Montgomery County sentinel., 1927-01-28
HE WAS
ONLY A
CLERK
By H. M. EGBERT
Copyright by W. q. chapmanJ

Edith Kane faced her hus-
band of eight months defiant
ly. The setting for the tragic out
break was commonplace; city fiat.
In the tiny living room the two
clashed in that age-long conflict
Because am poor2" inquired
Kane quietly. He had long expected
the culmination now that 1t had
come he felt cooler than he had
thought would be possible.
His wife looked with contempt
upon the little figure in the shabby
clothes
Because you are clerk" she an
swered Because you are content to
be a clerk. You have clerks soul,
and II was born for something bet
ter than to be clerks wife"
"You knew my occupation when
you married me-" said Kane.
"I did," she answered. And !
thought I'd make something Of you.
But you're satisfied to work for Jer-
rold day after day, on thirty a week,
while he piles up his millions. Oh
I'm tired Of It ALL"
She sank into a chair, put her face
in her hands, and burst into hysteri-
cal weeping. Kane stood for a mo-
ment watching her. Then he walked
to her and raised her head from her
hands, finging It back almost bru-
tally.
How dare you use violence to
mel"
"Never mind that. want to ask
you q question. Are you leaving me
for Jerroldf"
"What IL l ann Have you any
right to ask, you who have made me
slave for you, slave for n clerkT
Her breath came and went quickly,
she rose to her feet and looked at him
with all the dlsdaln she felt.
81 insist on knowing" answered
Kane.
"You InsistH Well-yes. For a bet
ter man. For your employer, Mr.. Jer-
rold. The man who has thousands
where you have pennies"
"Thank you" said Kane.
He left her and went into his room.
Immediately, before the defiant anger
had left her, she began hurriedly to
pack n suitcase. She cast away con-
temptuousIy the few things her hus-
band had been able to buy for her.
and went out. Kane, In his room,
heard the door Of the hall slam be-
hind her.
Harvey Jerrold, the millionaire bro
ker, was quite willing to see his un-
derpaid employee I'm his bachelor
apartment on the drive. He knew
why Kane had not been to the office
for three days. Edith had telephoned
him from her hotel the next morning,
telling him about the quarrel. He
had wanted to go to her, but she had
refused to see him till he had his
quarrel out with Kane.
They had autoed together and dlned
together the man and his employers
wife, but Edith Kane, despite her
worldliness, was prudent and, in a
way, honorable. She had held Jerrold
at arms length, and even when he
began to talk about her divorce she
had refused to let him embrace her.
Besides, as every woman knows, II
you really mean man to marry you,
you must 20 about It with discretion.
And, though she cared nothing for
Jerrold, Edith Kane was resolved TO
have the spending Of his millions
Jerrold had been on pins and
needles because Kane did not appear.
He had even medltated going to him;
therefore, when Kane was announced
by the japanese butler, he felt his
heart leap triumphantly. He had
squared all accounts with money, and
he had no doubt that he could square
Kane In the same way.
He stood In his room waiting for
him with an uneasy but yet confident
smile And Kane wasted no time In
coming to the point.
"You know what I have come
about" he cried, an absurd little fig
ure confronting the six-foOt college
athlete.
About Mrs. Kanei" inquired Jer-
rold blandly.
"Pll have It from your own lips"
cried Kane. "She has left me be-
cause she loves you-you or your
money. What are you going to do
about itf'
~ can't catch her and drag her
back to you, can I, Mr.. KaneT
drawled the other.
"Are you going to marry herT
"That depends largely on the de-
cision OF the Reno court" said the
millionaire.
II guess there won't be any diff
Guilty about that" said Kane. "Your
money will get anything. Are you go
ing to marry her when the court has
declded"
81 hope So" answered JerrOld. "See
here, Kane, Pm-Tm sorry. But In
this life the riches and the women go
to the strong You've lost her. But
I'll make good to you. I'll give YOU
he esitated-"thirty thousand dol
lars for your wife. What do you
sayi"
"You scOundrel =" shouted Kane,
shaking his fist at the others face.
"You contemplate blackguard"
"Its more than any court would
give Take II or leave IT, Kane" said
Jerrold quietly.
IL accept" said Kane suddenly.
UsI.na yaurg iafnr hn guu blg tyi o.,