The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-11-05
The One Wise
Thing
By WARREN MILLER

college, but after our graduation Jim
went into business, while | studied
law. Jennie Nettleton was favorite
with US both and encouraged each to
believe that he was nearest to her
heart. l didn't like this idiosyncrasy
Of hers, but think 1t put an edge on
Jim's desire to win her. Not that he
wished to take her away from me, but
that suspense kept his passion very
much alive.
Miss Nettleton's playing two friends
a. she was doing was not to my liking,
and did not propose to be placed at
enmity with Jim on her account So
withdrew from the rivalry and left the
Held clear to him. She accepted him,
but had suspicion that she did not
relish my giving her up without a
struggle.
After their marriage l did not see
either Of them for some years. Mean
while had been admitted to the bar
and was practicing law. One day who
should appear at my Office but Jennie
Wentworth. And what was my aston
ishment when she told ve that she
was intending to get divorce from
Jim and that she wished TO secure
It for her.
l considered it indelicate. to say the
least, for her to employ me in such a
matter had been suitor for her
hand and was the friend Of the man
from whom she wished to be divorced.
l endeavored to convince her that some
other lawyer would be in better posi-
don than I to handle her case, but she
insisted on my taking 1t. gave her no
definite reply at the time, intending to
sound Jim. II there appeared to be a
chance for me to bring about recon-
citation l would act Nf3cially; II not I
would decline.
called up Jim On the phone and
made an appointment 10 meet him.
When l saw him and told him why I
wished a conference he said that he
desired that I should take bis wife's
case against him. He did not tell me
why or give me any Information as to
the reason why he and his wife had
failed to agree. He only said that he
would not need an attorney. since he
would put in no defense.
Informed Mrs. Wentworth that l
would take her case, hoping to effect
q reconciliation between her and her
husband. She came to see me. but
said nothing about a reconciliation.
She produced a letter written by
woman to her husband which she
claimed to have found in his pocket
showing that he was living double
life. This was the ground on which
she would claim separation. asked,
Jim II the letter was bona fde. and he
said that since was his wife's attor-
ney he would not give me the desired
information.
There was something at the bottom
Of the case that was not apparent on
the surface. So far AZ conld discov-
er, neither husband NOR wife had any
antagonism to the other. Mu. Went
worth seemed to b very sad over the
discovery Of her husbands inAdelity.
and ~ for Jim. he. too, appeared de-
spondent Moreover. I could not un-
derstand why Jennie should have come
to me with her suit and why Jim ap-
peared to be satisfied with her having
done 80 and that I should conduct the
case against him
Jennie on her first visit had seemed
quite cheerful. but ON each Of the fol-
lowing calls she made at my ONCE
noticed decidedly forced cheerful
ness. She began to lose color, and
there was an anxious look in her eyes.
l allowed the case to drag along,
hoping that some explanation would
turn up. but no light appeared. Finally
received a note from Jim stating that
he wished | would put him out of his
misery and act at once as his wife's
| counsel.
Upon receiving this | took out the
discriminating letter purporting to hav.
ing been found in his pocket and made
a thorough examination Of 1t. 1t look.
ed to me as though the writer had
attempted to disguise his hand. Jim's
note calling on me to act lay open be-
fore me. and. glancing at 1t, there
seemed TO me to be resemblance be-
tween 1t aud the incriminating letter.
The chirosraphy of the latter was more
delicate than that of the former, but
there was no great difference other
wise. 1t flashed upon me that Jim had
purposely incriminated himself.
But why2 Did he wish to get rid of
his wife? Only he could tell, and the
next day | called him to my office and
accused him of writing the only evil
dence against him. He confessed and
made the following explanation:
He expected that would win Jennie
Nettleton and had never been able 20
divest his mind of the suspicion THAI
she had preferred me to him and that
she had married him because she could
not get me. This suspicion preyed upon
his mind till ne believed 1t thoroughly.
Then he wrote the discriminating letter
and left 1t where she would find IL
1t was he who suggested that she en-
ploy me In applying for a divorce, say
HE h1A