The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-17
HE CLEVEREST WOMAN
 AUSTRALIA.
BY. GUY ROoTHBY.

(Copyright. 1906, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
 Thomas Guilfoy, of Melbourne, Aus tralia. had only one fault-he was just the least bit in the world too weak don't mean weakness in either a moral or a physical sense, but in the little insignificant trifies which go up mans character. And he fell in love-as men of his kind always do-with girl as ambitiously strong as he was weak. She was a splendid creature in every way-better fitted, his friends said, to adorn an embassy than to rule the middle class home of young Tom Gull foy. But Guilfoy's father was in ec- stasies.
 That's the proper sort of girl for my bsy Tom," he would say. You mark my word she'll make a man Of him yetp'
 His allowance to the young couple was on a par with his enthusiasm.
 During the engagement and for three golden months after the wedding day Tom Guilfoy bragged of what he was going to do in the future He was going to show his friends, he said. that he was made of the right stun. HIS wife said nothing: she looked after his buttons, sung his praises and formed her own plans for his reformation
 Before Christmas he bad quarrelled hopelessly with his father over some trivial question. The governor had his own pet theories and his son snould have had sense to humor them, put ne failed In this as in everything else, consequently he suddenly found him self cut off I cah tell you he was more than surprised.
 Then Mrs Guilfoy rose up and took matters into her own hands. She didn't rant. she didn't rave. she sim ply talked quietly but firmly to her husband. She saw that his self-es- teem had received shock. but she that he would remain very long de- pressed
 Acting on her fattering advice he applied for admittance to the Victorian bar. and in due course he secured ele- gantly furnished chambers and com- menced the practice of his profession. He had no clients. but his wife had scored one point.
 Now to my certain knowledge there are no less than three cleverest women in Australia, but neither of the other two are fit even to button the boots of Mrs Thomas Guilfoy. She made her. self popular everywhere, for her hus- bands sake, and a certain witty gover- nor once said In my hearing that of all women he'd ever met she the most resem- but there, 1t was all very pret- ty. and classical, and suited her ex- actly.
 fortnight later Mir Thomas Gull foy was briefed by Kelton and Quid- dle for Philpot, in the action of Bell vs Philpot. Mathews intervening" IT was a mixed-up case, just the sort of thing that would either make or break a man.
 Guilfoy lit a cigar and looked the brief over with the air of a man capa- ble of mastering It's difficulties at once. Reading it a second time he confessed that it certainly was involved. so he finished that cigar. lit another, and read it again This time the point grew still more obscure, and he began to have a hazy idea that he was not quite so clever as he thought himself.
 Putting his papers into his ba0 he took them home, but after dinner made some lame excuse and went to the club. His wife saw through 1t, but held her peace. She wanted to get hold of the brief
 When he returned about II she had with her quick womanly perception found a way out of the difficulty. and she had also invited MT and Mrs. Kel- ton to dinner on the following eve ming (Mr. Kelton was the managing partner of the eminent frm.)
 While brushing her hair that night she drew her husband on to speak of the case, and he confessed his inability to grasp the all-important point
 Then for five minutes she spoke.
 When she had finished he said, eff fusively, By Jove, Emily. that's the very point which has been puzZling us all I believe you are the cleverest woman in the world"
 It was quite a late dinnen but an