Evening star., 1931-05-31
By p. G.. Wodeh0use
Illustrated by Hubert Matthew.

HE unwonted gravity Of Mr.. Null
liners demeanor had struck all
directly he entered the bar parlor Of
the Anglers Rest We fastened to
make sympathetic inquiries.
Our solicitude seemed to please him.
"Wel gentlemen" he said, Il had not M
tended to intrude my private troubles ON this
happy gathering. but, II you must know.
young second cousin Of mine has LETT his vile
and is filing papers of divorce. It has upoet
me very much
the whole trouble appears to have been
that whenever nay seeend cousin spoke to his
wife. she would open her eyes to their fullest
extent put her head on one side like canary,
say 'What?' He said he had stood it for IL
months and days, which he believes TO be
q record and that the time had now come,
in his opinion, to take steps"
Mr. Muiliner sighed.
.,Tbe tact Ct the matter H." he said. mar
riage today Is made much too simple for q
man He finds it so easy to go out and grab
some sweet girl that when he has got her l'e
does not value her. I am convinced that that
is the real cause of this modern boom in
divorce. what marriage needs, TO make 1t q
stable institution, s something in the nature
of obstacles during the cOuTtship period.
attribute the solid happiness Of my nephew
OsbertS union. to take but one instance 10
the events which preceded 1t. If the thing
had been q walkover, he would have priced
his wife far less highly"
"It took him long time to teach her his
true worth?" we asked.
:'On the contrary" said Mr. Mulliner. "she
loved him at first sight. What made the
wooing OF Mabel Petherick-Soames so extrardi-
narily difflcult for my nephew Osbert was not
amy GOODNESS on her part, but the unfortunate
mental attitude of J. BashfOrd Braddock. Does
that name suggest anything to you, gentle
men?'
mo"
"You do not think that a man with such q
name would be likely to be toughish sort Of
egg?"
He might be- now you mention it."
"He was In Central Africa where he spent
q good deal of his time exploring oStriches
would bury their heads in the sand at Bash
ford Braddoek's approach, and even rhinocer-
oses. the most ferocious beasts in existence,
frequently edged behind trees and hid till he
had passed. And the moment he came into
Osbert's life. my nephew realized with a sick
enmg cIearness that those rfinoceroses had
known their business.
I Until the advent of this man Braddock
~ (said Mr. Mulliner), fortune seemed to
have lavished her favors on nay nephew Osbert
in full and even overdowing measure. Hand
some, like all the Mulliners, he possessed, in
addition to good looks, the inestimable blessing
of perfect health, q cheerful disposition, and
much money that income-tax assessors
screamed with joy when forwarding Schedule
ID to his address. And, ON top OF all this
he had fallen in love with most charming
girl ana raCner fanc1eQ CklaC ms love was re-
turned.
For several peaceful, happy weeks all went
wen. Osoert advanced without q setback Of
any description through the various stages Of
calling. sending flowers, asking after her
fathers lumbago and pattng her mothers
Pcmeranian to the point where ne was able
with the family'S fun approval, to invite the
girl out alone to dinner and theater. And
it was on this night of nights when all should
have been JOY and happiness, that the Brad
dock menace took shape.
Until Bashford BraddOck made his appear
ance sort of hitch had occurred to mar the
perfect tranquility Of the evenings proceedings.
TIE dinner had been excellent the play enter
taiutng. Twice during the third act OsbeTt had
ventured to Sqtleese the girls hand in . WARM
though, Of course eentlemanly manner, and it
seemed to him that the pressure had been re-
turned It is not surprising therefore, tfat BY
the time they were saying good night on the
steps Of her house he had reached the CON-
cIssston that he was on TO o good thing.
Putting his fortune to the test, TO win or lose
it all. Osbert Mulliner reaehed forward, cIasped
Mabel Petherfck- -Soames to his bosom. and gave
her n kiss ardent that in the silent night IL
sounded hike somebody letting OF bomb.
Ard scarcely had the echoes died away when
he was aware that there was standing at hts
elbow q taIi broad -shouldered man In evening
dress and opera hat.
"Hullo, Basky," said Mabel, and there w~s
annoyance in her voice. Where did you spring
from? thought you were exploring On tine
C0sgo or somewhere"
The man removed his opera hat. sqsaaslsed n
fiat. popped IL cut again. replaced IL on hiB
head, and spoke in . deep, ru1shiing voice:
have been dining with ygnr faelssr and mother.