The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1911-01-05
The Court of Last Resort
By LAWRENCE r. BERLlNER
Copyright, 1910. by Associated Literary Press)

ISOLATED Literary Press.)
Miss Sloan, il 1t necessary" in
terrupted the young man.
The young woman waved her hand
for him to stop, and said slowly:
That's just 1t, every one here calls
me Miss Sloan when they should
say, Mrs."
"What!" gasped the astounded man.
All his day dreams had slipped away
In that explanation. Betty was mar.
ried woman. Time and again he had
thought Of her, pink slip Of girl,
and now she told him she was~-mar-
ried.
you see, Mr.. Smith, have been
living up here with the Turner's for
some time; in fact, long enough to
establish residence with them for
an express purpose. want d.
vorce." AS she seid the last word.
she lowered her Voice to a whisper.
and looked young Smith straight in
the eyes.
What she saw seemed to please Bet
ty Sloan greatly, for she would have
been accused Of laughing If Smiths
eyes had their usual shrewdness.
which was lacking at this moment.
Yes, Mr. Smith. I want divorce.
have tolerated his abuse and cruelty
a. long Is human endurance can, and
I am tired Of 1t. My folks and his
relatives have interpossd, but they
have failed Therefore, I have come
to the court q last resort, you. . law.
yer" she said.
Webster Smith WAS coming to him
self. It was not % bad az it might
have been. Hvsn though she were
married. he might be able to secure
q divorce and wed her himself.
Such evil thoughts could not dwell
in the mind Of An honest person. and
the lawyer put them away. He would
treat the case a. he had planned.
Personalities must not count.
He requested her to explain fully
all the facts Of the case. residence Of
her husband, his full name and every
thing necessary.
As Betty leaned over, her flushed
face near his own, Smith felt great
pity for her wrongs and vowed that
he would save her from such a brute
as John Sloan.
He learned that she had married
Sloan to save her father from some
financial difficulty. She had not
understood 1t herself, but her parents
appeal could not be refused, and thus
she had become partner In an un-
happy marriage.
Smith promised to prepare the
papers. He REQUIRED more informa-
ton and this compelled frequent calls
to the big house on the hill.
He drove the young woman about
In his big racing car. As he learned
to love her he tried to stifle the feel
ing.
No trace Of the husband could be
obtained. The law required adver.
tisement. Smith shrpsak from this. He
dreaded to post her name in the pa
pers.
How to get around this was moro
than he could figure out 1t COM
PEELED him to go gut to see Betty once
more.
Turner Informed him that Betty
was not we'll and was preparing to re-
turn to the city.
Stunned with the information, he
insisted on seeing her.
Great heavens!" he exclaimed;
what has brought about this change?
Have you heard from Sloan?"
"No, Mr. Smith, have not heard
from Mr.. Sloan, and that is what has
made me feel so miserable" she said.
"Yo,' see. there is no Mr.. Sloan, and
never was"
What" shouted the astounded
lawyer.
What a relief those words meant to
him!
"You see, Mr. Smith," she said, be-
tween sobs. II had not been here
long before heard every one SPEAK
ing of the new lawyer, who never
had a case. felt GO sorry for any
one who had to remain here always
and not even have any business, so
Il invented a case for you"
"And we'll, indeed, did you fool me-"
said young Smith.
"And you will forgive me?" she
asked. Frightening little, as she
saw him smile.
Forgive you, Betty. There Is moth
Ing to forgive" His happineas had
forced him to speak her name.
"The time we have spent together,
Betty dear, has shown me that
need a partner. I love you, little
girl. love you and want you to be
my wife," he told her.
Az Betty looked up his happiness
was complete, for he knew she loved
him. "Tell me, girl, let me hear you
say It,"
Webster, l am glad I came to the
Court of Last Resort" she whis-
pered.
Priceless Memento.
And this" says the proud man, sis