The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-24
Broker Austere Even Before
 Secretary


 ness was his beautiful wife. He met her every whim with ten times over what she asked for and show cred her with luxuries that would have turned a less balanced and sophisticated head than hers. She calmly accepted all he offered and frequently made lit tie requests of her own.
 The brokers secretary, Miss Mar tin, had been instructed in her early days with the firm to make out cheeks for any amount that Mrs. Broker should mention. This was the first and last-mention her employer ever made of his wife, or indeed, of his personal affairs. She kept the house. hold accounts, made out personal cheeks, answered personal mail; bu. never By a word from him did she learn about his life outside, and from his correspondence discovered little more.
 Frequently Mrs. Broker sailed into the office and, if her husband was out, chatted agreeably with the secretary for a moment or two, and then asked for money, sometimes $100, sometimes as high as $1,000. Her manner was always disarming and when she asked the whereabouts of her husband, Miss Martin answered to the best of her knowledge.
 One day the beautiful young wife came into the office when the broker was out. Rather timidly, the secre- tary thought, she asked for $5,OOO. The secretary inwardly gasped, but re- mernbering the brokers strict admoni- tion to give her any amount she asked for, she made out the check. Contrary to custom, Mrs. Broker sat down near the resk and asked confidentially, My husband isn't in, is he?"
 "Why, mo-" Miss Martin answered. He didn't come back after lunch.
 The other woman looked puzzled "Do you know where he is?'
 Unsuspiciously the secretary an. swered as truthfully as she could. Il believe he's at his lawyers"
 Mrs. Broker rose, nodded a sweet goodby, and departed.
 The result was a $1,000,000 divorce suit brought by Mrs. Broker against MT. Broker. After long and sensa- tional trial, she won-some say by her beauty-and was awarded alimony O. $100.O00.
 After it was all over, an old friend asked why she had done it. You hadn't much real evidence against him, you know"
 Ex-Mrs Broker smiled reminiscently.
 'sWell, if hadn't got one he would have; and he did have evidence, I'm afraid. His pride wouldn't let him contest"
 s.How did you find out he was go- ing to bring suit?" the friend per sisted.
 The woman shook her beautiful head. "After our last terrible quarrel his secretary told me he had gone to see his lawyers. That settled 1t-for me-"
 Too late the broker realized his mis- take in not trusting his private secre- tary with a certain knowledge of fam ily affairs. His face would have been saved had she known sanethlng Of hls unhappy relations with his wife. A few innocent words betrayed her employer. And yet believe he betrayed himself.
 A secretary should be intrusted with such outside information as IS hkelV to affect a mans business. Further more, she increases in value to him as she can take over his household ac- counts, check book and business man asement. Revelations of a personal nature are unnecessary and lnexcus- able.
 Mabel was secretary to a man who couldn't begin his day without first grumbling about the slovenly way his wife appeared at the breakfast table or the terrible extravagances she com mitted in running the house. Feeling that he was boss and forgetting each word as 1t fell on her ear, she let hlm ramble on until one day he wanted some active kind of sympathy.
 Her respect for him had been some what shaken during these unwarrant- ed condolences, but she was determined to keep his respect for her-as wom- an, at least. So she bluntly informed him that she thought he was doing a great injustice to his wife by complain ing. and that for her part she refused 10 listen any longer.
 In fear and trembling she watched his face. He went blank, then flushed and finally let out a sheepish chuckle. By jove, Miss, you're right" he ex- claimed as if a load were lifted from his mind. ''Everything has been at sizes and sevens with me at home, but blowing off to you doesn't make it any better. Guess I'd better have q talk with the wife and straighten matters IL. | he held out his hand to the astonished girl. --..,,
 The finest type of gentleman would think just as much of jumping over the moon as making a confidant of his sec retary in petty personal matters. Un- fortunately all men in business cannot be so classified. Sympathy and pity are dangerous emotions in business and once aroused may lead a girl into fool ish indiscretions.
 One man I know of wisely kept personalities out of business hours, but was in the habit of borrowing his stenographer's ear during the dinner hour. A jealous wife heard of these harmless tete-a-tetes, and with few well-placed words made life so uncom- fortable for the girl that she had to leave.
 The initiative is up to the girl in such cases. Generally, if she IS wrapped up in her work and shows only a polite, my-mind-isnt-on-it in' tersst in extraneous matters she can nib such Embarrassing condolences even before they bud. They belong. to his