The broad ax., 1926-12-04
1t Was a Criminal
Success
1copyrightl
By H. IRVING KING


any way-Marian Ormsby and Harold
Graves Marian's letter to Harold was
somewhat lengthy. But its meaning
was clear-she gave Harold pre-
nuptual divorce on the ground OF in
compatibility of temper, his fatal
heresy with regard to bobbed hair and
his execrable taste In neckties. All
was over between them! There were
a few side remarks about obstinacy.
self-sufficiency and Ill nature.
Harold had been rather irritable
and didactic, ii Is true. He had
been annoyed by tangled business
matters that day, the tangle caused
by careless or stupid clerks and the
onus thrown on him. Under such cir
cumstances you could not expect
young man to be In an absolutely an
gelic moOd-even II he was in love
and his best girl was with him. All
things considered, Harold had behaved
very we'll And Marian, who knew of
his troubles, began to realize itswhen
she came to think things over-after
she 0du HldlleQ TIE -lclleT.
When Harold got the letter he read
it over and over again. At first he
thought of writing an answer In the
argumentative vein. No. that would
not do; it would only be continuing
the quarrel Then he considered
writing one in a humble and apollo
getic strain, pleading for forgiveness
and begging TO be taken again into
favor. But he wasn't humble and he
told himself that Marian had as
much TO apologize for as he had. A
humble, cringing letter would be in
sincere-and besides Marian did not
like humble and cringing men any too
we'll He loved Marian with all his
heart-but still he wanted to stand on
something like an even footing with
her.
Then he took q sheet of letter pa
per and sat down at his typewriter.
so did Harold; and they were of the
same make. Harold wrote only two
brief sentences. Then he took his
production from the typewriter and
laid it on his writing desk; laid Mari
ans letter beside it; got piece of It's
sue paper and traced Marian's sigma
ture; which signature he transferred
to the bottom of the few lines he had
just typed. The forger grinned as he
did itA
L., H., Lott In. .n1
thus completed, placed Ii in an enve
lope, sealed it and directed Ii to him
self. From letter he had received
that day he soaked off a Cancelled pos
tage stamp and having dried it affixed
it with muscilage to the envelope into
which he had placed his forgery. ALI
this being accomplished he ordered his
car brought up from the public ga
rage where he kept Ii and drove over
to see Marian
When Harold came bursting into
her presence all smiles and with
CHEEKY greeting, she gave a little glad
start and cried: "0h, Harold y Then
recollecting herself she drew away
from him as he tried to catch her in
his arms and said haughtily, Mr.
Graves What does this mean? Keep
away from me, sir. Explain yourself
This is an outrage. Did you not get
my letter.
"Sure thing" replied Harold affect
ing surprise. That's why | hurried
over. Marian, you are the real thing
and l always knew you were. Just a
little tired last night, Ell? And didn't
make allowances. The fault Is all
mine, my dear / guess l was lit
tie peevish, too. There is nothing TO
patch up. We are just two old Stiles,
that's all. But it was so good Of you
to write as you did and TO take all
the blame yourself. Come, give US a
kiss" And lie took one in spite Of
her struggles and smOthered protests.
Now said Marian when she had
finally broken away and sunk into a
chair-"now, perhaps, you will tell me
what you have been talking about
What do you mean by my letter taking
all the blame to myself? Are you
crazy? or can't you read?"
"Why, I mean what | say" replied
Harold. "What are you driving at?
Here is your letter" He had torn OF
one end of the sealed envelope so that
the letter had every appearance Of
having gone through the mail and
been opened by its recipient. With
out CHANGING at the address-which
might have excited suspicion from its
lack Of similitude to her own writing
Marian drew out the letter and read
it.
'Why, whyl' she gasped, what
does this mean? l never wrote this
letter"
isn't that your signatureY' asked
Harold sternly.
-Y-e-s, 1t appears to be- said the
puzzled Marian.
THE letter read: Dear Harold
guess I was q little irritable last
night and didn't mean half said.
Come around tonight and we will
patch up our little lovers quarrel.
With love, Marian
81 never wrote it. / can't under
stand it, said the perplexed girl, "but
It goes" A week later, when Harold
told her Of his forgery they came near
having another tiff.
or Course Not
-Clara's better looking now that