The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-09-30
By GEANE ALLEN

John Farwell. grown arrogant with success, coldly regarded his wife across the breakfast table. In the tone of cruel condescension with which he would dismiss an unsatisfactory employe he spoke to her.
 Gertrude, you and have come to the parting Q. our ways. The plain fact is that have outgrown you, if indeed you ever were my equal" He paused to let his ulti- matum impress her.
 Gertrude Farwell met his cold gaze with steady brown eyes which somehow she kept expressionless. Somehow, too, she managed to make her voice cool and imper- sonal.
 You are not fooling me at all, John," she said. "This is just your superior way of letting me down for Doris. Do you, by any chance, consider her your equal?" "No, I admit she is not" he told her. "But what Doris lacks in in- telligence she makes up for in warmth and sympathy" Calmly he lit a cigarette while watching his wife's face. Gertrude showed no sign of her emotion.
 In the last few years she had become expert in hiding her feel ings from her husbands chilling criticism. But anyone less engrossed in himself than John Farwell would have found her strangely beautiful, with her wealth of red-gold hair framing her cameolike face.
 "Good-by, John," Gertrude said, calmly enough.
 Two years passed, and John Far wells thirst for success should have been somewhat appeased. Everything made way for him. Again and again the Farwell Paper Company doubled its volume of business.
 But though he had divorced Ger trude, he did not marry Doris. While he was piling success on Doris had married another man.
 Then-the crash came. In a few months his splendid enterprises toppled into ruin, his investments became worthless scraps of paper. After fighting desperately to save something from the wreck, he f- nally emerged, dazed and shaken, to find himself financially about where he had been fifteen years be- fore.
 One evening John Farwell joined Freeman Lawrence at the club for dinner. Doing anything tonight?" asked Lawrence.
 Nothing in particular. Why?l What's on your mind?" John asked in reply.
 Lawrence was a well-known writer on economic subjects, and as such, John felt, entitled to re- spect. 'I'm going to a lecture tonight and I'd like to have you come with me. Miss Carson is going to speak and you can take my word for it that she's worth hearing"
 Carson? Somehow the name seemed familiar.
 John lifted the corner of his mouth in a slightly sarcastic smile. And what is this paragon of in- telligence going to talk about?"
 Current economic conditions and, what's more, she'll talk sense."
 John laughed outright. Thanks, old man, but I can think of better ways to spoil a perfectly good eve- ming than listening to 8 woman talk about economies. What does any woman know about current eco- homie conditions? Women are"
 'Wait @ minute, John," Freeman interrupted earnestly. "It seems to me that we males still have a lot to learn about such matters"
 John laughd a little ruefully. You win," he said.
 At the lecture John and Freeman found seats in the front of a crowd ed hall. John was surprised to see the number of substantial men in the audience.
 To @ welcoming burst of ap- plause slender woman came gracefully across the stage.
 And as the head with it's crown of red-gold hair bent in gracious acknowledgment of the enthusias- ] tic welcome John looked up to recognize-Gertrude Miss Carson, indeed! No wonder the name had seemed familiar; it was Gertrude's maiden name.