The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-07-20

pass from his pocket and pointed
 vaguely into what proved to be the
 southwest.
 "We must tell Lady Deppingham not
 to take the rooms at this end," was
 the next thing that the listeners heard
 from Mrs. Browne's lips. Her lady
 ship turned upon her husband with a
 triumphant sniff.
 What did I tell you," she whis- pered. 'I knew they'd want the best of everything. Isn't it lucky I bounced upon these rooms? They shan't turn us out. You won't let 'em, will you,
 Deppy"
 "The fmpudence of 'emr was all that Deppy could sputter.
 At that moment the American party caught sight of the pair in the corner.
 For a brief space of time the two par ties stared at each other, very much as the hunter and the hunted look when they come face to face without previous warning. Then a friendly, half abashed smile lighted Browne's face.
 '1 beg your pardon" said Browne. 'sThis is Lord Deppingham?' l "Ya-as," drawled Deppy, with look which was meant to convey the i'm precision that he did not know who the deuce he was addressing.
 Permit me to introduce myself. | am Robert Browne"
 1 "Oh," said Deppy, as if that did not convey anything to him. Then, as an afterthought, Glad to know you, I'm sure" Still he did not rise, nor did he extend his hand. For a moment young Browne waited, a dull red growing in his temples.
 | Don't you intend to present me to ] Lady Deppingham he demanded 1 bluntly without taking his eyes from Deppy's face.
 "Oh-er-is that neces"- | "Lady Deppingham,~ mrerrupped Browne, I am Robert Browne, the man you are expected to mafry. We are here for the same purpose, I sus- pect. We can't be married to each other. That's out of the question! But we can 1.-Two together as if we''- Good Lordr roared Deppy, coming | to his feet in a towering rage Browne smiled apologetfcally and lifted his hand.
 -"as if we were serving out the pre- scribed period of courtship set down in the will. Believe me, I am very happily married, as I hope you are. The courtship, you will perceive, is neither here nor there. Our every is- sue is identical, Lady Deppingham. Doesn't it strike you that we will be very foolish if we stand alone and against each other?'
 My solicitor''- began Lady Dep bingham and then stopped She was smiling.in spite of herself
 Your solicitor and mine can get to- gether and talk it over,' said Browne blandly. "We'n leave 1t to them. I am quite ready to be a friendly ally, not foe"
 "Let me understand you," began Deppingham, cooling off suddenly. "Do you mean to say that you are not going to fight us in this matterF'
 'tNot at all, your 1ordship.' said Browne coolly. q am here to fight Taswell Skaggs and John Wyckholme, deceased. I think both of us will run no risk if we smash the will. If we don't smash it the islanders will cheer fully take the legacy off our hands"
 By Jove!'' muttered Deppy, looking at his wife.
 Thank you, MT. Browne, for being so frank with us,' she said coolly. "If you don't mind, I will consult my so licitor." She bowed ever so slightly, indicating that the interview was at an end and, moreover, that 1t had not been of her choosing.
 "Any time, your ladyship," said Browne, also lowing. 'I think Mrs. Browne wants to speak to you about the rooms"
 we are quite settled, MT. Browne, and very well satisfied" she said pointedly, turning red with a fresh touch of anger.
 'I trust you have not taken the rooms at this end.'
 "We have. We are occupying them"
 "I'm sorry,' said Browne. "We were warned not to take them. They are said to be unbearable when the hot winds come in October"
 whats that?' demanded Depping- ham.
 "The book of instructions, and de | scription which we have secured sets all that out" said the other. ''It's l strange that the servants didn't warn you"
 "The-the confounded servants left | us yesterday before we came, every l mothers son of 'em. There isn't | servant on the place. |
 What? You don't mean it? I say, | Britt, come here a moment, will you? | Lord Deppingham says the servants | have struck
 The American lawyer, a chubby, red | faced man of forty, with clear gray | eyes and stubby mustache, whistled l soulfully.
 ''Tll see what can do, MT. Browne. Got to have cooks. eh, Lord Depping- ham?" Without waiting for an an- swer he dashed off. The native car riers were leaving the grounds when Britt's shrill whistle brought them to a standstill. The lawyer waved a tri- umphant hand to his friends and then climbed into one of the filters to be borne off in the direction of the town.
 Hell have the servants back at