Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-09-26
T II e ID Ill v
Short Story

Jim Wentworth and were chums in
college. BAT after our graduation Jin
went into business, while studied
law. Jennie Netueton vas a fararlte
with as both ana encouraged each to
believe that he was nearest to her
heart. 81 didn't like this idiosyncrasy
OF hers. but ] think it pat an edge on
Jim's desire to win her Not that he
wished O. take her away from me but
that suspense kept his passion very
much alive
Miss Nett}egan playing two friends
as she was doing was not to my liking.
and ] Gid not propose 20 be placed an
enmity with Ji0 on her account So 7
s, ltadraw from the rivalry and laf5 The
field clear to him She accepted hm
but had suspicion that she did not
relish my giving her Up without q
struggle
After their marriage / did not see
either cf them for some years Mean
while had been admitted to the bar
and Has practIe5ng law. One day who
should appear at my Office but Jennie
Wentworth. And what was my aston
ishmenr when She told me that she
was intending TO get divorce from
Jim and that sine wished me to secure
r. Tor her
I considered II indicate. TO say the
least. for her 10 employ nae ia such
matter. had been a. sutton for her
hand and was the friend of the man
from whom she wished to be divorced
/ 7 eudeavoTed to convince her that
some other lawyer would be in "a BET
ter position than / to handle her case
( bat she insisted on my taking ill.,
gave her no definite reply, intending
10 sound Jim If there appeared to be
a chance Tor me To bring about a rec
. oncida5ioa i would act officially. il
not / would decline.
called up Jim on the phone and
made an appointment to meet him
When / say him and told him why I
wished conference he said that be
/ desired that I should take his wifes
/ case against him. He did not tell me
+ why or give me any Information ais 10
the reason why he and his wife had
+ failed 10 agree. lie only said that he
would not need an attorney. since he
would put in no defense.
I informed Mrs Wentworth that
would take her case hoping to effect
a reconciliation between her and her
husband. She came to see me. bur
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 a double
life. This was the ground on which
she would claim a separation. I asked
Jim If tbe letter was bona fde. and he
said that since ( was his wite's attur-
ney he would not give me the desired
information
There was something at the bottom
ot the case That was not apparent oa
the surface So far as ] could dis
cover, neither husband nor wife aa9
any aatagonism 10 the other. Mrs
Wentworth seemed 20 be very sad over
the discovery of her husbands inf
deity and as for Jim. he, too. APP
peared Respondent Moreover, I could
not understand why Jennie should
have come to me with her suit and
why Jim appeared to- be satisfied with
her having done SO and thar / 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 Office
noticed . decidedly forced cbeerfuiness
She began to lose color, and there was
an anxious look Ia her eyes
I allowed the case TO drag alCns
hoping that some explanation would
turn up. but NO light appeared. FINALLY
I received note from Jim stating that
he wished ] would put him out OF his
misery and act at once as mis- WiGas
counsel
Upon receiving this I took out the
discriminating letter purportiaE no haE-
ing been found in his pocket and made
a thorough examination Of It. IL looked
TO me as though Che writer had at
tempted to disguise his hand Jia
note calling on me TO act lay open be-
fore me, and, glanCing al IT, there
seemed 10 me to be q resemblance be-
tween It and the discriminating letter
The cH5E9gTaphy Of the latter was
more delicate than that Of the former.
bur there was no great difference 0ta-
er#tse- 1t flashed upon me that Jim
had purposely igcTininated himself
Bat why? did he wish 10 get rid ri
his Wflez Only he could TELL and J6e
next dag / called him to nay office and
accused him of writing the only evil
deuCa against him He confessed and
made the following explanation.
He expected that ! would win Ier-
ME Netrset0n and had never been able
to divert his mind Of the suspicion rha5
she had married him because she couIa
not set me This suspicion proved
upon his mind Til he believed IL thor
oug7lE. Then he wrote the inCriulu-
atug letter and left fit where sha would
Hnd it, # was Ire who suggested tHat
she employ me in applying for d.-
EoTce saving thar I would make
easy for both. but really - give me
every Information that the fault was
his ana not hers
7 se0lded FAY old friend souudIr and
after much argument convinced Hu
that his wife Yves bound mp fin h.H
alone. Then I took him home % his
wife ana convinced her that Ire was .1-
1oceut and had acted for what he SUPP
posed was her happiness Then Z Left