The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-08

square, cleft jaw and broad lined brow and the firm folds of cheeks and be gan to think that here at last was an ally worth having. His whimsical blue eyes seemed to go very deep.
 Suddenly he frowned. 'T call it dis Ngraceful,'' he said, raising his voice. ''Disgraceful Chat an ablebodied man like you should dare to beg. You can get meal from my kitchen, but you'll get no money from me-
 A dogcart was passing. driven by young man, who raised his whip to sa lute the fisherman. When he had gone he picked up his rod
 "Thats my house. he said, pointing to a white gate a hundred yards on. EsWait five minutes and then go round to the back door" And with that he left me.
 I did as was bidden. I found a pretty cottage with a lawn running down to the stream and a perfect jun gle of gue1der rose and lilac fanking the path. The back door stood open, and grave butler was awaiting me.
 Come this way sir,'' he said. and he led me along a passage and up a back staircase to pleasant bedroom looking toward the river.
 There I found a complete outfit laid out for me-dress clothes with all the fxings, a brown flannel suit, shirts, collars, ties, shaving things and hair brushes, even a pair of patent shoes.
 ''Sir Walter thought as, how MT. Reg gie's things would fit you, sir,'' said the butler 'sHe keeps some clothes r ere, for he comes regular on the week, ends. There's al bathroom next door, and I've prepared a 'ot bath Dinner in 'a1f an hour, sir. You'll ear the gong.'
 The grave, being withdrew, and I sat down in a chintz covered easy chair and gaped.
 It was like a pantonime to come suddenly out of beggardom into this orderly comfort. Obviously Sir Walter believed in me, though why he did I could not guess. I looked, at myself in the mirror and saw a wild, haggard brown fellow with fortnight's ragged beard and dust in ears and eyes, col larless, Vplgarly shirted, with old tweed clothes and boots that evidently had not been cleaned for the better part of a month.
 I made a fine tramp and fair drov- CT, and here I was ushered by a prim butler into this temple of gracious ease
 
 not even know my name. I resolved not to puzzle my head. but to take the gifts the gods had pro- vided.- I shaved and bathed luxuri- ously and got inte the dress clothes and clean, cracking shirt, which fitted me not so badly. By the time had finished the looking glass showed a hot unreasonable young man. Sir Walter awaited me in a dusky dining room, where little, round ta-f b1e was lit with silver candles The sight of hin-so respectable and estab- 1 nshed and secure, the embodiment of law and government and all the con ventions-took me aback and made me | feel an interloper. He couldn't know l the truth about me or he wouldn't t i treat me like this.
 I simply could not accept his hospi- tality on false pretenses. l I'm more obliged to you than can say, but I'm bound to make things | clear I said. "Im an innocent man. but Pm wanted by the police. I've got | to tell you this, and I won't be sur l prised if you kick me out.'' 1 He smiled That's all right. Don't 1 let that interfere with your appetite. 1 We can talk about these things after dinner
 I never ate a meal with greater rel ish, for had had nothing all day but railway sandwiches. Sir Walter did me proud; for we drank a good cham paane and had some uncommon fine port afterward.
 It made me almost hysterical to be sitting there, waited on by a footman ] and a sleek butler, and remember that e~,, 4J1r | a brigand. with every mans hand 1 against me. I told Sir Walter about tiger fish in the Zambesi that bite off your fingers if you give them chance, and we discussed sport up and down the globe, for he had hunted a bit in 1 his day.
 1 We went to his study for coffee a ] jolly room full of books and trophies and untidiness and comfort. made up my mind that if ever I got clear of this business and had a house of my own I would create just l such a room. Then when the coffee cups were cleared away and we had got our cigars alight my host swung 1 his long legs over the side of his chai1 and bade me get started with my yarn
 sI've obeyed Harry'ss instructions, 7 he said. 'and the bribe he offered me was that you would tell me something to wake me up I'm ready, MT. Han nay.'
 noticed that he called me by my proper name.
 began at the very beginning. told of my boredom in London and tht night I had come back to find Scuddel gibbering on my doorstep I told hin all Scudder had told me about Karo
 lides and the foreign office confer
 ence, and that made him purse his lip
 and grin Then got to the murder