Connecticut western news., 1919-12-18

ward protested. "I will not fight"
 "Oh, will leave" said Miss Wardin, with alacrity. "And hope he soaks you we'll" she shot back, as the door closed behind her.
 But by this time Conward had as- sumed a superior attitude. Dave" he said, "I won't fight over a quarrel of this kind. But remember, there are some things in which no man allows another to interfere. Least of all such a man as you. There are ways of get ting back, and I'll get back"
 "Why such a man as me? I know haven't been much of moralist in business matters-Tve been in the wrong company for that-but I draw the line"
 "Oh, you're fine stuff, all right. What would your friend Miss Hardy think if told her all know?"
 You know nothing that could affect Miss Hardy's opinion"
 Its too bad your memory is so poor" Conward sneered. "Why were your lights off that night passed your car? Oh, guess you remember! What will Miss Hardy think of that?"
 For a moment Dave was unable to follow Conward's thought. Then his mind reached back to that night he drove into the country with Bert Nor rison, when on the brow of a hill he switched off his lights that they might better admire the majesty of the Heavens. That COnward should place an evil interpretation upon that incl dent was a thing so monstrous, so al- together beyond argument, that Dave fell back upon the basic human meth od reserved for such occasions. His fist leaped forward, and Conward crumpled up before it.
 Conward lay, stunned for few min- utes, then, with returning conscious ness, he tried to sit up. Dave helped him to a chair. Blood flowed down his face, and as he began to realize what had occurred it was joined with tears of pain, rage, humiliation.
 'You got tAat one ol me, Ilden," he said, after a while. "But it was a towards blow. You hit me when I wasn't looking. Very we'll. Two can play at that game. I'll hit when you're not looking where you don't ex- pect it . where you can't hit back. 1 know the stake you're playing for, and-Im going to spoil it." He turned his swollen, bloody face to Dave's, and hatred stood up in his eyes as he ut tered the threat. 'T'll hit you, Dave" he repeated, "where you can't hit back"
 Thanks for the warning" said FL den. "So Irene Hardy is to be the stake. All right, I'll sit in. And I'll win."
 You'll think you've won," returned Conward, leeringly, "and then you'll find out that you didn't. I'll present her to you, Dave, like that" He lifted burnt match from an ash-tray and held 1t before him.
 Dave's impulse was to seize the thick, fiabby throat in his hands and choke it lifeless. With a resolute ef- fort he turned to the telephone and lifted the receiver.
 "Send car and a doctor to Conward X Elden's oflice," he said when he had got the desired number. "Mr. Con- ward has been hurt-fell against a desk, or something. Nothing serious, but may need a stitch or two" Then, turning to Conward: Tt will depend on you whether this affair gets to the public-on you and Miss Wardin. Make your own explanations. And as soon as you are able to be about our partnership will be dissolved"
 Conward was ready enough to adopt Dave's suggestion that their quarrel should not come to the notice of the public, and Gladys Wardin, apparent ly, kept her own counsel in the mat ter. In a time when firms were going out of business without even the for nality of an assignment, and others were being absorbed by their competi- tors, the dissolution of the Conward & Elden establishment occasioned no more than passing notice. The ex- planation, "for business reasons" given to the newspapers, seemed suffi- | cient.
 Irene Hardy found herself in d po- sition of increasing delicacy. Since the day or tnelr conversation III the tea room Dave had been constant in his attentions, but, true to his ultimatum, had uttered no word that could in any way be construed to be more or less than platonic. She had now no doubt that she felt for Dave that attachment. | without which ceremonies are withou: avail and with which ceremonies are but ceremonies. And yet she shrank from surrender. And she knew | that some day she must surrender.
 The situation was complicated by conditions which involved her mother and Conward. It was apparent that Conward's friendship for Mrs. Hardy did not react to Dave's advantage. Conward was careful to drop no word in Irene's hearing that could be taken