Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-01-24
Dolls
Misconduct
By HARRY C. BLAKE
g. Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.
AIRY C. BLAKE

both hands in his hair when his wtfe'S
lawyer came in. With Mr.. Fishotz came
a pretty blond young woman with
cynical expression.
The lawyer nodded In approval at
sight of Arthur's pajama-clad figure
IAN set, eh?" he inquired. "Fine! This
Is the young lady who is to be the
correspondent" He introduced them.
''Miss Roper, Mr.. Dorian"
"How are you?" Miss Roper asked,
nodding with professional geniality.
"Rotten!" Arthur said.
"Now look here" Mr.. FishOtz said
In alarm. "You can't back out now.
You got to go through with It." He
added threateningly: Maybe you'd
like to have your wife go out to Reno
and spend lots of money establishing a
legal residence?"
Arthur stopped his striding to turn
belligerently on the lawyer, then
thought better of 1t. 20. K" he said
YEARLY But get it over with"
'Sure, sure" the lawyer said sooth-
ingly. 81 know this is tough on you,
Dorian. But in this state it's the law
that misconduct has to be proved to
get divorce. Now you two get every
thing ready up here. Mrs. Dorian and
the two witnesses are waiting in the
lobby. Well give you fifteen minutes
to get ready, then We'll come up" He
went out.
Miss Roper took her overnight bag
and went into the bathroom. When she
came out she was wearing pair OF
pale blue sleeping pajamas. AS Arthur
watched, she walked about the room
spreading her street clothes about In
conspicuous places.
as that necessary" he asked in
quivering voice He hated untidinesS
In anyone and especially in women.
Sure" Miss Roper said. Its evil
dence. Better give me some of yours
so can throw them around, too"
Nothing doing" he said briskly. He
began pacing again.
Miss Roper took off her dancing slip
pers and got into bed. She lay on her
back with her hands under her head
and looked at him good naturally.
"Say," she asked. (which one of you
is getting this divorce? When l saw
your wife in the lobby, thought it
was you, because she looked as If she
was going to have fit of the weeps.
But you don't look so gay yourself"
II don't know" Arthur said. He
went over to the window and stood
there. What had started this whole
idiotic thing? All that he knew was
been stood on it's head by an earth
quake. He had tried to fix things up
with Berry, but she wouldn't listen.
Her heart seemed to have become
lump of ice so far as he was con-
cerned.
A knock on the door. Mrs. Beryl
Dorian, Mr.. Max FishhOtz, and two
clerks from the lawyers Office who
were to act as witnesses, entered the
room. They stood there smiling at the
little comedy they were staging to get
around the law. All except Beryl and
Arthur. Beryl looked so naughty and
impatient that he knew she was stung
with shame at the sordidness Of the
thing.
well. l guess that's ALL" Mr.. Fis-
hOtZ said after a moment. He stood
aside to let Beryl pass out first. Be
fore she turned to the door she lifted
her eyes. She and Arthur looked at
one another. She flushed wildly and
went
well, that's that" he thought hope
lessly. He went back to the window.
'Got cigarette, big boy?" Miss Ro-
per asked.
He had forgotten her, and somehow
1t Infatuated him to see her lying there
TRANQUILITY in his bed. Twill you kindly
get out?' he asked through his teeth.
When she had gone he sat down on
the end of the bed. He found that she
had impaired some high-pOwered per-
fume to the pillow and tried to throw
1t through the wall. Then he got up
and resumed his tramping to and fro.
Sometime later there was a knock
on the door. He went to it prepared
to STAY the bellboy he expected to find.
Instead he found Berry.
He looked at her. his mind startled
to complete stop. "Oh. it's you" he
said.
Her face had an expression he had
never seen before. 1t was the sort of
expression that goes well with a knife
or revolver. He invOluntarily drew
back. but at the same time he felt
panS at the thought that her loneliness
wasn't his any longer She pushed
past him and her eyes flashed to the
bed. Like small destroyer heading
at full speed for the scene of battle,
she disappeared into the adjoining
bathroom. When he caught up with
her she was peering behind the shower
curtain. Her expression of fury Civ
ing way TO one of thought. she wan
dered back into the bedroom He fol-
lowed open-mouthed
She bent swiftly and looked under
the bed. Then turned and said:
~'Where is that woman?"
1t didn't make sense TO him for sew.
eral seconds. Then he took her by
the shoulders and shook her. "Why-
you're jealous" he cried joyfully.
You're jealous. Berry,
She said. "Oh. Arthur" and burst
into tears.
$50 Won love me after all =, no cold