The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-29
CHAPTER I. The Awful Discovery

of Buck Mccartney. Buck groaned and pressed feverish hands to the throbbing head. Buck groaned as he turned toward the washstand with its usually convenient pitcher of cold water, and his gaze travelled across the room he momentarily forgot the ache, everything save that be was in the first stage of delirium tremens.
 She was a rather full-blown wo- man; neither old nor young, neither homely nor pretty. Her kimono was of lavender and her sheer silk stock ings and satin slipper matched ex- cellently. She hummed easily as she rocked back and forth, each motion of the chair bringing a despairing whine from a faulty spot in the floor boarding.
 Buck pressed his hands tightly over his eyes, shutting out all view; then removed them slowly. The ap- partition was still there. He pinched himself-yes, he was awake.
 He read the titles of five books on his center table and began to believe that he was fairly sane. And then, when he would have spoken, the woman turned her gaze to his.
 Well" she remarked in a calm, matter-of-fact tone; you've walked at last
 "Uhuh!"
 "Golly, that was a swell bun you had. Head hurt much now?"
 "Hurt?' Buck caressed the throb- ping temples and continued to stare at her. "I should say it does. Oh! for some ice water.'
 She departed in the general direc-~ ton of the buffers pantry. Buck fol- lowed her with his eyes and made quick personal appraisement, but what the devil was she doing in his apartment?
 evident that she m k ing herself veery much at home and very desirable, for she bore a cut glass pitcher filled with icy water. She filled a glass to the brim and handed it to Buck, who drained the first glassfu1 and handed it back for more. He drank that and another and another.
 Your bath is ready. Buck" she in- formed the bewildered man. Jump in. You'll feel better them
 Whoever she was. decided Buck, she was both competent and familiar. -'Buck!" And he'd never set eyes on her before
 "I say-' He tried to collect his chaotic thoughts What are you Q, trained nurse?"
 No indeed, I'm not a trained nurse"
 Then who are you, and what are you doing here? Don't you know that this is a bachelor apartment and it'd play thunder with your rep if you were found out? You've got to get out You" The face of the wo- man flushed and she rose to her feet.
 That's enough of that, MT. Dave Mccartney. If you think you can get rid of me that way
 Get rfd-say, who the devil are your"
 Who am I? Aint there some guy said it's a wise man that knows his own wife?'
 His own wife. I've got no wifel"
 ''Ohi yes indeed you have. Yours truly" she bowed mockingly. My GawdI Buck, you was more enthu- siastic last night than now
 You're crazy" he wheezed. CT never saw you in my life before. What is it; a joke? Because if it is, it's sprung at the wrong time My heads splitting and Pm feeling rotten.''
 That's no reason,' tartly, why you should insult your bride. Amt you got no respect for my feelings?"
 Buck rose angrily to his feet.
 Here, cut out this nonsense and tell me what the game is. If it's a joke on me I'll laugh; see-ha-ha-ha-! But for the love of Mike get out of here and let me alone"
 The woman's eyes met his and flashed fire. She crossed to the dress CT and extracted a rather gaudy hand bag. From its depth she produced two papers
 Come here," she ordered curtly.
 Buck came.
 What's this?"
 It was a marriage license made out for David Garrick Mccartney and Thelma O'Connor.
 What is it?" she snapped again.
 'A-a-marriage license"
 -'Now whats this?' and she Tipped open the other paper,
 Good Lord-a marriage certifi- cte."
 Precisely. Now read the names of the witnesses.''
 Frederic Stratford and Howard Manning, Manning was a witness? And he let me marry you? I guess I was dunk"
 Yes" causticaIly, "I guess you were. But you weren't so drunk that you forgot the formalities necessary to a legal marriage. And I'm your wife, get that? If you-''
 Say, when did you come to this apartment?''
 This morning about three o'clock"
 Who with ?'
 You and Mir Stratfcrd and Mir Manning Then they left us-the bridal couple" ''Oh Lord" Buck Mccartney sank Imply into the inviting depths of chair. "I don't remember a, thing about it. I'm sure there must be something wrong omewhere.''
 "Y-y-you've betrayed me" For the love of Mike, don't bIub- ber''
 Listen here,' Mir. David Garrick Mccartney, I've had enough of that. Most husbands wait to reVile their wives until they've been married awhile. You're starting too early. And only last night you were calling me tootsie-wootsie and ducky-d -darlunls and snookums and
 "Stopi Stop, It's bad enough to know I've been a damned fool with cut knowing how sounded when I was doing it. I'm going to call Howard Manning-with your permis- sion"