New-York tribune., 1920-10-03

husband into contesting his fathers
will, and he was beaten.
This defeat gave his wife the
whip hand. She had q modest for
tune Of her own and expectations
from her mother-a vigorously
opinionated old lady who had always
said that Walter Case would never
amount to anything. AS mother and
daughter drew into a closer alli-
ance, the gap between husband and
wife widened- The fact was, though
the wife never admitted 1t to her
self In those terms, that she was
only waiting to get rid Of him alto
gether. Accident eventually gave
her the opportunity.
She found = nots which she
opened under the impression that 1t
was addressed in q sprawling femi-
nine hand to Mrs. Walter Case-or
almost under that impression. The
elongated dash after the might
we'll enough be meant for an q,
anyhow. But the note began ''Honey
Chile" and 1t was signed "Beachy"; 7;
evidently, abe figured out, her hus-
bands Italian diminutive Of the name
Beatrice, only the girl didn't know
how to spell it. It contained a ref
erence to a great little old party
(Walter's party Enthusiastically and
other references more obscure, but
capable, If a willing mind went to
work upon them, Of bearing the
worst Interpretation.
She put the letter in her lawyers
hands She had had her man picked
out for & good long while.
IN his bachelor days Walter Case
had known only two kinds Of 60
ciety; the frankly and commercially
disreputable and the unquestionably
respectable. Fastldiousness had kept
him reasonably clear of the former.
Now, as he looked about he discov-
cred g third world-a more or less
vagabond world somewhere between
the two--a pleasantly irresponsible
world, certainly not respectabl with
In his wife's comprehension of the
term, and yet not necessarily, at
least, disreputable-a world Of
stage doors, cafo tables and dancing
fioors--equivocal and yet with GER
tain decorum Of It's own. He found
pleasing young women who would go
out to supper with him, dance with
him, call him by affectionats little
nicknames, and pat his hand, and
then, without the slightest appear
ance Of contrary intent, allow him to
go innocently home.
THEY were perfectly episode
a and transitory until he hap
pened upon Beatrice. She was
a professional dancer in cafe. She
was, In his conviction, an absolutely
nice girl. She certainly worked as
hard for a living as any of his STE
nographers. Patiently she liked him.
She treated him alternately as a boy
and AS an uncle-told him her trou-
bles, asked his advice, sympathized
with him tactfully, encouraged him
made him feel like somebody. He
took great delight in planning what
he called parties for her outside her
working hours-and it wanted some
J contr4ving. for the hours were long.
He was outraged by his wife's ac-
ton in the matter Of the note, and
was strongly disposed to show fight.
But his own lawyer, whom he con-
suited at once, gave him cold com
fort.
III you are innocent" that gentle
man observed, "then all ! can say Is
you've been damn fool. I'm an old
friend, Walter HE was. They had
been classmates in college together]
and I won't let you make bad mat
ter worse Your wife's willing to let
you get out Of 1t decently, If you'll
agree to desert her and not contest
her action when she brings it. And
III tell you right here that unless
you will agree to that III have moth
Ing to do with the case. Why, man,
you wouldn't have chance In the
world In the face Of that letterl"
The divorce proved to be the best
thing that had happened to Walter
Case In q long time.
He forsook romance. The world
Of the stage door and the cafe knew
him no more. He settled grimly
into the harness and went to work.
When the time came around for
his wife to file her bill the sympathy
Of their world had Enthusiastically
veered to his side. People were wont
to observe how enormously Walter
Case had improved since he'd got
rid Of his wife. They didn't say this
to him, naturally, but it was clear to
him that they respected his judg-
! ment. applauded his eurcass wara