The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-07-06

could have queered the whole game sooner. To me it was one huge joke and it meant heap
 We understand-go ahead"
 After the thing started l saw I'd caused trouble between a right decent chap and the girl he was in love with, and I told Stratford I was ready to call it off. He wouldn't listen. Be- | fore that time he had got me sus- picious by refusing to let me talk to | MT. Shannon, the reporter, here. Maybe I've been a dupe. but I | ain't such a fool that I can't see l through a mill-stone when it's got a hole in it. If he didn't want it to get | into the papers, then I couldn't see | where I got off at, because the whole | thing was gotten up sos it would get | in the news columns. I asked Strat- | ford about it, and he said the time | wasn't ripe yet. | Then | overheard him talking to 1 Manning, who was at the bottom of | the whole thing-that was just a lit- | tie while aso-and I got wise that I l was the goat, and it was a deal so's | Miss Virsinia'd get sore at Buck and | marry MT. Manning out of spite while he was mixed up with me. Get that? l And Manning was double-crossing l even Stratford because he wouldn't
 give him the money he'd promised. | of course them two guys didn't
 want the story to get into the papers They never had no idea of starring
 me in a play, They was just want | ing to work little private graft of | their own; Manning to marry Miss | Virginia and Stratford to blackmail | Manning M:!ybe I've been foolish
 but I'm here 70 say that I never knew they was up to any dirty tricks. and I'm willing to tell the whole story | in r1, iol,t
 with me-"
 She paused for minute, then
 shrugged slowly.
 That's the whole story, folks. I
 played my part so long as I thought
 I was getting a square deal I didn't
 mean to cause nobody trouble. It
 was all joke to me-a press-agent
 played the game my way when Man
 ming explained the thing to him.
 That's all I got to say-but If them
 two crooks knew what I thought
 about them-they could have me sent
 up the river!"
 Buck spoke to Manning, his tones
 low and menacing. You dirty hound! Jail would be
 too good for you. You and this other
 crook made dupe of a woman, dou-
 ole-cross the man who has regard ed
 you as friend-and try to win a girl
 by false means. I'd like to smash that face of yours so your own moth ' CT wouldn't know you. And-by George! I'll get even with you. I'll
 punish you-" He whirled on Virginia
 He ought to be punished, oushtn't he?"
 Anything is too good for him." she
 snapped coldly. And you'll help me?" Yes"
 Then marry me right here now .. i. Make him be one of the witnesses" "Oh!" Virginia colored and stepped | back slowly.
 Better do it, Virginia" chucklet | Uncle Charley, who in the discom , f1ture of the others had regained some ! of his own boise. You never car . tell whats going to happen "I don't know" Do it. And you. O'Connor," con . tinued Uncle Charley, "Td like to siv.
 fat check to you and your estimabl, e wife. A really good check 4 cou = pie of thousand say-' I The eyes of husband and wife met And we can buy that one-ac sketch, Courtenay," enthused Thelma
 and maybe get booked on the bi; = time-''
 "As for the newspaper reporter, Incle Sharley. ., don't know" Jimmy Shannon
 shook his head, its an awful goo, o story-'
 MT. shannon" pleaded Virginia
 T wish you'd keep it out''
 'I wish I could, but You've helped us so, and now t. l. spoil It. B. But my duty is to the paper"
 She pouted. 
 don't you?''
 Do I? I should say I do,' n Well" Virginia stamped her foo o imperiously, Eff all this horrible stor II Is going to get out into the papers won't marry him. So there!" And if I promise to keep 1t out
 you will mary him?''
 "Y-y-yes.' l. Here? Now?"
 "Y-y-yes"
 u Then let me get just two thing
 straigtened out before any promise B. are made. Mrs. O'Connor-there Wa
 no marriage ceremony performed g is all last night between you and Buc ,i. Mccartney, was there?" p "No."
 ID And the lcense?" 'Stratford got that out. They neve l. ask very many questions. and Man E. ming was with him to witness. Tn IS certificate was plain falery. Buc
 signed it, but he didn't know wha 1e he was doing. He'd have signed y' check for a million last night if he 10 been asked to-
 Jimmy grinned. T. How about it, Macartney?' m Buck nodded.
 If Virginia will marry me-" eh Then it's go,' laughed Jinm,
 And now, Miss Earle-what do yo say? Do I ring for the minister al ss have you marry Mccartney here an l. now? Or does this get into the DE 1g pers and Manning and Stratford 2 n- to jail?''
 O. The girls eyes Were downcast an ne her bosom rose and fell under tt ne stress of the new and exquisite em, lo tion When she spoke her voice W; e. very, very soft
 al I-l-gueSs I'd better keep it o oo or the papers-at any cost" she sa
 simply.