The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-09-25
CHAPTER I. In the Seventh Heaven.

knoll that 1t didn't have regular porte-cochere. But the honk of the motors horn brought enough help in a jiffy. I helped get the sick man up the steps and up the stairs inside.
 After we'd got the man safe into bed, we hung around while. until the doctor reported that he'd come to and would be all right in a few days. Then we went back to the car.
 Home James, she said with a de- licious laugh.
 And home is where?" I hastily put the question.
 Right back the way we came for a while. I'll tell you when to turn.''
 "But" she said as we swung into the street from the big grounds. "I really have put you to a lot of trou- b1e. I never asked; never thought. I'm not used to sickness. don't re- measles at ten. I can't understand his going to pieces this way. I hope he's better in the morning.
 agreed with her in the hope.
 The clouds had passed; the moon was shining through shimm ering lit tie streamers of feecy white. The perfect road. the perrect machine, the perfect landscape of hedges and shrubs and lawns, the perfect girl. No, I would never pinch myself. for rear I might wake up from the dream.
 gro the right at the next corner" the girl suddenly directed.
 I had let several blocks go by with out saying a word or hearing one. I had let my exhilaration play on the throttle and spark to speed the mo- tor
 And you are really movie actor?" She now started to maxv conversation.
 ''why does that surprise you?" I asked.
 She smiled.
 That next gate. please. This is our place" she answered me oe- murely. 'If you'll sound the horn, the chauffeur will take the machine. But you must come in and let us thank you for your trouble be- fore Francois takes you home"
 You're sure it's not already too later" I put my polite hesitation in such fashion she could not take back her invitation.
 'sIts never too late to say thank you," she responded neatly.
 But my fun was over. One glance at the house as we approached it was sufficient to show me that I had reached my destination.
 The owner was standing on the wide veranda as we reached the porte cochere. He was a big, heavy set, iron gray man whose short, stiff hair almost touched the porch light bulb. He was in blue serge and duck-it took a lot of both to hold him.
 He looked like power, money pow CT, steam power, political power, fist power if need bean old kind of power that would get him what he wanted and get it quickly.
 When he spoke it was a rumble. Just now it was the rumble of a man more worried than angry.
 Where in the world have you been, Alice?" he demanded.
 Father" she answered, getting out of the car before I could help her, "I want you to thank MT. Moore here, don't know when I'd got home but for his help. Will insisted on going into that stuffy little theatre and then tainted as we were leaving. MT. Moore got him out and home so neat ly nobody at the show ever knew any, thing happened" Alice's father made a noise as if he were going to erupt.
 Painted again did he? Darn him, he's got to stop this. I won't have it. Oh, excuse me, MT. Moore. I SUD- pose you can understand how exasper- ating this thing is to me. I want to thank you for your part in keeping the matter hushed up.'
 I'm not sure that MT. Moore does understand" his daughter exclaimed. He's stranger here. I didn't tell him that-
 ''In that case, it may be just as we'll not to tell him. the big man quickly interrupted her.
 "I guess he's harmless, daddy" the girl told him. "Mr. Moore is a mov- ing picture favorite. We were fortu- nate enough to see him in one of his as to meet him.
 Movie actor, eh ?" The big man was full of kindly easy curiosity.
 tNo more, I'm sorry to say,'' I con- fessed. ''It was two years ago that film was made. I've been out of the game almost ever since. Just now I'm a writer of a sort for magazines as will buy my productions. I landed in this town this afternoon, from Peoria, Illinois, to-
 I stopped there. It occurred to me that the job I had before me was of confidential nature.
 Aha, the villain Is unmasked!.' roared the big man. "See what we might have done by talking too much, Alice. MT. Moore, Pm deeply obliged to you for what you did. You are welcome to my sideboard, my cellar, my cigar-boxes, any local color, you may see around here for an article or story. first-rate interview on the sad state of business since the war began, and the prospect of universal peace after everybody's been killed. I'll talk anything but politics and religion for or against publication. But I'm internally glad you don't know whom you took home tonight; and further more l hope you'll never find out Pardon me for keeping you standing here so long. Won't you come in %
 had Just sense enough not to go in at that time of night AS it was, l didn't get away for nearly half an hour. He insisted that he would rath- CT talk to a real author than go to bed. He wanted me to sit down for a cigar, and begged me to stay for a cigarette at least. Alice seconded him with the statement that she was so upset about the occurrence at the