The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-12-14
kContinusdA.

Ikz Jmoking room was fairly full. but q corner near the big open, grate Ind just been vacated, and here about around table the four disposed them selves. Our French acquaintance, be- ing in evening dress, had perforce con- fined himself in his sartorial eccen- trfcit1es to q flowing silk knot in place Of the more conventional neat bow. He was already upon delightfully."- friendly terms with the frigid Excl and the aristocratic Sir Brian Maipas. Faw natures were proof against the gentality of the brilliant Frenchman.
 Conversation drifted, derelict, from one topic to another. now seized by this current of thought, now by that, akd M. Gaston Max made no percepti- ble attempt to steer 1t in any given di- rGction. But presently, T was reading very ehf6rtaining article,". said Exoa, turn, ing his monocle upon the physician, ~tn the Planet today from the pen of NiIs Cumberly ah, dealing with Olaf v6n Noord.'
 ar Brian Malpas suddenly became keenly interested, :,
 sYou mean in reference to his new ptcture, Our Lady of the Poppies7' !" he said. v
 tsKes," replied Excl, ''but was un- aware that you knew Van Noord. aSssI do not know him. ]" said Sir Brian. ssI should very much like to meet him. Bit directly the picture is on view t0 the public I shall certainly subscribe my half crown" ssA1y own idea" drawled Excl, "was that Miss Cumberiy's article probably Was more interesting than the picture or the painter. Her description of the canvas was certainly most vivid, and I, myself, for a moment experienced an Inclination to see the thing. feel a1fe, however. that I should be disap- pointed '
 ssI think you are wrong" interposed Gumberly. Helen is enthusiastic about the picture, and even Miss By land. whom you have met and who Is somewhat severe critic, admits that 1t Is out of the ordinary"
 Max, who coyertly had been watch ing the face of Sir Brian Maipas; said at this point:
 1T would not miss 1t for anything after reading Miss Cumberly's account IT it. When are you thinking of going 1 see it, Sir Brian? might arrange o join you
 Directly the exhibition Is opened, 1" feplied the bahronet, lapsing again into his dreamy manner. Ring me up when you are going and win join you.''
 '.But you might be otherwise engag- ed7''
 Fl never permit business" {" said Sir Brian. sssto interfere with pleasure"
 M. Max by strategy, masterful be. cause it was simple, SO arranged mat ters that at about 12 o'clock he found himself strolling with Sir Brian Malpas toward the latters chambers in Picca. sdilly
 To the tactful diplomacy of M. Gas ton Max the task of securing from Si1 Brian an invitation to step up into his chambers in order to smoke q fina cigar was no heavy one. He seated himself in a deep armchair at the bar onetss invitation and accepted very fne cigar contentedly, snif1ng at the old cognac with the appreciation of 2 connoisseur ere holding 1t under the Ssiphon. <.
 He glanced around the room, noting the character of the ornaments. ani looked up at the big bookshelf whicl was near to him. These rapid inqufr sies dictated the following remark s19You have lived in China. Sir Briany
 Sir Brian surveyed him with mild surprise.
 "Yes," he replied. T was for some time at the embassy in Peking."
 His guest nodded, blowing ring o1 smoke from his lips and tracing its hazy outline with the lighted end o1 his cigar.
 T, too. have been in China" he said slowly.
 What, reallyi I had no idea.''
 sYes, I have been in China. I'--
 M. Gaston grew suddenly deathlJ pale, and his fingers began to twitct alarmingly. He stared before hin with wide opened eyes and began tt cough and to choke as if suffocating- dying.
 Sir Brian Malpas leaped to his feet with an exclamation of concern. Hi! visitor. weakly waved him away, gasp ing: Tt is nothing! It will-pass of Oh, mon Dieur'
 Sir Brian ran and opened one of thu windows to admit more air to the apartment. He turned and looked back anxiously at the man in the arm chair. M. Gaston, twitching in a pitt full manner and still frightfuly pale was clutching the chair arms and glar ing straight in front of him. Sir Bri m started slightly and advanced agail to his visitors side.
 The burning cigar lay upon the car pet beside the chair, and Sir BriaI took 1t up and tossed 1t into the grate As ne did 50 he looked searching1, into the eyes of M. Gaston. The pu pils were extraordinarily dilated. hssDo you feel betterfs asked Si