Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-09-08

is in nutshell: have not spoken OF
1t before, but you and Mr.. Browne car
very easily comply with the provisions
of the will. You can be married at
any time. Now, r.
"And where do come in?" demand
ed Deppingham sarcastically.
Yes, and ~ added Mrs. Browne.
"Yor forget us, Mr.. Saunders"
II include Mrs Browne" amended
Deppingham. Are we to be assas.
sinated? BY Jove, clever idea of yours
Saunders! Simplifies matters tremen.
dously."
81 hear no objection from the heirs"
remarked Saunders meaningly, where.
upon Lady Agnes and Bobby came out
of their stupor and protested vigor.
ously.
Miss Pelham" said Britt, breaking
in sharply, 81 trust you are getting all
of this down. l wish to warn you,
ladies and gentlemen, that expect to
overthrow the will on the ground that
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 DeppIng-
ham.
eve are living on an island where
polygamy is practiced and tolerated.
Why can't we take advantage of the
custom and beat the natives ut their
own game? That's the ticket.'
or course this proposition, simple us
1t sounded, brought forth Storm of
laughter and expostulation. but Saun-
ders held his ground.
| You have only to embrace Moham-
mechanism or paganism, or whatever
1t is, temporarily-just long enough to
get married and comply with the
terms. Then, dare say, you could re-
| sumo your Christian doctrine once
more, after few weeks, I'd say, and
the case is won."
II pay Lady Deppingham the COM
pliment by saying that it would be
most difficult for me to become
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" tloundered Saunders, getting
rather beyond his depth.
well, that's concession on your
part" said Mrs. Browne, Il flash in her
eye.
II never heard of such an asinine
proposition" sputtered Deppingham.
Saunders went completely under at
that.
ION the other hand,r he hastened to
remark. Pm sure it would be quite
legal if you did live to-
stop him, for heavens sake!"
screamed Lady Agnes, bursting into
uncomfortable laughter.
"Stop him? Why?" demanded her
husband, suddenly seeing what he re-
garded as u rare joke. ''Let's.hear him
out. By Jove. there's more to 1t than
thought. Go on, Saunders"
/ "Of course If you nre going to be nasty
about it, began Saunders in huff.
Il can't see anything nasty about it,"
said Browne. ''I'll admit that our
wife and our husband may decide to
. be stubborn and unreasonable, but ii
, sounds rather attractive to me-"
Robert" from his wife.
"He's only joking, Mrs. Browne" ex.
planned Deppingham magnanimously.
Now, let me understand you, Saun-
: ders. You say they can be married
according to the customs-which, l
, 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 Depping.
ham two husbands? It's quite fair
division
lit would make Lord Deppingham
my husband-in-law, l imagine" said
Drusilla quantity. "I've always had a
{ horror of husbands-in-law"
and you would be my wife-in-law,'
supplemented Lady Agnes. How in
teresting!'
Saunders" said Deppingham sober
| ly. II must oppose your plan. It's
quite unfair to two innocent and unin-
, yolved parties. What have we done
that we should be exempt from polyg-
!, amy?"
You are not exempt! exclaimed the
J harassed solicitor. You are merely
not obliged to; that's all. You can do
us you choose about it, Pm 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 lie likes"
you're right" said Britt. 1.-THE will
doesn't specify. But. my dear Saun-
ders. you are overlooking your own
/, 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
: Mr.. Browne. But isn't 1t also a fact
that woman can have no more than
: one husband? Lady Deppingham has
one husband. She can't take another
without first getting rid of this one"
. Saunders said Deppingham, aris-
ing and lighting II fresh cigarette, ''you
have gone clean daft. You're loony
with love. You've got marriage on the
brain. I'd advise you to take some
one for IT,"
do you mean that for NE, Lord
: Deppingham!' demanded Miss Pelham
: sharply. She glared at him and then
slammed her notebook on the table.
. You can josh Mr.. Saunders, but you
can't Josh me. Pm sick of this job.
. Get somebody else to do your work
after this. I'm through"
"Oh! exclaimed every one, in q
panic. 1t took nearly ten minutes tc
l pacify the rutfied stenographer.
Perhaps we could arrange for di-
vorce all round" cried Saunders, sud
denly inSnirod