Natalie l to live on.''
 Eliza laid a hand timidIy upon his arm and said in an altered tone:
 Omar Khayyam, you're a fine old Persian gentleman. I know what it will mean to those two poor women, and I know what it will mean to you, AoL, oA SouHSes lhS snla1y WIT SouAe ouI of your pocket"
 He smiled down at her. "It's the best I can offer, and I'm sure you won't tell them. .'
 ttOf course not. know how it feels to lose fortune, too, for I've been through the mill. Don't laugh You have load on your shoulders heavier than MT. Sinbad's, and it's mighty nice 1 of you to let me add to the burden. IT hope it won't break your poor back. Now, I'm going up to your bungalow and lock myself into your white bedroom, and''-
 Have a good cry" he said, noting the suspicious moisture in her eyes.
 "Certainly notT' Eliza exclaimed in dignantly. 'sTm not the least bit senti- mental"