The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-19

You spread the lie before you made any attempt to ascertain the truth. But there, we'll leave IL to think me impatient; but Mrs Scarlet will want t1e fumgated after you have been in It, beSofe sps can use it again Good evening.
 "Fumigated? was never 50 insuited in my lie. roared the rector, he went out, limp and heokea man. He had heart for noisy talk with NDg Scarlet. That good lady therefore spent an imps- tient evening" devoured by her eagerness to be con- versng sympathetically with the niece of baronee. Next morning she could have dealt with the sowness with which the hours were passing in really uniady- like language. At eleven o'clock gentleman cailed to see her who proved to be lawyers clerk. With brisk heartiness he presented her with legal docu which explained the writ in action for islander brought against her by Mrs. Scarlet and that the amount of damage claimed f5,0O0
 Mrs. sby-Glaisher at first exceedingly an- noyed, since she was doubtful whether 1t was quite good form to call lady who was bringing an action for islander against her. But presently it oc cured to her that she might very well make the wit excuse for calling earlier than the usual h0ux, to talk such a serious matter at once, amicahiy; and she grew cheerful again. Then In came the limp and broken rector, bearing in his hand similar writ which the brisk and hearty lawyers clerk had just served him.
 Mrs Glaisher treated the matter of writs with light contemptuous cheerfulness. She assured him that they merely the formal way of treating the matter; that people of position like the scarlets ended by saying It's just matter TOT @ IIIie friendly chat shall call on Mrs Scarlet this sfter and settle it. We shall be all the better friends for this little tiff; you'll see.'
 The rector went away striving to share her con- hdence; but MT Antony scariets R eyes, a1st fss sna he needed comfort-comfort from his iawyer-and went to town.
 When outshining the rainbow in her magnificent apparel Mrs. Busby GlasEer knocked at the Scarlets door, it opened by the maid with whom she had been so Automatically firm tho night before
 The maid said My mistress said that if you had the brazen impudence to call wasn't to let you into the house And the master has gone to town to see his lawyer about my bringing action againA you for calling me shameless liar."
 q don't want any impudence from you. you i'm, fv,%1 $t,n droru at once, and fell your mistress insist on seeing her." roared Mrs. Busby-GIaisher
 The maid shut the door in her face, and left her planted on the steps With her splendid frmness and in the very nick Of time. Mrs. Busby Glajsher curbed fit of apoplexy and went home She drank strong brandy and soda and sat down to consider other of getting in touch with Mrs. Scarlet and becoming reconcied with her, Suddenly 1t flashed upon her that Mrs Scarlet might be serious in her action for islander. She took the writand the anony nous letter and went to town to her husbands solicitor.
 Mr Horsham an old friend of her husbands ceved her with the air of gloomy distase she wrongly believed habtual to him. But as tshe told her story and answered his searching questions he gradually grew cheerful; and at the end he said "A dissust. ing business; a very disgusting business indeed l less than f5,O0O. She will be fool if she does; and Bickersteth & Crumpton not the fools to let her.
 What! Me pay f5,ooo!" cried Mrs. Busby- Glaisher.
 "Certainy, you'll pay" said Mir. Horsham, almost with glee There isn't chance of your doing any thing else' .e.....
 Never! I'll fight the case through every court in England"
 "Then it will cost you ten thousand said Mr. Hor- sham scarcely able to restrain his Joy st the de- tested lady's predicament.
 Nonsense! I don't believe it Engage the best legal talent in England At onee!" cried his cisut-
 Pardon me- This is not the kind of business my firm would dream of touching. It would utterly destroy our standing in the profession said Mr. Horsham.
 He was firm in this refusal and the face of tho Mrs Busby-GIaisher who left the office, screaming vituperation, rich purple. She came home, raging, to find large gathering of the ladies of Prn- gle Hill in her drawingroom, and in the middle ef them the pale and perspiring rector. The iawyers clerk had been improving the shining hours by visit ing them, frightening them, and bullying evidence out of them with his brisk heartiness. The recosr had come in to tell her that his lawyer, too, had bdden him settle the case, and refused to defend it. The ladies' terrified by the lawyers clerk infuriated most of them by the thought that they had been mised into insulting innocent lady, and the niece of baronet at that had been merciIessly beratins him for disgracefu scandal-monger. The raging Mrs Busby Glaisher turned the excited drawing into the scene of a battle royal; and when, after storm recrminations, she roared her revothg sub jects out the house, she sat down the sofa to realize that her domination ofPringe Hill was shat tered for years, maybe beyond recovery
 fortnight later, MT. Antony Scarlet took up the two checks for f5,0OO which his wife had just indorsed, he said "Tm going to pay them into my account. Dolly Your uncle said that if ever could show him f1O0O0 of my own he'd raise your allow ance from f500 f1,5O0. Since, with the interest from this shall have couple of thousand year, we will leave these pleasant Prngle shades and take a flat in Mount Street among the people we know"
 Oh how rice!' cried Mrs. Scarlet Then sss added thoughtfully: But I've been wenGeri=- gent that horrid anonymous letter which enabled ts to punish thcsn detcstnhe rcoplc.
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