The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-06-25
CHAPTER xLIn

DAVt8ht8bbDtA Uh b1bg hEbtEEs
 
 CHAPTER xLIIf
 Cons surprise was genuine. "An anonymous letter." he repeated T don't understand"
 "Perhapg you will when you read it." Bill tossed the letter on the table. His eyes did not leave the others face as he read the message, ... Then Bill asked, What "Weii--what about it?"
 "Dld my wife meet you yester' Con drew clgarct from his pocket and held q lighted match Co t. You haven't questioned herT' he asked.
 T sald I came to you. Did she meet your"
 Yes"
 "WhyW
 If were you I'd ask her."
 I'm not asking for advice but information. Why did she meet you7"
 "i3ecause sent word for her to-"
 "What right have you to ask my wife to meet you soerotlyT
 "As good a right as you have Co demand an explanation from mo-" "Thhfs no answer"
 "lts all you'll get --- now"
 BilI's fists clenGhed. He fcit an almost irresistible impulse to smash his fist Into the handsome, fnocklng face before him. "f don't know the code your kind lives by" he said thickIy, Out the day h4aAAtlnA fa(t lhn nlNHHa SAa ua A through with you and your stand. ards. She's my wife now. Bhe'H 1.-Two according Co my principles and they don't include relations with other mcn."
 "YonhW
 "Tf you value your skin you'll pack up and leave this town on the first train"
 "And fl don'tW
 "gll And some means Co see that "Btrong arm stuff, eh? Better consult Madeline before you do anything she wouldn't llkG-.-"
 "Why, damn y0ul" Ell lungGd forward but Con dodged the blow, 1ie laughed and the laugh WG8 like q whip lash in Bills faee---a con. firmatlon of aii the doubts thdt had boon EnaWing ht his heart slneo the night before.
 "ff you don't want dirty scan. dal that y0ull be sorry for, you'd better keep your. temper" tho hfii- mai trainer BnnriGd. And that's no you for G sucker and that you're innocent Of' the whole mess, but If you got nasty 1 cGn, too. fVo kept my mouth shut but if you rll6 me, by God I'll drag her into court and let tho devil pay the bill"
 His words staggered Bill. They were utterly inc6mprehenslble. A schndnI~-yeB, that would wreck his iifo and MGdeilnes But what was this threat about c0urtY
 You think you married a pure little fec maiden" Con wont on reionflcssly, his anger mounting at the H0rn he read ln th6 others face. "s0 honest that"
 'I3ill's hand caught tho neck Of Cons robe, He shook tho animal trainer until his teeth rattl6d. That will do," no repeated. Burs prised Gt tho sudden onslaught, Con stumbled b1ck against the wall, knocking over tho suitc1s6
  vhIise. The contents, including < rolled document tied with blu6 ribbon, tufnblod to th6 floor,
 Black oyG8 narrOw6d Co mere alltg Con'8 lips became a crimson Rhsh ln C Dasty white face. "Ask her who Madeline Blddal married in Louisville before 2,000 Wlts Dess0s," hs gaspdd 6xplOslv6ly. ASK her shout the ceremony in the Dig top Ask her the name of the man who stood uD with hsfW HsVulsl0n swept over Blll. For A second the other mans insinu1s tons pnss6d unhe6ded. Th6n slow iy 1t dnwnod upon him that Con had sGid something Of VitnI ifnp0r- tanGe, something that shook tbs whole structure Of his marriage. "What do you mohnY" no sthfn' yn6rcd.
 Con flung baGk his head, laugh. Tnarrl6d mel Oct thatY She mar. Fied me In the aroma"
 "ThhtS q liei"
 Ifs itY Here's ths certificate Co prove itl Ask herl Ask your IiIys wblt0 bride. Bh6 can't dGHy it. That's why she cam6 when 1 sent for her" II0 BtO0pGd and sHhtched up the rolled paper, Tipped of tbs ribbon and dGngIsd ths certificate before BlIPs eyes. "1es the nnmesY Madeline Biddal and Conrad DavidW
 Bill gave strangicd cry, flung open tho door and dashed down the hall He swayed ike G drunk en man. He had been prepared for anything but this Tho cnor' mlty of it ssIn him a bit insane. At the foot of the stairs he hosI. tated, weighing the adyisability Of returning and choking the lif6 Out of the animal trainer or going back 10 the farm and killing his wife.
 His wife---but she wasn't his wife! She was the wife Of that yeliOW-faced scoundreI who had known she had married another li- legally and done nothing about it. The woman he had loved and trusted was C cheat, q bigamist. But for that damned paper he would never have believed it!
 He did not see the gaunt figure at the end of the passage who stood watching him with voraciOua eyes and q snirking smile. When she called him by name he turned automatically. without knowing that he did SO.
 "BlIl BiddaIl It's me--Mis' Planter. You see hIm?"
 "What?"
 "You see that circus feller?"
 "What do you know about him7"
 "EvcrythIng. sent son the let. ter. Did you get it7 was afraid fo sign my name. but now that you know about him don't care. reckon everybody will be kncwins nsw. slch things can't he kept hid f was trying to save you. If JOu'd a.folIowed her yesterday mebbe vou could m-et0pped talk"
 He stared at her duly. H Y 1 anubffnl R ho heard anything sne