The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-20
Helen Hunters
Husband
HELEN THREATENS TO DIVORCE
BY JANE PHELPS

! JACK.
/ Chapter 40.
HeIen's surmise was wrong-very
wrong. Jack had not only refrained
from answering the bell, but the Lay
tons. evidently thinking them already
gone. had departed. Jack breathed
more freely as. from a darkened win
dow, he watched them get into a wait
ing taxi He was not keen about air
ing his family troubles.
Helen had been engrossed putting
the finishing touches to her toilet so
had not realized the Laytons had not
been admitted. But finally ready, she
tried the door 1t was still locked.
| Hurry and open this door, Jack!
\ Don't be a goOSei" She ratified the
knob. There was no answer and she
pounded Justify upon the panels, at
the same time calling to her husband
to let her out, that his joke had gone
far enough.
Strange she didn't hear Jack and the
Laytons talking! She bent closely to
the door to listen. Not sound dis
turbed the stiffness She began to feel
| frightened. Not at being alone. but
for fear Jack had gone out, and left
her locked in her room.
'.IIe wouldn't do such a thing" she
muttered, tears filling her eyes, but
angrily brushed away. He wouldn't
dare"
Again and again she called. But no
answer came 10 AleI NCiIdAl0S
nor to her pleading She opened the
window. The blank wall opposite
gave her no encouragement to at
tempt to attract attention. If only she
had had the telephone put in her room
instead of the hall she could call the
poIice-so she thought in her anger
or some of her friends.
Finally she thought she heard the
rustic of paper. - Jack was sitting
there reading his evening paper while
she was begging to be let out so she
could get to the party on time. How
could he be so cruel to her? Her
mother never would have treated her
so badlyi She was always delighted
when her daughter was going to a
party. or when she was to have a good
time in anyway.
Once more she pounded on the door
and again called frantically to Jack to
open it. This time he answered:
"You might as well go to bed. Helen,
I .shan't open that door tonight. I
shall sleep on the couch, so you
needn't be afraid, but you don't come
out of that room tonight"
you'll pay for this Jack Hunter:
I'll leave YOU tomorrow You must
think I am u fool to put up with such
treatment from YOU. There are men.
plenty of them. who will give me twice
as much as you ever did. and good
time in the bargain. I mean what l
say If you don't open this door 1
can easily get a divorce. for cruelty
So now you take your choice. Let me
out or be divorced
Jack had turned white Would, she
really divorce him? He couldn't en-
dure that-to lose her-and he
couldn't let her go on in her careless.
foolish ways If he gave in now he
never could control her-the situation
again. He Strengthened his shoulders,
it was a sort of moral support, then
answered once more:
IF you choose to divorce me, well
and good. But so long as you are my
wife you will not belittle me before
stock. AS I said you might s well
take off all that toggery and go to bed.
That door is not unlocked tonight |
Well he knew tint should he open the
door even tho he waited until mid
night, Helen. in the mood she was in,
BY morning he hoped she would have
cooled off little.
You know I can't unfasten my
dress" she said after a moment in a !
whimpering tone. ''And I can't go to /
bed in it. It would ruin it."
II don't care if it doesi Tear 1t !
Off" Jack wen knew Helen would |
find some way of wriggling out of the |
gown, that nothing would induce her 1
to hurt it, not even her anger. He |
wished she would destroy 1t, and also |
the other evening gown she had |
They were in no position to need dress /
clothes, neither he nor his wife
He turned from the door into the |
living room Helen was crying now,
great heare-breaking sobs. They hurt
him.
Tomorrow night of anxiety and
anger.)