Evening star., 1914-11-08

the river.
"You still love your wife, .-----
@More than you love anyone else?'
ayes, think l do"
@And she?"
@Of course can't ell,-we haven't spoken cvilly to
each other for six months, but l willing to bet
every cent that she will never love another man.
whatever she may think of me-"
Either of the old ladies dependent upon you for
support
"No they have homes and means of their own"
Popkin beamed with enthusiasm. Brandon" said
he, "put yourself in my hands, III give this case my
personal attention. Go and stay at your club for
couple of days.
wrung his hand gratefully. He opened the door to
show to the elevator
Coming out of the door Immediately across the hall
was my mother-in-law! The sign on that door was
LUBBUX & BLAXTON!
THOUGH did not relish the idea of leaving my
mother alone in the house with Annie and her
mother, took Popkins advice and avoided my home
for two long nights On the morning of the third day
l telephoned the agency.
"Come down, said Popkn, and eagerly went
@Wel," said l, when closeted in his private
Office "what's the verdict"
Popkins face was serious "This case" said he "is
in many respects the most difficult have ever under
emily mmovabe body, and the result SO lar IS chaos
"Have you been up at the house?"
3Three times. 1t is beautiful home you have
Brandon"
at isn't home any it's purgatory. Did
you Anne's mother?'
"Yes, and yours also a sitting on the steps
who looked to me like process server. suspect he
waiting to serve papers on you IN divorce proceed
ngs. If were you, I'd stay away from there"
l ground my teeth. "Thats the doings of Annies
mother Honestly, Popkin, Annie hasn't complaint
against me in all the world. We're as fond of each
other two turtle doves. We never had even the
ghost of until this visitation descended upon our
nest"
"I'm sure of that Brandon. In my interview with
your wife she didn't breathe unkind word about
What she's after is divorce from your mother And
what you after when you up here the other
day a divorce from her mother, eh?'
That's the truth of the matter, guess"
a saw your mother first" said Popkin. q explained
her the effect that her presence was having on your
happiness. asked her to absent herself for your sake
She refused to go. She was positive She accused me
of being in league with Annie and her mother. She
declared that she would let them walk over her
dead body than leave at the mercy OF such an OBJ
stinate woman as your mother-in-law."
That's Mother all over, said l. when L was
small boy in North Orange she fought entire school
board for three years because teacher had slapped
my face for throwing chalk. She got the teacher fired
too. We had to away result of the rumpus,
and my education was hopeessy arrested; but she
won her point"
"A boys best friend is his mother said Popkin
3You needn't be sententious,' told him. "When
woman has gone through much fire and birthstone
for her son my mother has for in the last year,
she deserves respectful MENTION
@The fact remains, Brandon, that your mother is
fly in the ointment at present. You admit 1t, don't
you?"
Il suppose do; but resent your figure of speech.
A man won't hear his mother called fly"
"Then will swat the fly metaphor and apply it to
your wifes mother instead"
@The smile is a weak one" said l. "Annies mother
is hornet"