The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-02-24

Behind q. few PAGES ana mad TO exert
himself considerably to keep from los
ing more ground as they took the
frst steep rise. The road was full of
ruts and cross ruts and Uttered with
powders that had ambled down the
mountain side in the spring moving.
To save his life, Mr.. Blithers couldn' t
keep to a straight course. He went
from rut to rut and from rock to rock
with the fidelity of a magnetized
atom seldom putting his foot where
he meant to put it and never by any
chance achieving a steady stride. He
would take one long purposefuI step
and then couple Of short "feelers,' -
progressing very much as man
tranps over a newly pIowed field. 80
At the top of the rise Robin eonsid-
erateIy slaekened his pace, and the
chubby gentleman drew alongside
somewhat out of breath, but as cheer
faI as a cricket.
rGoing too fast for you, Mr.. Blith-
ers ?'' inquired Robin.
mot at ALL said Mr.. Blithers. by
the way, prince" he went on, cunning
Z " Selling the young mans arm and
thereby putting check on his speed
for the time being at least, eT want to
explain my daughters unfortunate alb
sence last night. You must have
thought it very strange. Naturally it
was unavoidable. The poor girl is
really quite heartbroken. was par
ticularly anxious for you and Maud to
meet under the conditions that obtain
ed last night" he went on, with a re-
gretfu1 look at the log they were pass
ing. Nothing could have been more
-er-ripping."
fI hear from every one that your
daughter is most attractive said
Robin. Sorry not to have met her.
Mr.. Blithers.,'
ooh, you'll meet her all right. prince.
She's coming home today. / believe
Mrs. Blithers is expecting you to din
ner tonight. She
"I'm sure there must be some mis-
take" began Robin. but was cut short.
81 was on my way to Red Roof to
ask you and Count Quiddux to give US
this evening in. connection with that
little affair we are arranging It is
most imperative that it should be to-
night, as my attorney is coming up for
the conference.',
Thre was a note in his voice that
Robin did not like. It savored of AFRO
gance.
4aIGSdy GQQaL t4u11AoA Can dEISn0
to all the details, Mr.. Blithers. have
she power of veto. of course, but I
snan pc guI0ed by the counsel of my
ministers. You need have no hest
fancy in dealing with
tFThRtss not the point, prince I am
a business man-as perhaps you
know. make it point never to deal
with any one except the head of a
concern. if youth pardon my way of
putting it. It isn't right to speak of
Growstock as concern. but you'll
understand, of course. Figure of
speech
''I can only assure you, sir, that
Graustark is in a position to indem-
nifty you against any possible chance
of loss. You wifi be amply secured.
take it that you are not coming to
our assistance through any desire to
be phi1anthropic, but as business
proposition, pure and simple. At
least that is how we regard the mat.
ter. Am not right?'
Perfectly said Mr.. Blithers. ST
haven't got sixteen millions to throw
away. Still I don't see that that has
anything to do with my request that
you be present at the conference to-
night. To be perfectly frank with
you, don't like working in the dark.
You have the power of veto, as Won