The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-12-06

 been bought with the proceeds Of Clarke's stick pin and watch along with other necessaries. He had to scratch gravel to finance their. trip West. and now congratulated himself that he had had sense enough not 10 let his dress suit so along with the greater part of his wardrobe.
 Clarke was stalking Q great deal on this trip. The little block of bonds left by his father were certainly worth saving, and from what he had learned of conditions he could see 1t was gong to be no easy matter. Will ton had, as Ben Tinkhan said, a hyp- notic strangle hold on the people of West Gap. But all that Pollard could see in the railroad man was ao willy promoter of the getrich-quIcIz type, ad he had not the least faith in Will tons glfbIy explained plan for further expansion.
 It was eIeventhirty before Pollard realized that the strenuous labors Of the evening made certain demands upon muscles unaccustOned to exer- else. He was tired. So he slid unop- strusively through a side door. and out into the stubble field that lay ad- tacent to the great barn. The strum- m ng of the orchestra filtered out thinly, accompanied by a sort of dull vibration due to the impact Of many rhythmic feet upon the barn floor.
 Pollard wandered perhaps twenty yards from the building. Although it was autumn, the night was almost as warm as summer, and the stars shone clearly %l a sky of dark-blue velvet. It was very soothing, and he thought if he could just sit down there in the transparent darkness and think a lit tie, it would be restful and helpful. 4 cigarette would taste good.
 The match which he had been about to strikS on a stone remained cold in his fingers. He was standing by low stone wall, beyond which lay the great, orderly orchard. Ana there was a white blotch. there in the shadow under the trees. and near 1t a black figure hardly visible in tho darkness
 "Coup1e of spoons.' thought Clarke and turned to walk away. A voice said:
 eff I thought you'd follow me here -" The heavy tones were those
 NO, mo- said the other. 1-E have tried to think should never see you again.
 'sGreat Scott! Lucy!"
 You've grown pretty" said Wil~ ton. You could have done better than to marry that upstart- Famous New ' ork banker! Bahl Plain four husher!'
 That sounds funny. coming from you"
 "Oh, 1t does? We'll. I've got those yaps eating out of my hand. believe me! You used to be a clever kid. You'd have done well if you had play ed your cards right. I can't see any future for you now. married to that poor fish!''
 Don't say such things said Lucy. Hes splendid! He's honest and clean and square; he'd never do the things you've done, he couldn't. SOme day hell be a big success. Hes got the nerve and he thinks straight. You have nerve and think crooked"
 "Haw!" said Wilton conremptu- ously Say, you'd have fat chance with him if he got wise to some f your especial talents, eh?''
 Don't you dare say such things!"
 "He'H find out some day, when he does, come and see me. I can think of a thousand ways a clever, pretty girl like you could be useful. Ever pull off any ight-fingered tricks since the oil days?"
 '' won't Iisten!" cried Lucy. You miserable hound! I hope these peo- pie turn around and put you where belong. I'm going"
 
 wall Pollard. unable to get away without being seen, crOuched in tho shadow of an Overhanging tree, his heart beating like riveter-
 Wilton assisted Lucy politely 10 mount the wall and then down on the side nearer the barn. He was saying:
 eff they do, be careful, young lady. don't want to trace anything to you. I'm safe in this neck of he woods just now, and there is good money here for me for three months yer. Then the next fellow can have the Ie wings. Give me a Chlnanan'S s chance and I'll clean up half a million cool. So you see. I cn't afford to be intcrfered with. You stick 10 your own graft, whatever it is, and let me alone. Say, have you noticed that big diamond brooch of Mrs Regents? Right in your line, kid!'
 You ev'l-minded pig said Lucy, and that was the last Pollard heard of the disturbing coUOquy.
 Debts And Doubts.
 For Pollard the soft night air was tering out from the barn, sounded harsh and discordant- He suddenly hated West Gap and everything a per taining to t The kindly and hos pitable friends of his earlier days who sought to make his hOn corning q pleasure to nm, ne suddenly deSpiS- ed. A lot of yaps- They'd let an unspcakabIe crook put 1t all over them and Pollard didn't care. The world, like an apple, had suddenly gone rotten from the skin to core.
 FooI To marry a pair of bIue eyes. and with them a past he had been too fatuOus to investigate! All he knew was that Lucy had been liV- ing with an ged and invalided clergy man and his wife. Probably couple of old frauds!
 Bitterly he pondered the wise words of his friendly joinder concerning the frequency Of the birth Of suckers. He'd run the good impulse thing into the ground.
 He concealed his misgivings from his wife however. He thanked God