The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-12-06
TIE POLLARDS OF WEST GAP
By Henry Payson Dowst

It was about 1O:30, and business Tas light. In another hour the noon rade would begin to drift in, and MT. Iumpel used this slack portion of the day to fix up his books, audit his bills nd make up his market orders. Lucy Gale was cashier, assistant b0Okkeep- CT, and general assistant and got S11 . week.
 eighteen seventy-fve. say'' re- ,eated S GumpeI. Last night I counted the cash and carefully check se 1g0 before I left for home; and now already at I0:3V is Slo.I6 missing. You have full charge of the coin here. Looks funny to me"
 Haven't you paid any bills or any thing this morning :''
 Net a cent. Is t Care}essness, you should let $18.75 get away like split milk through the fingers? You can pay into the cash drawer the $1S.90-"
 But l haven't go it. MT. GuInpel; and bcsid eS--''
 -Four days pay you got coming to you; let see.''
 He made some rapid figures on a sl ? of paper.
 seven thirty-three. And the diff s--rnra you Day out CT your pocket; and then you can have your hat and l De nay own cashier yet Pay up now,
 
 wise maybe another name would nouud different, especially if I called n an CfIicer."
 He picked up the telephone and laid 9 tentative hand on the receiv
 ''I tell you, 1 haven't any money. Mr. Gumpel. You took the cash-b0x out Of the safe yourself tn s morning, and l d-dn do any tn -ng but put the money in the cash register, and add EH H. Ta rF7a in If
 "Oh, I make account of that I know. Eighteen dollars and seventy five cents is missing, and I stand for no fooLshness.''
 ''I would like to speak with Miss Gale, if you please said polite voice just back of $. Gumpel's ear. The restaurant proprietor turned and con- fronted a well set up young fellow, rather fastid ousIy dressed, who look ed at him out of pair of cool blue eyes.
 "Oh!" said Mir. G,umpel You are the paying-telIer over by the Superb National Bank, ain't you? You want to speak to Miss GaIe?"
 If I'm not interrupting." said Clarke Pollard.
 Maybe" said Gumpel with sheer, you would loan Miss Gale S11.41, eh?"
 W It'll pleasure, SSiIu EOl49fu-
 No, no, you mustn't the girl ob- jected, almost in tears. you really mustn't"
 Maybe you would prefer to pay it yourself, eh?' demanded Gumpel.
 Clarke paid.
 Lucy got her hat and coat Clarke Pollard waited an odd bewilderment concealed behind O studied impertur-b- ability.
 Miss Gale came from behind the counter and walked to the street door. the young man at her heels Out on the street she turned and went brisIlIy along for block, turned up a cross street and stopped. Pollard was close at her side.
 She turned and walked rapidly away, leaving Pollard to stand and gaze sheepishly after her.
 Just then there came a scream of distress from up the block. He turn ed quickly. Miss Gale was struggling with an iu-favored youth who had en- deavored to snatch her pocketbook.
 Lucy Gale had been taken by sur prise but the thief had miscaIculated the strength of her hold on her prop erty. Now she was hanging to 1t like a soldier, and the maIefactor tugged in vain to loosen her grip.
 Lucy looked about for possible as- sistance, and screamed a second time. The pocketbook. which closed bv means of a, jawlke cOntraption of metal, flew open and some of the con- tents spilled into the street
 MT. Clarke Pollard had not waited for the second scream. By the time 1t was well uttered he was on top of the would-be purloiner of the pocket book, planting a stiff blow on the s d e of the mans head. MT. Sneak-thief let go the pocketbook spun around to- ward his assaiIant, and drove his fist against the second button of MT. Pol lard's sack coat.
 The thief did not follow up his ad- vantage, but disappeared as if by magic.
 Lucy Gale swooped down upon the varoious articles which had fallen from her pOcketbook, gathered them hastily together, stuffed them inside and de- parted Clarke Pollard caught hold of an ron paEng. Street and houses and people wheeled solemnly around and around before him.
 This lasted only a moment, how ever. and he came to himself to con- front barrier of injuiring faces.
 It occurred to Pollard that he was distinctly at a disadvantage in this environment, so he eIbowed his way through the score of curious ones who had gathered about him and started off
 Here. boss" cried an urchin. Dat yours?' ?''
 He offered Pollard a small, rather dingy envelope rescued from beneath the feet of the crowd. Clarke took |. realized that it had undoubtedly fall en from Miss Gales pOcketbook and handed the boy a dime Then he made his way hastily from the neigh borho ood.
 Miss Gale was nowhere in sight.
 CHAPTER "
 i Dinner and a Decision
 Pollard hunted up his sheltered corner in the club. In the early aft ernpOn he betOOk himself to his