The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-12-08

tone; you're a clever young chap; | nave friends in the banking business. | don't doubt you might spin a thread | in New York and you stand in we'll with old Burgess and his gang here l in West Gap. You have influence with those people"
 | Now I've got enough stuff on you that is, on your wife-to have you run out of town. I'll do it, too. if you start anything. On the other hand, you have one thing a promoter needs more than anything in the world, and that's nerve. Where would I be if I hadn't nerve? Why
 not hop into the game with me? We'll clean up a nice thing here, all | perfectly legitimate, too. There's a couple of hundred thousand in it for iyou. I've got the whole country, yes, | the State, stirred up about the exten- sion plan, and we can sell a million dollars worth of stock in the next YOU do the same. You know old 1 Burgess's Weaknesses. He's just tspoiling to be trimmed, I can see that. You can sell big block of stock to | every one of those bondho1ders-lot | of sheep. Then, when this thing is | cleaned up, we take our profit and i move on to some other Yapville. I'll soon have the new charter and incor- i pOration papers for ten million dol lar railroad company, and if I can't rig up contract with you as fiscal agent (wfth me as a silent partner) | that will give you three dollars out 1 Of every four you take in, I'll quit the promotion game and go to driving grocer's cart"
 | Pollard looked interested. His eyes shone; his breath came and went quickly.
 Would you honestly let me into as good thing as that?'' he asked. | Supposed I could go to New York and place a big bunch of bonds?' Sure, sure!' cried Wilton. And we'll form a construction company among our friends to take the con of road just as soon as the new bonds are placed. We can make ten thou sand dollar mile profit"
 Pollard's eyes glittered: Wilton young mans heart out.
 was that how you built the first | -welve miles?" asked Clarke. That would be a hundred and twenty
 Hold on," said Wilton. s'I didn't say that. But you don't think I handled all that money without some of it sticking to my fingers, do your" q don't see how we could get our road approved by the State commis- sioners,'' said Pollard. Don't they 1 make a pretty strict inspection?" Wilton laughed.
 Ever know FTshley. the chair man ?" he asked. "He and I are very good friends, very good friends my boy. Well, what do you say? Will you keep your mouth shut and come in with me?''
 ''I'l1 talk it over with,'' said Clarke. "All right said Wilton.
 And tell her said I, knew all about the Regent brooch. That's fetch her.
 Pollard was on his feet. He had stood as much as he could. He leaned over Wilton's desk and shout cd:
 You dirty thief! Talk about black mailI Why, before I'd touch a pen ny of your money I'd see you choke! I'd starve! Furthermore, what you say about Lucy is the biggest lie you ever told in your life and the mean est. That's going some! The Re- gent brooch: eh? You were at the party when it disappeaered; You You unhung jailbird! I wouldn't bet it isn't in your safe, now.' Wilton, livid with rage, arose.
 Maybe I'd better ten you a few more little things about your wife! She's a lady with a choice past, be- ieve me"
 Wilton got no further, voca11y speaking. Pollard's fist shot out ana Pollard's knuckles jolted him so hard just south of the nose that he sat down violently, and as his chair tip ped over from the sudden impact of his weight, he landed on the back of his head with thump.
 "Ben,'' said Pollard, stepping out of the presidents private ofice," I smashed your boss When he comes too tell him I hope he'll have me arrested. TeH him if he wants some more of the same medicine to call up the hotel and I'll be right over. Good by Ben. I hope I see you at the stockholders meeting next week..
 Ben Tinkham found Wilton sitting on the floor in a half-stunned condf- ton, rubbing the back of his head with one hand, his bruised lip with the other.
 'I tripped over my rug" he said. Had a bad fall. Asked young Pol lard to step out and tell you to call a doctor.''
 "I guess you don't need any doc tor. do you?" asked Ben.
 Well, I don't know; maybe not just yet replied the president. He got to his feet and Ben Tinkham couldn't make up his mind whether the boss really did know exactly what had happened.
 Clarke went back to the MiIett House and found Lucy sitting in their room, mending a pair of his socks. She looked Up with her amazing blue hers.
 Hello. Clarkey-boy." she said. 'Any tidings of great joy? Your new hats really very becoming and goodness knows you needed it.
 ''I hear they know who took Mrs. l Regents brooch" said her hus- band, abrutly
 Really" Lucy gimpled with in- | terest. "Who was it? How was it managed? Did they put him in jaiI?"
 ''It wasn't a him. said Clarke. 'I hear it was-a woman
 Poor thing!" rejoined his wife. How terribleI Think of the tempta- tion it must have taken to make her do such thing? Tell me. who was