us get ahead.
"He even dipped into the joint account we had in order to help finance a car for this woman; then they had the unmitigated gall to tell me that people couldn't control their emotions, that a man would fall in love and he'd fall out of love and there was nothing that could be done about it."
"How long ago was this?"
"About a year."
"And you didn't give him his freedom?"
"No."
"You're still married?"
"Yes."
"How long since you've seen him?"
"Not since that big blowup, but he has called me up on the phone once or twice and asked if I had changed my mind."
"And why haven't you changed your mind?" Mason asked.
"Because I'm not going to let them play fast and loose with me that way."
Mason said, "All right, you're going to remain married to him. What advantage will that be to you?"
"It won't be any advantage to me but it will keep them from taking advantage of me."
"In other words, anything that will be a detriment to the pair of them will be to your advantage. Is that the way you feel?"
"Well, something like that."
Mason regarded her steadily. "Is that the way you want to feel?"
"I… I just wanted to gouge her eyes out. I wanted to hurt her in every way I could."
Mason shook his head. "There's no percentage in that, Virginia. Ring him up and tell him that you've decided to let him have a divorce, that you'll file the divorce action-there's nothing in your religion against it, is there?"
"No."
"No children?"
"No."
Mason spread his hands in a little gesture. "There you are," he said. "You have a future, too, you know."
"I… I-"
"Meaning you've met someone in whom you're interested?" Mason asked.
"I… I have met lots of people and, for the most part, I have been plenty sour on men."
"But lately you've met one who seems to be different?"
She laughed nervously. "Must you cross-examine me now?" she asked.
Mason said, "Whenever you've made a mistake in life, the best thing to do is to wipe the slate clean and put that mistake behind you.
"However, what I wanted to talk to you about was the fact that someone is trying to put you in a position where you'll be discredited.
"I don't know who it is, but it's some person who has a certain amount of ingenuity and, apparently, some underworld connections.
"That person has struck once. You've avoided the trap, but other traps can be set and that person can strike again. I don't like it and if there's any possibility it's your husband, I'd like to eliminate him from the picture.
"There is, of course, the woman with whom your husband was in love and with whom, I presume, he is now living.
"Do you know her? Do you know anything about her background?"
"Not a thing. I know her name and that's just about all. My husband was very careful that I didn't learn too much about her."
"All right," Mason said, "here's my suggestion. File for a divorce on the ground of desertion or cruelty. Leave her name out of it, get it over with and get your freedom; and if there is anything out of the ordinary that happens within the next few days, anything suspicious, any anonymous telephone calls, anything that seems strange, call me immediately."
Mason patted her shoulder and said, "You're free now."
"But what do I do about your fee, Mr. Mason?"
Mason said, "Send me a check for a hundred dollars when you get around to it and find it convenient, but don't worry about it."
CHAPTER SEVEN
There had been a dearth of news the night before and as a result the story about "weighing" the evidence had been given considerable prominence.
Virginia Baxter read the papers with a growing sense of relief. The reporters had sensed that she had been framed and had done their best to see that her vindication was featured as top news.
The newspaper photographers, thoroughgoing professionals, had done an excellent job with their cameras, while Judge Albert, leaning over the scales, had placed a steadying and paternal hand on Virginia's shoulder.
It has been truthfully said that one
"He even dipped into the joint account we had in order to help finance a car for this woman; then they had the unmitigated gall to tell me that people couldn't control their emotions, that a man would fall in love and he'd fall out of love and there was nothing that could be done about it."
"How long ago was this?"
"About a year."
"And you didn't give him his freedom?"
"No."
"You're still married?"
"Yes."
"How long since you've seen him?"
"Not since that big blowup, but he has called me up on the phone once or twice and asked if I had changed my mind."
"And why haven't you changed your mind?" Mason asked.
"Because I'm not going to let them play fast and loose with me that way."
Mason said, "All right, you're going to remain married to him. What advantage will that be to you?"
"It won't be any advantage to me but it will keep them from taking advantage of me."
"In other words, anything that will be a detriment to the pair of them will be to your advantage. Is that the way you feel?"
"Well, something like that."
Mason regarded her steadily. "Is that the way you want to feel?"
"I… I just wanted to gouge her eyes out. I wanted to hurt her in every way I could."
Mason shook his head. "There's no percentage in that, Virginia. Ring him up and tell him that you've decided to let him have a divorce, that you'll file the divorce action-there's nothing in your religion against it, is there?"
"No."
"No children?"
"No."
Mason spread his hands in a little gesture. "There you are," he said. "You have a future, too, you know."
"I… I-"
"Meaning you've met someone in whom you're interested?" Mason asked.
"I… I have met lots of people and, for the most part, I have been plenty sour on men."
"But lately you've met one who seems to be different?"
She laughed nervously. "Must you cross-examine me now?" she asked.
Mason said, "Whenever you've made a mistake in life, the best thing to do is to wipe the slate clean and put that mistake behind you.
"However, what I wanted to talk to you about was the fact that someone is trying to put you in a position where you'll be discredited.
"I don't know who it is, but it's some person who has a certain amount of ingenuity and, apparently, some underworld connections.
"That person has struck once. You've avoided the trap, but other traps can be set and that person can strike again. I don't like it and if there's any possibility it's your husband, I'd like to eliminate him from the picture.
"There is, of course, the woman with whom your husband was in love and with whom, I presume, he is now living.
"Do you know her? Do you know anything about her background?"
"Not a thing. I know her name and that's just about all. My husband was very careful that I didn't learn too much about her."
"All right," Mason said, "here's my suggestion. File for a divorce on the ground of desertion or cruelty. Leave her name out of it, get it over with and get your freedom; and if there is anything out of the ordinary that happens within the next few days, anything suspicious, any anonymous telephone calls, anything that seems strange, call me immediately."
Mason patted her shoulder and said, "You're free now."
"But what do I do about your fee, Mr. Mason?"
Mason said, "Send me a check for a hundred dollars when you get around to it and find it convenient, but don't worry about it."
CHAPTER SEVEN
There had been a dearth of news the night before and as a result the story about "weighing" the evidence had been given considerable prominence.
Virginia Baxter read the papers with a growing sense of relief. The reporters had sensed that she had been framed and had done their best to see that her vindication was featured as top news.
The newspaper photographers, thoroughgoing professionals, had done an excellent job with their cameras, while Judge Albert, leaning over the scales, had placed a steadying and paternal hand on Virginia's shoulder.
It has been truthfully said that one
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