Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-10-01

of the will. You can be married al
any time. Now, p
"And where do l come In 7" demand
ed D~eppingham sarcastically.
"Yes, and II" added Mrs. Browne.
"Yor forget us, Mr.. Saunders"
81 include Mrs. Browne" amended
D~eppingham. Are we to be assas.
sinated? By Jove, clever idea Of yours
Saundersl Simplifes matters tremen
dously."
81 hear no objection from the heirs, y
remarked Saunders m%eaningly, where
upon Lady Agnes and Bobby came out
of their stupor and protested vigor.
ously.
Miss Pelham" said Britt, breaking
in sharply, Il trust you are getting all
of this down. 1 wish to warn you,
ladies and gentlemen, that l expect to
overthrow the will on the ground thai
there Is insanity on both sides. You'll
oblige me by uttering just what you
feel"
my plan is very simple" began
Saunders helplessly.
"Demmed simple" growled Doping
ham.
1--WE are living on an island where
polygamy is practiced and tolerated.
Why can't we take advantage of the
custom and beat the natives at their
OWL game? That's the ticket!'
OF course this proposition, simple as
1t sounded, brought forth a storm of
laughter and expostulation, but Saun-
ders held his ground.
"You have only to embrace Moham-
mechanism or %paganism, or whatever
it is. temporarily-just long enough to
get married and comply with the
terms. Then, l dare say, you could re-
sumo your Christian doctrine once
more, after a few weeks, I'd say, and
the case is won."
81 pay Lady Deppingham the COM
pliment by saying that it would be
most difficult for me to become a
Christian again." said Browne smooth
lY, bowling to the flushed Englishwo-
man.
How very sweet of your she said,
with a grimace which made Drusilla
SILVER with annoyance.
You don't need to live together, of
course" floundered Saunders, getting
rather beyond his depth.
"Well, that's a concession on your
part" said Mrs. Browne, a flash in her
eye.
81 never heard of such an asinine
proposition" sputtered D~eppingham.
Saunders went completely under at
that.
ION the other hand" he FASTENED to
remark. "I'm sure it would be quite
legal if you did live to-
stop him, for heavens sakel"
screamed Lady Agnes, bursting into
uncomfortable laughter.
"Stop him? Why?" demanded her
husband. suddenly seeing what he re-
garded as a rare joke. Lets hear him
out. By Joye, there's more to it than
l thought. Go on, Saunders"
OF eurseifyeuafe7geipgg 5teh6nas9
about it, began Saunders In a huff.
81 can't see anything nasty about 1t,
said Browne. 'Iu admit that our
wife and our husband may decide to
be stubborn and unreasonable, but it
sounds rather attractive to me-"
'Robert!" from his wife.
He's only joking, Mrs. Browne" TX
planned Deppingham magnanimously.
NOW, let me understand you, Saun-
ders. You say they can be married
according to the customs-which, /
take it, are the laws-of the islanders.
Your plan provides Browne with two
charming wives and gives me but one.
There's nothing to compel Mrs. Browne
to marry me-"
But, my lord" said Saunders,
doesn't the plan give Lady Doping
ham two husbands? It's quite a fair
division"
1T would make Lord Deppingham
my husband-in-law, l imagine" said
Drusilla quantity. 1--WE always had a
horror of MISUNDERSTANDING"
And you would be my wife-in-law,"
supplemented Lady Agnes. "How in
teresting!'
Saunders" said Deppingham sober
ly, ~ must oppose your plan. It's
quite unfair to two innocent and unin-
volyed parties. What have we done
that we should be exempt from polyg-
amy?"
"You are not exemptr' exclaimed the
harassed solicitor. You are merely
not obliged to; that's all. You can do
as you choose about it, I'm sure. I'm
sorry my plan causes so much levity.
1t is meant for the good of our cause
The will doesn't say how many wives
Mr.. Browne shall have. 1t simply
says that Agnes Ruthven shall be his
wife. He isn't restricted, you know.
He can be a %polygamist If he likes"
you're right" said Britt. THE will
doesn't specify. But. my dear Saun-
ders, you are overlooking your
client in this plan"
81 don't quite understand, Mr.. Britt"
"As understand the laws on this
island-the church laws, at least-a
man can have as many wives as he
likes. Well That's all very well for