The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-10-06
A CURIOUS COURTSHIP Rxy w TT NTCHOT g
By w. T. NICHOLS


 sonably be deemed of slight import ance-in fact. Penney had made ne effort to recover it when Trachtman threw it away; but now, of a sudden he young man was seized Of deter niination to wrest it from t1-e enemy, an illogical determination, it may be but one inspiring action.
 He tore open the door, sprang into the room. grasDed at the torn sheet of paper-and missed it by an inch as Trachtman caught it up.
 Startled though he might be by the others entrance, the older man kept his head.
 "Oh, it's you, is it? An unexpected pleasure but easily accounted for in that two of us are early risers. eh ?" he said. You couldn't wait for ten Ao' clock. perhaps. Whats your answer to my proposition?"
 Penney wasted no words. ''1 want ehat letter. Give it up!"
 Trachtman grinned sourly. "Gentiy, gently! It's no more yours than knine."
 ''I claim it, neverth eless."
 "I don't admit the claim. You can't enforce it-''
 Tenney's response was a leap ror- ward, a leap so impetuous that as he grappled with Trachtman he had a shade of advantage. Not that his ad- versary summed the combat. The vigor of attack was quite equaled by the energy of resistance.
 Given two able-bodied males, full of mutual iH-wil1 and battling in a confined space. rules are likely to be disregarded and obstacles to suffer damage. Ira achtman, giving grounc at Grst collided with a, chair and sent it crashing to the floor; rallied his Strength and gaining better rootnold, swung Penney against another, which was upset much as the first had been.
 Then Ia little stand and the vase II had supported wet down in a wreck and ruin, followed by 1amp-luckily not the lighted one-which had stood on the ledge of Mrs Dunton's desk.
 Tenneys heel caught in a curtain and brought it down with it's rod; but with the wall as brace he was aD1e to force his adversary toward the cen- ter of the room. There, both panting- from their unusual exertions, they stood locked in a savage embrace, in tent only upon recovering wind and needless of alarm among the other members of the household.
 At this stage of the fight, it's honors being by no means definitely estab- lished, came interruption. Pale and fearsone faces looked in at the door.
 There was a, shriH and quavering cry in the voice of Mrs. Dunton, who tottered into the library, threw up her hands in consternation, and col Iapsed upon the davenport. The girl, wide-eyed but silent, glided to her side and put an arm about her.
 As by common consent the adver saries parted and fell back a pace.
 Each was still breathing hard; each had hidden his share of the spells of battle inla convenient pocket. Neither seemed to be in haste to attempt ex- planation of the scene.
 Penney, meeting the girls eye. tried to throw into his glance an unspoken this crisis he found her charming, and was ready to VOW that there was wondrous grace in the lines of the long dressing gown in which she had robed herself in haste.
 TO be sure she could hardly but fare well in contrast with the dis heveled state of her benefactress. who was decked in miscel1aneously and if sufficiently. in the gar ments which had come first to her hand. Indeed, Mrs. Dunton. hair in confused disarray. chin fallen and eyes rolling. made a sorry picture.
 Yet she it was who broke the si- ence.
 'Why-why-wha happened? I heard of such things ppening-happening in my house! Why-why-it's awfu1!'
 There was no response.
 And everything knocked about, md that lamp my prettiest lamp broken into a thousand piecesi"
 There was none to gainsay her or offer comment. Her gaze roamed the room and came back to the two male figures.
 ''Why-why-it was a fight-a reg llar fist fight! And you grown men, both of you! I never was so fright sned in my life. It sounded as if horses were galloping all over the over floor
 Trachtman grunteo.
 'Umph! At least, then, you know t couldn't be burglar raid"
 His aunt sighed deeply.
 Mercy me! I couldn't think of tnything it could be except anlarch- l sts.' She seemed to have trouble Tn l recalling the word. but to find relief l n it's use; for she went on more l 'riskly:
 "Yes, anarchiSts-that was it. And | couldn't think why they should want | O bother me. But I had to come | town to see what it was. And it was ust f1ght-a miserable, vulgar nst ght. after a11!"
 Mrs. Dunton surveyed him du- iously.
 "I don't see, Roy. why you ana Hubert should wish to wrest1e or why, | f you did, you couldn't go outdoors. md just look at what you've done.''
 '1 apologize abjectly for youtnrul 
 Again Penney stole a glance a. Margaret. Trachtman. apparently, l vas disposed not to take advantage of he situation to expose the plot and E he p1otters; for reasons of his own le was willing to let its ultimatum un to its limit.
 But Penney could not read the irTs expression.
 He hoped she would continue 70 day the game while yet it might be played. coolly. warily, with skill. Let 'rac chtn1an patch up such excuses as le chose to present to his aunt. There vas still a margin of a few hours in which Huberts impersonator might