Evening star., 1925-06-14

lndicat1On or Wlfely a1eCtlOn. But
nothing greeted him save stiffness,
fierce emptiness. He skunk across the
room. paused with his hand on the
knob OF the bedroom door. From
within there came to him the sound
of healthy snoring. "Tha's Clarry. She
sholy do snore SWEET
He turened the knob. But the door
didn't open. Then fearful doubt be-
came horrible certainty. He was lock-
ed out of his own bedroom.
He skunk into a tiny storeroom ad-
joining the living room, laboriously
moved two or three waShtubS and
ironing boards. laid himself down on
the floor and tried to sleep. But
sleep would not come.
According to Florian, Clarry should
have been waiting for him with teary
cheeks, open arms and forgiving heart.
Instead Of that she ignored his exist.
ence.
The following morning he sought
Lawyer Chew and begged that gentle
man to withdraw the divorce suit. But
that dignitary explained in all serious
ness that the courts were not to be
played with: that a divorce suit once
started could not be stopped" 'Cept-
in on'y by mutual consent. of bofe
pahties."
''You-you Is got my mutual con-
sent, Lawyer Chew"
"Yo' mutual consent amt enough.
Brother Robson. Also. I requiahs yo'
wife's mutual consent"
But that consent was not forth.
coming. For four days the rigid
silence was maintained. Humble over
lures from the miserable Privacy were
greeted with stony silence. Thrice
daily a platter of food was served
to HMM the room where he lived
with the washtubs. Each night Clar-
ry retired behind securely locked doors.
Through the long dark hours Pri-
vacy pitched sleeplessly and mourned
the friendship Of Florian Slappey.
And on the fourth day he sought
that gentleman-sought him with in
dignation in his brain and murder In
his soul
Into Florians ears he poured verbal
vitrioI
Florian listened nonchalantly. But
he was both interested and surprised
This was not at all as he had antici-
pated. His plan had failed and he
knew 1t. Yet he realized that 1t would
never do to let Privacy in on that
knowledge. He puffed languidly upon
a near-Turkish cigarette and when
Privacy had concluded the outburst
surveyed that emaciated gentleman
calmly.
Trouble with you. Brother Robson
you never let no feller finish tellin'
you what he stahts to say"
You mean to say, Flo'ian, that all
what you toll me t'other day amt all
what you was plannin' to tell me?
Does you mean to 'sinuate that j is
got to do some mo- sides what l is
a 'eady did,"
81 does"
Then you is mos as foolish as you
looks
"Ne'y well. It's yo' fum'ral. On'y
if'n you was to of done one mo- thing
Clarry would be crawlin' roun on her
shinbones beggin' you should take all
her money an quit doin' any soht of
wuk an'-but they amt no use talkin'
sense to a feller like'n to what you is.
You jes' go in one ear an come out
t'other."
What the res of you scheme is,
Floian?'
IF / says it's good advice, Brother
Robson-it's good. I'm you promise
befo'han' you is gwine to take it
gives it. Otherwise I says a lii less n
nothin'"
Privacy begged. pleaded. argued. ca
ioled: but Florian was adamant. And
finally-if a bit reluctantly-Privacy
consented to act upon Florian's ad
vice
ELORIAN outlined the new strategy
When he finished Privacy's eyes
were wide and staring, his jaw dropped
Imply.
"Flo1an, You amt seIous?"
II is"
,e 80 81
other gal out to the pitcher show"
"Uh-huh."
AN let Clarry know I Is doin'
same?"
"Jes' that"
"Flofan. does you crave to see me
git kilt or sumthin'?"
Reckon you amt gwine be no
kilter than what you Is now. Homes
Privacy, yo' ig'runce is sumthin'
fierce. / asts you now, who ever
hearn tell of a divohce without no
corr 'spondent? 1t jes' can't be, tina s
all. Does you crave to git a divohce,
you stahts off by gittin' a corr
spondent. You jes' natchelly is got
waitin' TO- it. Up to now she has jes'
ben sayin' to herself that this amt no
decent divohce a tall on account they
amt no other woman mixed up in it.
She's jes' sittin' back waitin' TO- that
other gal to show up. An when she
do, Clarry comes to you an says
please will you fo'give her an let her
take you back. Don 1t SCUM reas-
omble.
"Mmm, Million dollars soun's reas-
omble-but it don git me no eatments
i'm I amt got it"
You done promised you was gwine
to take them adwices.''
Fearfully, tfmorously, Privacy nod
ded. Reckon / does, Floian. But
sumthin' tells me I is maxim a tur.
rible mistake"
Nor did anything transpire during
the ensuing "a hours to put Privacy
more at ease. Florian, as usual, did