The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-07-05
The Morning After
 By Octavus Roy Cohen
 CoAut of sNothing

| never seen her DefOTe Tn his llIe. He went too far then. If he'd said he was not her husband-but he carried it to the limit.
 Frankly, I had entertained the | idea that Manning was an old flame | of yours, and I'm sure he had some thing to do with influencing O'Con- nor's amazing statement. Now don't fly off the handle. If I'm wrong, 1 I'm wrong, and there's no harm done. But I'd certainly like to find out something somewhere" Can't you talk to Thelma % "She avoids me. When I came in this morning she was crazy to talk.
 Now she hasn't word to say. And the two men who came in the room and cut her short when she was talk ing to me were this Stratford nut and Howard Manning" Aren't you unjust, MT. Shannon?
 Don't you suppose that MT. Manning wanted to avoid notoriety for his friends?"
 Ut is possible-it is even probable. But I'm laying ten to one that How
 ard Manning wants to marry you
 and I'm not blaming hlm..'
 Thank you. And your theory is that with Buck out of the way I'd accept him ?'
 Take the head of the class. I'm
 an innocent bystander. and that's the way matters shape up in my eyes. What do you think? ''I think you're crazy. I think you've let your imagination run away with you. However, You'll work along those Hnes?" Yes
 Meanwhile Uncle Charley had man. aged to shake Buck without betray- ing his state of intense excitement.
 By dint of strategy and dollars dis
 creetly slipped into the soapy hands of Bertha of Sweden. Uncle Charley had smugled his suit case and Vir- ginia's into a kitchen closet, and all was now ready for flight. Having made his escape from the verbal-clutches of his nephew, Uncle Charley set out in search of his ward. And as she was searching for him they met very quickly indeed He put his fingers warningly on his lips and drew her into the prison room. Then his fat face wreathed into a smile.
 Its all fixed" he chuckled. The.
 suit-cases are in the kitchen closet and everythings ready for us to get down the back steps" But in the past few minutes Vfr- ginia had undergone a change. No longer was she anxious to escape;
 rather, she had determined to see the thing through and she told her guardian as much. "I believe this 1nixup will be clear ed in a little while. Uncle Charley Let's stay and see it through" Why, what are talking about? l thought you were the one most anxious to get away?'' I was. but I've changed my mind" She faced him squarely and ! hDp rI- What was there between you and | Thelma O'Connor?'' Uncle Charley spluttered, then pur- pied, Between us-nothing. Moth ing at all, I assure you.' Now, Uncle Charley" she cfided. I'm sure there was, Don't you know
 you can't fool me that way. Why don't you tell me all about it 2" T can't" he sroaned miserably. "T ! can't. It's terrible. Let's get away from this accursed place." No" she retorted firmly. "T'm not going. I'm going to remain here
 and see this thing through" But you promised-'' And changed my mind I've q right to do that. I've found out that
 Buck and Thelma are not married" They are"
 They are not. Thelma is o'con- nors wife,
 Ridiculous. He says and she says How do you know that, anyway"
 Virginia smiled slightly. She showed me-" she answered cryptically. Anyway. I know, And don't want you to go, Uncle Charley l want you to stay here. " ou're talking childishIy'' he snorted. i've made arrangements to
 escape and I'm going to do it. Are you coming with me?" No-and I beg you again not to
 go- It is your duty to stay here TOT Bucks sake"
 "Confound Buck He got me in- 10 all this mess. But" he shrugged Gro Be Concluded Tomorrow, If you insist, I guess I've got to stay" Au5 sha kissed him on sha