After he proposed I broke down, as
per schedule, and confessed that I had deceived him to the extent that
I was already married. Married to a man I didn't love, and who didn't
love me, but who was a tight-wad and who wouldn't let me go unless he
saw a lot of money in it for him. And I gave Dick all the rest of the
story, just as we had doped it out."
"Great work, Maggie! How did he take it?"
"Exactly as we figured he would. He was sorry for me; it didn't make
any difference at all in his feelings for me. He'd buy my husband off--
give him any price he wanted--and just so I wouldn't have to feel
myself bound to such a man a minute longer than necessary he'd make a
bargain with him at once and pay him part of the money right down. To-
night, if he could get in touch with my husband. And so, Barney, since
we had to act quick and there was no time to bring in another man that
I could pass off as my husband, I confessed to him that I was married
to you."
"To me!" exclaimed Barney.
"And he's coming here in less than an hour, with real money in his
pockets, to see if he can't fix a deal with you."
"Me!" exclaimed the startled Barney again. His beady eyes glowed at
her ardently. "Gee, you know I wish I really was married to you,
Maggie! If I was, you bet money couldn't ever pry you loose from me!"
"Well, there's the whole lay-out, Barney.
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