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Show YES GIRL - TIT Louisa Holmes slim and young, her lovely head proudly high, to take the oath. For a moment she caught the Judge's attsntlon, knsw his eyes followed her, was conscious, too, although al-though shs did not look at him, of Nick's startled expression. Shs was frightened, but not for herself. her-self. Sh was afraid of ths Judge, afraid shs might not bs able to make him understand about Mildred Mil-dred and Nick and Richie. Mr. Landers brought out her testimony tes-timony by questions. Her voice was clear and steady. Yes, sh and her husband had dined at the Paradise cafe on a certain night. Mrs. Corbin was there with a man from Hollywood. They had both been drinking. Just here Linda felt rather than saw Mildred's quick, apprehensive look at her lawyer. Linda continued. While Mrs. Corbin Cor-bin danced with Mr. Raymond, the man from Hollywood had told her that he was taking Mildred to California Cali-fornia on the midnight train. He had said she wanted to go, and (Continued on Following Pe Mr. Stone told how Mr. Corbin had deserted ths plaintiff at a lonely lone-ly summer camp In th north wood and refused to see her when she returned: how she had gone to California with the promise of work and, that falling, how she had humbly hum-bly returned, to have her overtures of peace basely refused by her husband. hus-band. And Mildred on the stand. '1 wanted a horn for my baby," she told the intent Judge, her pulsating voice tragically appealing. "I knew my husband was cruel and selfish, but I was willing to put up with anything If we three might be together again. A little boy needs his mother," sh went on, shaken with emotion. Mildred Sobs on Stand She put a dainty handkerchief to her eyes and sobbed convulsively: "I want my baby I want my baby, and he needs his mother!" It was a good act and well put on. Linda took on look at the sympathetic sympa-thetic fac of th judge and her heart slipped down Into her little blue shoes. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX Linda met Nick' lawyer, Mr. Landers, by arrangement Carefully they again went over her testimony. He warned her that Harry Stone. Mildred's counsel, would attempt to riddle her story, to confuse and frighten her. He urged her to say Just enough, not too much. Talking, he strode about the room, nervously running one hand over his thinning hair. "You look swell," he told her, "and that's half the battle. I'm counting on you to take the judge's mind off Mrs. Corbin." He frowned. To Have New Judge "Too bad Judge Reynolds was called away. He's fair, a straight1 shooter. Bromfleld, who Is on the bench today. 1 all right, but younger, a lady's man. It's a bad break for us." They went to the courtroom. Landers saw that Linda was seated Inconspicuously, then he went to his chair near th bench. Th room was filled to capacity. Nick was of enough prominence and Mildred's career enough colorful color-ful to draw curiosity seekers from many walks of life. Nick cam In and sat talking In low tone to Landers. A short stocky man. undoubtedly Mildred's lawyer, Harry Stone, moved cheerfully about, chatting with reporter and persons In the first row of chair. Murphy from the construction camp, a pallid little girl who had been maid in the Corbin household and a hotel clerk from upstats. With these he attempted to prove Mildred's Mil-dred's moral unfitness to have ths care of her son. Murphy told hi story and stuck to It In spit of Harry Stons's haggling; hag-gling; ths pallid little girl he completely com-pletely routed: th hotel clerk seemed more bent on advertising his hostelry than pinning anything definite on the charming Mr. Corbin. Cor-bin. Linda sat forward In her chair, tremblingly awaiting her turn, but at th earn time watching Intently the reaction of th Judge. He was unmoved; he becam restless rest-less under the questioning of the witnesses; when he raised his eyes they were only for Mildred. Sh sat gracefully In her chair, her knees crossed, on slender, well-rounded well-rounded leg exposed almost to the kne. With sorrowful eyes sh gated at th witnesses. Every line of her figure fig-ure eeemed to shrink from then palpable untruths. Linda clenched her hands. Shi ; bant her silent will on th Judge ' "Listen to th witnesses listen t 1 them," sh begged In her heart 1 "They are telling th truth." And defiantly, sh added, "He wUl Hater to me." At last shs was called to th stand Slipping out of hsr coat shs walked Linda felt drawn to turn her head and found herself looking into Carter Car-ter Crawford's cynical, bored eyes He smiled and bowed, and ah nodded nod-ded coolly. Harry Stone kept on eye on the door and at th last moment rushed forward to escort Mildred to her place. Necks cransd and thsre was a wave of whispered comment. Nick did not look at Mildred. Linda saw the lines beside his grim mouth tighten when she entered. The trial progressed rapidly. Mildred's Mil-dred's plea for divorce was not con-tasted, con-tasted, neither was th outrageous amount she demanded as alimony. Mr. Landers assured th court that his client was willing to comply with her demands. Then, of a sudden, Interest quickened. quick-ened. Mrs. Corbin asked the custody of her son, Richard, and Mr. Landers Lan-ders objected, and the battle was on. In a moment time th case of Corbin versus Corbin changed from an ordinary suit for divorc to bitter fight over on small boy who reminded Linda only that morning to bring him pep'mlnt candy when she cam horn. Harry Stone sought .to prove with glib witnesses, that Nlcholai Corbin had deliberately torn thi child from his mother's arms at ar early age: that he had etubbornly refused his wife th privilege of seeing see-ing her son for no reason except an insane Jealousy and determination to hold the whip hand. YES GIRL teH By Louis Holmes I throat tightened to spill over Into tears. Then you de not know If aha want to Hollywood, either with or without her alleged friend. When Linda remained stubbornly silent, ha aaid, That la all." Crushed with defeat, aha went back to her chair. She had failed mlaarably, wretchedly. After a few moments of not so much waiting as endurance, the Judge gave bis decision, de-cision, .Mra. Mildred Corbln was granted a dlvoroe from Nicholas Corbln, aha waa to receive 110,000 a year alimony ali-mony and aha waa granted the sola custody of har son, Richard. Aa la a hideous dream, Linda saw a hilarious group aurround Mildred and har lawyer, aaw them laughing and ahaklng hands, aaw Mildred kiss tha atocky Mr. Stone. But clearly aha aaw Nick. Quietly he got to hia feat and, completely Ignoring the expostulating expostulat-ing Mr, Landers, walked stiffly from the room. He waa Ilka aa animated dummy. Expressionless face, staring, unwinking un-winking eyes, one foot and than the other placed jerkily forward. As he disappeared through the door. Carter Crawford spoke from behind Linda. "Clever IlUle show you put en, but not good enough," ha aaid. Linda didn't atop to answer. She ran, pushing through the crowd, stumbling, gaaplng, panting. She must gat to Nick she must get to Nick. , (Continued Wednesday) (CeaUaaeC frea Preeestas Pea) who waa ha te refuse a ladyT At this a ripple of amusement came from the listeners. I Linda also swore that Richie had lived with her, aa a paying gueat, for three months; that tha reason he had been left la har eare waa because hia mother bad deserted him, and not once In those three months had aha written to or shown the ailghtaat interest la him. Till to Judge , Linda turned ao her statements were directed at the Judge. She threw ail tha force of her personality person-ality Into an effort to bold hia attention. at-tention. She regarded him In a friendly manner. She drove home each truth and nailed It fast with a convincing nod or awlft smile whloh acknowledged acknowl-edged him to be a fair, reasonable man. And ha waa Impressed. Mildred changed her poaltlon without getting a flicker from hia eyas; she changed her expression also. Tha pensive lips narrowed, her ayes darted from Harry Btone'e Impassive Im-passive face te Linda, to the Judge and back te har lawyer. Once Linda caught Carter Crawford's Craw-ford's aye. He waa amused and approving, ap-proving, but he shook hia head. Aa she finished the Judge looked thoughtful. He rubbed hia chin and worried hia lower lip with even white teeth. Harry Stone strolled to stand before Linda and aha unconsciously braced herself. "I will pass lightly ever your testimony tes-timony la regard to Mrs. Corbin'a attentions to her child," be aaid courteously. "It has been proved that aha was wilfully kept In ignorance ignor-ance to to hia whereabtuoa." Figuratively, Fig-uratively, be washed hia hands of this matter, "You aay, Mra Raymond, that your husband waa dancing with my client at the time you learned of bar proposed trip to California?" "Yea." "Undoubtedly Mr. Raymond knew Mrs. Corbln quite well If ha left you to dance with her?" "Ha knew her." "Your wtUlngneae te testify against her could not possibly be jealousy" with oily meaning. "I object!" thundered Mr. Land-era. Land-era. "Objection sustained." A lump rose In Linda's throat Tha Judge had aettled back In his chair. A aeed had been aown and already al-ready It waa sprouting distrust "You aay tha man from Hollywood Holly-wood had been drinking?" Harry Stone went on. "Tea." Then might not his confidence have bean a figment of hia imagination?" imagina-tion?" "No. Mrs. Corbln want te California Califor-nia that night" "Did you sea bar go?" "No." Tha lump In Linda's |
