The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-01

thither that evening in the Respondent
company of Jack Paddock.
You'll enjoy Mrs. Bruce tonight"
Paddock confded. 1--WE done her some
rather good lines, If l do say it that
shouldn't
ION what topics?" asked Minot.
international marriage-jewels-b
the way, | don't suppose you know
that Miss Cynthia Meyrick is to appear
for the first time wearing the famous
narrowly necklace?'
II didn't even know there was a
necklace" Minot. returned.
"Ah, such ignorance! But then you
don't wander much in feminine So
ciety, do you? Mrs. Bruce told me
about 1t this morning Chain Light
ning's collar"
Chain Lightning's what?"
"Ah, my boy"-Mr Paddock lighted
a cigarette-"you should 90 round more
in royal circles. List, commoner, while
I relate. 1t seems that the Earl of
Raybrook is a giddy old sport with a
gambling streak yard wide. In his
young days he loved the Lady Evelyn
Holloway Lady Evelyn had a horse
entered in Derby about that time
name, Chain Lightning. And the Earl
Of Raybrook wagered a diamond neck
lace against kiss that Chain Light
ming would lose.''
wasn't that giving big odds?" in
CURED Minot.
."Not if you believe the stories Of
Lady Evelyn's beauty Well, it hap
pened before Tammany politicians be-
gan avenging Ireland on Derby day.
Chain Lightning won, and the earl
came across with the necklace. After
ward he married Lady Evelyn
ITO get back the necklace?'
"Cynic. And, being ra Their racy old
boy, he referred to the necklace there
after as Chain Lightning's collar. 1t
got to be pretty well known in Eng
land by that name. / believe it is con-
sidered rather neat piece Of jewelry
among the English nobility, whose
sparklers aren't what they were be-
fore the steel business In Pittsburgh
turned out good thing"
"Chain Lightning's collar?" unused
Minot II presume Lady Evelyn was
the mother of the present Lord Har-
rowby?
$50 it's rumored," smiled Paddock,
though take it his lordship favors
his father in looks
They walked along for moment in
silence. The story of this necklace of
diamonds could bring but one thing to
Minot's thoughts-Martin Wall droopl
ing on the steps Of the Manhattan
club while old Stacy roared with joy.
He considered Should he tell Mr.
Paddock? No, he would wait.
The whir of a motor behind them
caused the two young men to turn.
Then Mr.. Minot saw her coming up
fantastic avenue Of palms-tall, fair,
white, lovely figure in a lovely set
ting!
All, yes-Lord narrowly! He walk
ed at her side, nonchalant, distinguish
ed, almost as tall as popular illus
traitor thinks man in evening clothes
should be. Truly, they made q hand
some couple. They, were to wed Mr..
A1inot himself had sworn they were
to wed.
He kept the bitterness from his tone
as he greeted them there amid the
soft magic Of the Florida night To-
gether they went inside. In the cen
ter of magnificent hallway they
found Mrs. Bruce standing, like stout
Cortez on his Darien peak, triumphant
amid the glory Of her gold
Mr.. Bruce slipped out Of the shadows
into the WEAKNESS of another formal
dinner. Mrs. Bruce glittered, and he
wrote the checks. He was a scraggly
little man who sometimes sat for hours
at a time in silence. There were those
unkind enough to say that he soue 1t
back, trying to recall the reason that
had led him to marry Mrs. Bruce
When he beheld Miss Cynthia Mey
! rick and knew that he was to take her
in to dinner Mr.. Bruce frightened per-
ceptibly. None save blind and deaf
man could have failed to. Cocktails
/, consumed, the party turned toward the
dining room. Except for the Meyricks
Martin Wall, Lord narrowly and Pad
dock, Dick NIinot knew none of them
There were a couple of colorless men
from New York who, when they died
would be referred to as prominent
club men," horsy girl from West
! chester, an ex-ambassador's wife and
daughter, a number of names from
Boston and Philadelphia with their re-
| spective bearers And, last but not
least, the two Bond girls from Omaha
! blond, lovely, but inclined to be snob
bish even in that company. for their
mother was a Van Reypan, and Van
Reypans are rare birds in Omaha and
| elsewhere.
Mr. Minot took in the elder of the
Bond girls and found that Cynthia
Meyrick sat on his left. He glanced
at her throat as they sat down. II was
bare Of ornament. And then he be-