The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-05-20

| a sleepy little village on the west bank. | 1t seemed to Kettle as if half the l passengers were rushing to disembark | at the same place, and with sinking heart he hurried Elsie into the solitary | village f1acre waiting at the pier and l directed the jehu te drive them to the | inn.
 The Rip Van Wrinkle Inn stood on sprawled like a white rag against the blur of the green hill behind it. Inc side the Inn itself the clerk dozed fit fully before the huge open fire that burned briskly in the big hall. He | was startled from his day-dreams by the advent of 8 brisk, fussy little per son in a frock coat and high hat who called himself Diggs, yet spoke with a pronounced TeutOnic accent. Dicta- torially, he demanded a room. The clerk stretched himself lazily,. glanced at Diggs' shabby handbag and assign ed him to a dollar room, insolently de- | manding payment in advance. t'I beg your pardon; I don't think l.you know who am?'' he said, hand ing a card to the clerk. "I am Pro- lessor Diggs,- of Omaha l ""The last, guy that trimmed me out of his board bill signed himself as a State Senator" sighed the clerk wear [ lily a- .
 l My picture is on all the posters around town,'' the professor violently reminded him. T am professor of hypnotism and give a perfornance here tonight. I will give you pass.'' &s>s .sess,
 sNo, thanks, no, pass yawned the clerk. A
 'Den you can give it to some one else" Ddggs assured him; the other. 'sNo baggage-money in advance" he insisted. "I hypnotize you now!'s Diggs threatened with. many gestures.
 '.Cut that stuff!' roared the clerk. but it, won't go in this burg. Come over with the dollar!'' Diggs fished out silver dollar and slammed it on the desk, then indig nantly signing the register, he grab bed his bag and fled up the stairs to when Kettle and Elsie appeared breathlessly on the threshold. glancing furtively around before they entered. .sI never spent such a miserable day in all my lffe,'' she. began. dropping down into a convenient chair to get ting back to Poughkeepsie,' she snap ped irritably.
 When does the next boat leave for Poughkeepsie ?" Kettle asked, timidly approaching the clerk. aThere was a green man down at the dock and he
  added apOlogetically.
 What did he tell yot, ?" drawled the clerk
 .sHe said there wasn't any!''
 Then he knew more than you thought he didl"
 8.sYou mean there isn't another boat" Elsie cried, spring to her feet.
 "Oh. what'H we dol"
 why, there must be another boat back to Poughkeepsie!" insisted Kettle with unaccustomed bravado The clerk eyed him with a glance of con tempt.
 aT'd write to the. president of the line about it if were you!' he ob- served loftily.
 Kettle was seized with another Of his brilliant If tardy inspirations. They could take a train! Why not? His disappointment was keener than ever when he learned that the next train to Poughkeepsie did not leave until the following morning. There was not single train going north out of the village that night.
 ssWell, then We will have to stay here overnight" Elsie cried aghast.
 50 you will" grinned the clerk.
 q think I'll have another cocktail!'1 muttered Kettle absently
 s.We'll have to get out of here some how tonight" Elsie protested, drawing Kettle aside out of earshot of the clerk Think of poor Percy waiting in Poughkeepsie!
 ..Oh, don't worry. Kettle said soothingly. ''Georgina will look after him."
 T think Percy is quite capable of taking care of himselfi'' she retorted very indignantly. breaking into a fresh flood of tears.
 Don't cry he begged sympathetic ally. The gentle note in his pleading voice only urged her to fresh out burst. Don't cry, say!" This time it was a sharp command. She stared up at him oddly. Then, dry ing her eyes at once, she smiled shy ly.
 ssAre all women alike?" he suddenly asked with significant meaning. When you beg them, they pay no l attention to you You have to com
 .'I think they are,'' she ventured ab- sently.
 'Ill remember that" he promised, | as his mind drifted to the command ing and Junoesque Georgina. Well" | he added .spinelessly, .I suppose we might as well make up our minds to stay over night"
 7 Timidly they approached the desk and aked for two rooms. Elsie re- minded him she would like room next to his own because she was ter ribly afraid to be alone. The clerk assigned them to numbers three and five on the balcony that stretched along one side of the great hall
 "I guess your husband won't mind if [ use his things Kettle whispered to her, as he glanced at the suitcase he had dropped at the door. "He has my suitcase"
 Register. please!'' bawled the clerk. Kettle edged toward the desk uncom- and. registered his own name. You forgot to register for your wife" snickered the youth. "Only guys what Is just married forgets their wives. they try to forget them and can't!" he added with an impu- dent leer. Kettle, afraid to protest, i. after his name.
 What did you put down?" Elsie begged curfously, eagerly.
 Richard Kettle and wife'-with oravado.
 'oh, what did you do that for?" She cried miserably. s"That can be used against you!
 'tNo!" he calculated. thunderstruck. !. How"
 With that confidence born of super or knowledge she related how per- ,ectly awful woman who had lived in their block had gotten a divorce on of a hotel register. She did not know the fuil particulars but she A 1ad heard her mother and her aunt discussing them in hushed whispers, md she reminded him that if GeOrgfna ever wanted to, she could ge a divorce : from him nOw> Kettle turned sick ,