The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-21
lie Felton managed to return an easy

N la ] s n1e Fe1ton managed to return an easy service.
 Lieutenant Dank applauded vigor- ously. "Splendidt" he cried out. Gap italy pIaeedr'
 ''They speak remarkably good Eng fish, don't they?" said Mir. BIithers in an audible aside to Mrs. King.
 She smiled. ''Of1cers in the Grau- stark army are required to speak Eng fish, French and German, MT. Blithers.'' 9
 Its a good idea" said he. Maud speaks French and Italian like na- tive. She was educated in Paris and Rome, you know. Fact is, she's lived abroad a great deal.''
 ''1s she at home now, MT. Blithers ?'
 Depends on what you'd call home, Mrs. King. We've got so many I don't know just which is the real one If you mean Blitherwood, yes, she's there. Course there's our town house in Madison avenue, the place at New port, one at Nice and one at Pasadena Cal. you know, and little shack in London. By the way, my wife says you live quite near our place in New York;
 FFWe live in Madison avenue but it's a rather long street, MT. Blithers Just where is your house?'' she inquired rather spitefully.
 v He looked astonished. ''You surely must know where the Blithers house is at''-
 "Game!' shrieked Fannie Felton, tossing her racket in the air, a victor.
 They're through" said Mr. Blithers in tohe of relief. He shifted his legs and put his hands on his knees, sug- gesting a readiness to arise on an in- stant's notice.
 Shall we try another set?" called out the prince.
 'fAIake it doubles" put in Lieutenant Dank. and turned to Nellie. Shall we take them onY'
 And doubles it was, much to the dis gust of MT. Blithers. He sat through the nine games, manifesting an inter est he was far from feeling.
 To his utter amazement at the con- elusien of the game the four players made a dash for the house without even so much as a glance in his direc- tion. It was the prince who shouted something that sounded like ''now for shewer!'s as he raced up the terrace,
 
 MT. Blithers said something violent Nunder his breath, but resolutely re- talned his seat It was King who glanced shyly at his watch this time and subsequently, shot a questioning look at his wife. She was frowning in considerable perplexity and biting her firm, red lips. Count Quinnox coolly arose and excused himself with the re- mark that he was off to dress for din her. He s7so looked at his watch which certainly was an act that one would hardly have expected of diplo- mat.
 Well, well,n said MT BHthers pro- foundly. Then he looked at his own watch-and settled back in his chair a somewhat dogged compression about his jaws. He was not the man to be thwarted. "Yeu certainly have cezy little place here, King'' he remarked after moment or two.
 ''We like it, said King, twiddling his fingers behind his back. Humble, but lhomelike."
 ''Nfrs. Blithers has been planning to come over for some time, Mrs. King. I told her she oughtn't to put it off be neighborly, don't you know. That's me. I'm for being neighborly with my neighbors. But women, they-well, you know how it is, Mrs. King. Al ways something turning up to keep 'em from doing the things they want to do most. And Mrs. Blithers has so many sociable sobli-N I beg pardon?"
 q was just wondering if you would stay and have dinner with us, Mr. Blithers," said she, utterly helpless. She couldn't look her husband in the eye-and it was quite fortunate that she was unable to do so, for it would have resulted in a laughing duet that could never have been explained.
 Why said MT. BIithers, arising and looking at his watch again, 'sbless my soul, it is past dinner time, isn't it? had no idea it was so late. 'Pon my soul, it's good of you, Mrs. King! You see, we have dinner at 2 up at Blitherwood, and-I declare, it's half past now! IFdon't see where the time has gone. Thanksl I will stay if you really mean to be kind to a poor old beggar. Don't do anything extra on my account, though-just your regular dinner, you know. No frills, if you please" He looked himseIf over, in some uncertainty. tFWiII this rag of mine doT'
 "Pray do not think of it!'' she cried. ''The men change, of course, after they've been playing tennis, but we we-wen, you see, you haven't been playing" she concluded quite breath lessly.
 At that instant the sprightly Feltons dashed pellnneIl down the steps and across the lawn homeward, shrieking something uninteligible to Mrs. King as they passed.
 'HThey are dears,'' said Mrs. King '"The-er-prince attracted by either one of 'em?'' he queried.
 ers''
 (To Be Continued.
 French soldiers at the front are be- ing paid a county e one cent on each rnt IriIIad lav them Rats destroy