Part 50 (1/2)

”By jinks! I clean forgot all about it, Miss Schwartz,” Ralph said after Mr. Bienenflug had become closeted with his more recent client.

”He told me to tell you to come in and take some dictation.”

”I'll go in all right,” Miss Schwartz said; and she entered Mr.

Bienenflug's room determined to pluck out the heart of Mrs.

Fieldstone's mystery.

It needed no effort on the stenographer's part, however; for as soon as she said ”How do you do, Mrs. Fieldstone?” Mrs. Fieldstone forthwith unbosomed herself.

”Listen, Miss Schwartz,” she said. ”I've been here about buying houses, and I've been here about putting out tenants--and all them things; but I never thought I would come here about Jake.”

Out of consideration for Ralph, Miss Schwartz had left the door ajar, and Ralph discreetly seated himself on one side where he might hear un.o.bserved.

”Why, what's the trouble now, Mrs. Fieldstone?” Miss Schwartz asked.

”Former times he usen't to come home till two--three o'clock,” Mrs.

Fieldstone repeated; ”and last week twice already he didn't come home at all; but he telephoned--I will say that for him.” Here she burst into tears, which in a woman of Mrs. Fieldstone's weight and style of beauty--for she was by no means unhandsome--left Ralph entirely unmoved. ”Last night,” she sobbed, ”he ain't even telephoned!”

”Well,” Miss Schwartz said soothingly, ”you've got to expect that in the show business. Believe me, Mrs. Fieldstone, you should ought to jump right in with a motion for alimony before he spends it all on them others.”

”That's where you make a big mistake, Miss Schwartz,” Mrs. Fieldstone said indignantly. ”My Jake ain't got no eyes for no other woman but me!

It ain't that, I know! If it was I wouldn't stick at nothing. I'd divorce him like a dawg! The thing is--now--I consider should I sue him in the courts for a separation or shouldn't I wait to see if he wouldn't quit staying out all night. Mr. Bienenflug wants me I should do it--but I don't know.”

She sighed tremulously and opened wide the flap of her handbag, which was fitted with a mirror and a powder puff; and after she had made good the emotional ravages to her complexion she rose to her feet.

”Listen, Miss Schwartz. I think I'll think it over and come back to-morrow,” she said.

”But, Mrs. Fieldstone,” Miss Schwartz protested, ”won't you wait till Mr. Bienenflug gets through? He'll be out in a minute.”

”He didn't have no business to leave me stay here,” Mrs. Fieldstone replied. ”I was here first; but, anyhow, I'll be back to-morrow or so.”

Here she put on her gloves. ”Furthermore, I ain't in no hurry,” she said. ”When you've been married to a man sixteen years, twenty-four hours more or less about getting a divorce don't make no difference one way or the other.” She opened the door leading into the hall. ”And, anyhow,” she declared finally, ”I ain't going to get no divorce anyway.”

Miss Schwartz shrugged her shoulders.

”My _tzuris_ if you get a divorce or not!” she said as she heard the elevator door close behind Mrs. Fieldstone.

”I hope she does!” Ralph said fervently. ”He's nothing but a dawg--that fellow Fieldstone ain't!”

”Most of 'em are dawgs--those big managers,” Miss Schwartz said; ”and, what with their wives and their actors, they lead a dawg's life, too.”

Further discussion was prevented by the appearance of Miss Haig and Mr.

Bienenflug from Room 6020.

”I can throw the bluff all right,” Mr. Bienenflug was saying; ”though I tell you right now, Miss Haig, you haven't any cause of action; and if you did have one there wouldn't be much use in suing on it.”

He shook his head sorrowfully.

”A producing manager has to get a couple of judgments entered against him every week, otherwise every one'd think he was an easy mark,” he commented; ”and that's why I say there ain't any money in the show business for the plaintiff's attorney--unless it's an action for divorce.” Here he snapped his fingers as he realized that he had completely forgotten Mrs. Fieldstone during his twenty-minute consultation with Miss Haig. ”Well, good-bye, Miss Haig,” he said, pressing her hand warmly. ”I've got some one in there waiting to see me.”