The daily Alaskan., 1915-09-28
Potash, Perlrrgutter
 and Others. By MONTAGUE GLASS.
XI.-MRS. BILLING
 TONS FIRST CASE

idW ucGu NON AtO"A' DS @N SNA duty to shed sweetness and light over our happy home"
 But" Mrs. Ellington argued, "I should like to know what was the use of my college training If not to-
 "Exactlyw Bob broke in. That's what I'd like to know too. If an academic education doesn't help you about the house, why study law on top of it|
 Mrs. Ellington tossed her head.
 You know us well as do what mean" she insisted "Ip the first place. 1 want tu be able to talk intelli- gently with you about your business matters. You won't interest yourself in my music. so l suppose must tn- terest myself in your law!'
 Thus Mrs. Ellington, as usual, had her way. In three years time, against the repeated protests of her husband, she added an LL. E. to her arts degree and successfully passed the bar exam | ination.
 It was in the tenth year of their mar riad life that th!s event took place, and 1 Bob was forced to admit that Mrs. Bill | linCton failed not at all In the per | formance of her household duties. Nor | did she lose any of her femininity, and | she continued to demand and receive all the little attentions that her hus- band had so untallingly accorded her ever since their marriage. Only in one respect was the even tenor of their married life disturbrG- namely and to wit, us the lawyers say, in the matter of Intelligent conversa- tion." Bob still talked the usual do. mestic commonpluces; but, while In the past Mrs. Ellington merely echoed her | husbands opinions. she now managed to twist Bubs every sentence into | mooted question of law. For instance, | if he said that the PorteOISes had a new coachman she prOfesScd to recog- 1 niZe in thlS an alluSiOn to the law of master and servant, and she hastened | to introduce the doctrine Of respond ent superior"
 | She pursued these tactics until Bob grew weary, and if he found the con yersatlOn tending toward ( legal dis ! cussiOn he buried himself la the even- ing paper or pleaded d headache and retired to q pipe in the library. New ertheIess at least four nights week he found himself unwilllngly going over 1 his entire days work in the courts or at the office, while Mrs. Ellington iis- tened with parted lips, fairly drinking In the legal phraseology.
 "Now. this" she said nt last, "is just what I've been wanting to do for you. l feel that I'm actually sharing the re- sponsibillty of your work, so that the burden of It won't rest so heavily on you"
 "Won't 1t, though?" Bob rejoined. Tt means that | do q days work twice Over-once in the actual performance of 1t and then again worrying 1t over with you in the evening. A sort of legal cud chewing, call It. And Bowles. our managing clerk, Is sick, and I've got to hustle down to a dis trict court tomorrow and try miSer- able little case myself"
 Mrs. Billington's eye gleamed.
 "Why don't you let me try 1t for you2" she suggested.
 You try it.' Bob shouted. "Why, by the sacred mackerel, if ever let you put foot in one of those dirty little east side courts may I be forever con demnedT
 The gleam died out of Mrs. Billing tons eye, but you may be sure that the ambition which kindled It remained. Ever since she had mastered-or thought she had mastered-the law of evidence she had been secretly anxious to try case. and the opportunity was not long In coming.
 "Just glance over this complaint, will you?" she asked one morning at break fast, passing over the table a formid- able looking legal document.
 That what?" said Bob Complaint" Mrs Ellington went on steadily. "I presume you know that ! COUlpElllI IS tile lllllt Ol tue uISI NlAI- ten and verified pleading in an act!on at law. Well, this document Is the complaint in the case of Konvallnka against Schultz-action for wages as q female servant"
 "In the municipal court of the city of New York. borough of Manhattan, Eighteenth district" 1t was headed. Susan Konvalinka, plaintiff, against Mary Schultz, defendant. The plaintiff, complaining of the defendant, by Mar ion Ellington, her attorney, respect fully alleges and shows"-
 But Bob read no farther and handed back the paper without word.
 "WeIlF' said Marion. "What do you think of itp'
 ''Think of it" said Bob. "Why, | think this. I've been married to Mar ion Ellington for ten years and I never knew her to do an unwomanly thing up to now"
 He underscored the last three words as plainly as sudden vocal crescendo