The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-07-29
INGRAM

rip, instead or next OctOoei' oS WS l had planned?"
 "Why, Billy, What a funny ioea | Why?"
 q want you to come abroad with | rus; I want to live where we are runnin' ourselves, and not bein' nursed like children. You know m able to take care of my wife. Any how, there wouldn't be any starvin even if our parents cut us off with a strings. I've never wanted anythln so much in my life. Won't you come, Trix?''
 Her color little heightened, Bea- trice patted his hand, as in her eag- erness he grasped the arm or her chair, leaning toward her. Her lovely red-brown eyes met his in af- fectionate indulgence.
 "Why, of course, Billy. if you want me to. What difference does it make if we are married in June or October? I think it would be lovely to spend the summer in France.
 Thank you," he said. And as, an after thought he rose and kissed her fresh. unimpassioned mouth, He still held her hand when he sat down again.
 "Pll be straight and decent, Trix," he added. 'TH try never to make you regret tak1n' me-.
 To see him sober had all the ef- fects of romance. The girl gave him a candid sunny smile, and there was a, pause of considerable length. A little later, when he rose to go. she held up the vivid hued serape that | lay across her lap.
 "Rilly, did I buy that at Mon teFeX2" she asked.
 ''Not with me-" he retorted. after I thin so luxurious"
 CT cannot remember where I got 1 it, she avowed, almost feverishly. | What is the matter with me? Why can I not remember that? And I want to knowI want to know!'' He regarded sher in puzzled sur prise. He had known her as the in- | carnation of healthy placidity; now he | glimpsed some strange unrest stir | ring and flaring within her, like rest less flame behind a translucent screen.
 MT. and Mrs Arden offered no ob- ection to the hastened wedding plans; in fact, they were we'll pleased with the ardor displayed by Billy. The matter was arranged in a family ! council that evening, and at its con- l clusion Billy invited the two ladies l to an early morning visit to the | flower market.
 | "I'm goin' to buy a carriageful of those yellow melons, he explained. "An' everybody is supposed to see the flower market"
 So in the cool of early morning | next day Beatrice and her mother took their places in the carria se-an | up-to-date mother and daughter, both of them beauties and alike in 1 costume from their small white shoes to their large white hats. stunning" Billy said.
 And while they were laughing over the compliment the carriage swung around corner of the gay, fragrant flower market-and into riot. | In the center of a clear space, strewn with scattered blossoms, drop ped by their terrified owners, stood a half-naked, wholly drunken negro, pulque-lashed to madness. From | every side the gentle Indian vendors had fled or crouched behind such shelter as could he found, leaving 1 the conqueror in 1ordship of the field. AS the driver of the carriage re1ned his horses to a standStill the | negro turned that way and stared at the arrivals. sinking his head be tween his shoulders in sinister con- centration.
 He held a pistol in his hand. Mrs. Arden screamed and fell back, cov- ering her face. Beatrice half rose
 By George, he's equal to shootin' 1t, Billy cried, springing up to place
 himself before the women. 'tGet
 down in the bottom, quick 1 Neither Of his charges obeyed. And
 while the four people gazed at each
 other, dumb, a diversion occurred
 man stepped from one of the nar-
 row, flc-er-crowded lanes. and to-
 ward him the insane man whirIed . i1r1rr %Ia
 not passive. The pistol in tho blacs
 hand was raised and brought to bear
 on the newcomer, the thick lips drew
 apart in a vicious snarl
 The new arrival paused unhurried-
 ly, his gray eyes appraising the men.
 acing figure with slow contempt. He
 wore a superb cavalry uniform ot
 green and gold. but he was unarmed
 ana carried only riding-whip Fas. c1nated, the covering crowd and tho
 three Americans watched the riot re-
 solve itself into duel
 The negro was ready to shoot Billy Graeme noiselessly unfastenet
 the carriage door and picked some
 thing up from the seat, waiting Into the tense hush the officer: ine1slve voice cut with the effect of 2 steel blade
 Come hereI" he ordered.
 The nesro's dull face worked, al tering from ferocity to stupid won der.
 You heard me?" the officer de manded, tapping the flexible lash ot , the whip against his boot. Come l herei'
 The gray eyes and the sullen Garl . ones met in a long, unflinching en . counter of wills. The negro's way cred first. Slowly he lurched forward
 until less than two yards separated l him from the other.
 The next time caN, come more |, l quickly" advised the officer curtly !, and stepping forward with swif i, abruptness he struck the lash acros: the negro's evil face
 , Beatrice Arden screamed. the CT, k blended with the negro's maddenet ', snarl- As his ready finger pressed e the trigger the whiplash hissed again
 curling around his wrist. The repor