The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-30

By Octavus Roy Cohen.
Co-Author of Nothing But The Truth" ETC.

safed Buck meekly. They'll testify
| that I was not myself"
''Thanks-I don't care for their
| testimony. I won't hear a word.
How did it happen?'
| ct had been drinking
| Something suspiciously like a sob
| came from Virginia Earle, but when
| Buck glanced at her he found her
| staring at the majestic figure of the
| imperturbab1e Stratford.
81 had been drinking and-I-I
got married.
| ITO whom?"
fTo a-a-woman."
'Is that so? Well, you just listen
here, Mr.. David Garrick Mccartney
if you were man enough to marry a
woman when you were engaged. to
the sweetest little girl in the world"
Don't rub it in. please-it's hard
enough to know all that without
hearing some one else say so.''
IF you were man enough to marry
| and break your pledge to my ward,
you'll be man enough to take care
of the woman you've married. That's
definite, final. and settled. Who did
you marry? What's her name /?
Where is she? Bring her in here
'"Thelma!" called Buck. There
was a pause of a few minutes and
Uncle Charley opened his mouth
then closed it again-to open it and
close it once more.
Across the room his gaze chung to
that of Bucks wife.
'Toot-toot--' stammered Uncle
Charley.
"AIl aboard" chuckled Thelma
Buck war staring from one to the
other in amazement. A blind man
But how could that be possible :?
Thelma was admittedly a rather
mediocre actress. while Uncle Char
ley was of Middlevale. middlevaley.
He was all that a leading citizen of
an austere little town could be and
then some.
Yet Uncle Charley Mccall was
scared stiff at sight of this rather
fiamboyant creature whom his
holy matrimony. 1t was Virginia
who voiced the question that was up
permost in the minds of all.
'You know her?''
know her? Know her?" The
thunder had deserted Uncle Charley's
voice very suddenly and extremely
completely "No-I-have never seen
her before. For minute she re-
| minded me ola friend
Thelma stepped lightly across the
room toward Uncle Charley. For the
briefest fraction of a second her eyes
flashed to Bucks with a message of
triumphant good cheer. Buck was
satisfied that in some way his wife
held the upper hand in this domestic
tangle. He felt that but for two
things he might laugh; and the two
things were Virginia and his aching
head.
Thelna extended her hand, and
Uncle Charley perforce extended his.
Swiftly Thelma stepped close.
"Nunky," she sibilated. eff you
know what's good for you you'll fol-
low my lead and play hands off for
making trouble for Buck. Get that %"
1t was plain that nunky got that.
You play on the level with me,
and I'll do the same" she continued
in an undertone. 1t was patent to
all that Uncle Charley Mccall and
Mrs. Buck Mccartney were far from
being strangers to one another vir-
ginia swept regally by TheIma and
clutched her guardians arm.
What does this mean?H she de-
handed.
f"This woman? Who is she?"
Thelma turned and smiled.
That bein' me, deary, I guess"
II didn't address you" snapped
Virginia with icy hauteur. ga
woman who will marry an engaged
man when he is intoxicatedI
Thelma was not one to shirk bat
tie.
some women can't held their
fellers even then" she retorted
quickly.
"rll not discuss the matter with
you. I will thank you to address
yourself to my uncle, if you will. or
to your-your husband, but MOTTO
me-"
II sh'd say" retorted Thelma
freezingly, "that you're mighty upp-
ish in my home.''
I'll go out then Virginia turn
cepted her.
please Virginia."
Miss Earle
Damn that nonsense! Every
things at skies and sevens. Don't
make matters worse
she was right. This is her home
Buck turned pleadingly to Thelnna.
Take it back. won't you, Thelmae
Be a good sport"
The woman shrugged.
81 should worry. 1t was her that
started it,
please Virginia. wanted to dis
cuss this thing
Isn't it rather late to discusssuch
thing as this?"
IT'S never too late to hope" Buck
turned toward his uncle. II want to
break away. know you'll help me
GET A DIVORCE"
Uncle Charley's eyes met Thelma's
warning look and he shook his head
ponderously.
You've made your bed, young
man, you'll lie in it!
What? You mean you're desert
ing me? You mean you won't help
me out of this scrape?"
cit all rests with your wife. David.
If she consents to a divorce, you
shall have one If she does not con-
sent, why, confoUnd it, man, you
WON'T"
And I'm the goat" moaned Buck
sadly. she just married me for the
money I'll get from you anyway; be
honest now. didn't You, Thelma -
That's one good way to bet was
the calm retort.
You see Uncle Charley she won't