The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-20
s.Now, whatNhave yousto,says''
CHAPTER ~.
What? Another Husband.

- IT was a perfeetly y4 nsl tsaFas, but not
 an especially obvious question
 TheSlittle manager threw up his
 hands, and cried out in a sad mixture of French, EnglishRand Hel- vetian:
 srWhat? Another husband? Madam, how many more, do you propose to in hict us with7 We cannot allow itl The management NviH not permit you to change husbandssthe instant a new guest arrives in the house. It is not to be heard of-no, noN''
 Are you afraid thatethe books won't balance?" asked Brock, with a joyous grin, a great load off his heart. tfLa- dies and gentlemen, permit me to in troduce MT Roxbury Medcroft, my friend and fellow conspirator- He is the husband of this lady, not l. I am to be the husband of this s1ady, thank Godr''
 There was a moment of absolute si- 1ence-it may have been stupor- The two audiences faced each other with emotions widely at variance. It was Mrs Rodney who spoke first.
 'Is this true, Bdith?' she quavered. ''Yes, yes, yesr' cried Edith, her eyes l dancing.
 ''Then, what are you doing here with a man who isn't your husbandp' de manded Mrs. Rodney, suddenly adame. "I can explain everything to you l later on, Mrs. RodneyS' interposed Mrs i Odell-Carney calmly. She had dtvined 1 at least a portion of the truth, and she was clever enough to put herself on the right side. Edith cast an fnvol- l untary look of surprise at the English l woman. 'I have known everything l from the first. Mrs. Medcroft and l l HAa thought.,' She gave Edith a meaning look and a moment later was whisper ing to her in a private corner. of the private office: My dear, don't know what it means, but you must tell me everything as soon as possible. I am your friend. Whatever it all is, it's | rippin8f'
 Mederoft finally waved every one aside fl the most degage manner imaginable.
 Don't crowd me! Hang 1t all, I'm not a curiosity. There isn't anything to go crazy about My friend, MT Brock, has just done me a trffing fa- I vor That's all The whole story will be in the London papers this morning. Buy 'em. Pm going up to my wife's room to see my baby. I'll come down and explain everything when I've had a bit of breathing spell. It's annoy ing to have had this fuss about a sim pie little matter of generosity on the part of my friend, who, I've no doubt, has been a most exemplary husband. I'll see to it, by Cad, that he receives the proper apologies. And, for that matter, my wife may have something to say about the outrage that has been perpetrated." sfses
 when did you arrive old man ?' -'s "Last night on the 12:1O. I register ed as Smith. It was so late that I decided not to disturb Edith They said in the office that you'd gone to bed,- Brock. Now that I recall it, they said it in very odd way too. In fact, one of the clerks asked if I had it in for you too.''
 You were here all night?' murmur. ed Constance in plaintfve misery.
 Well, not precisely all night Con- aie Half of it,'' replied Roxbury. "Brock. you ass, I telegraphed you ] was coming and asked you to meet me at the station. I telegraphed twice from London and'-
 Don't call me an /ass," grated Brock. s'Why didn't you send 'em to me as Medcroft? I haven't been Brock until this very morning.
 "'Pon my soul, Brock, it was rather stupid of me- he confessed sheepish ly. 'But, you See,' with an inspired smile, ''one of 'em was to congratulate you on winning Connie By love, yor know, couldn't very well address that one to myself"
 H4But-but he hadn't won me- stam mered Constance Fowler.
 "Edith,' said Roxbury, deep reproact in his voice you wrote me that 2 week ago. Edith merely squeezed his arm.
 Odell- l-Carney came forward and ex tended his hand Permit me to intro duce myself, sir. I am George Odell Carney. It has given me great pleas ure to serve you without knowing you In my catalogue of personalities you have posed intermittently as a-dem med bounder, a deceived husband, 2 betrayed lover, a successful lover and lot of other things can't just now recall. Acting on the presumption tha you might have been friend in dis tress, I worked hard in your interest Now l discover, to my qualification you are a perfect stranger, whom : am proud to meet Permit me to offel Ne my warmess feIicitations and to as 4 sure you that MT. Brock will make splendid brother-in-law He hesitat ed a moment and then went eA: 'sEt e you are the chap that really put il h those c'nfended memorial windows T 'Pon me word, sir; they are the rot } tenest''-
 n "Carneyl' came the sharp reminde e from his wife.
 a, Odell-Carney. you are the chap wh s, played the deuce with the buildin Rrafters in the county council. Rs