Radio and television mirror (Jan-June 1941)

"But that's wonderful!" I cried. "I knew he could do it!" "That isn't all, though," Mr. Keen went on. "The fact is — a very curious but quite human sort of thing has happened to your husband. Ever since he first was out of work, he had no pride in himself. And the day came when you had no pride in him either, and you left him. Now, very suddenly, he's got a job — he's got his pride back — and, having it back, feeling like a man again, he's — he's turned against you!" I sank down into a chair. "You mean — he doesn't want me back?" "Well — he thinks he doesn't. He told me, just now, that you left him when he needed you most, and so you couldn't have loved him. And so, he says, why should he take you back now when he doesn't need you?" "But did you tell him that you'd found me, and I was coming back, not knowing that he had a job?" "No," Mr. Keen said, "I didn't tell him that. He thinks you're still missing, and simply says he doesn't want me to go on looking for you, because even if I found you he wouldn't want you to come back to him. There was no use talking to him in his present frame of mind." So this was the end. I had done what I wanted to do for Howard — only to lose him completely ! He was a man now, standing on his own two feet, fighting for his place in the world, but he didn't want me beside him. Sitting there in that big leather office chair of Mr. Keen's, I felt an overpowering wave of loneliness and desolation. Somehow I had bungled. Bungled terribly, tragically. "Isn't there something we can do?" I cried in anguish. "I think I have a plan," he said. I came up in the elevator and walked down the hall toward our apartment. I felt weak and dizzy, unsure of my ability to carry out the difficult role Mr. Keen had assigned me. So much depended upon the success of his plan! — not my happiness alone, but Howard's as well, for I knew that no matter how much, in his new-found pride, he said he didn't want me back, he really loved me as much as I loved him. He could never really live without me, any more than I could live without him. I couldn't fail! I mustn't! HOWARD himself answered my ring at the bell. He stepped back as he opened the door, staring at me in amazement. Then his lips tightened and his eyes went hard. Before he could speak, I said: "I'm sorry to bother you, Howard." My voice sounded strange and far away to my own ears. "But may I come in for just a minute? I'd like to get the rest of my things and move them out, if you don't mind." "I — I — why, certainly," he stammered. "Come right in — you're welcome to them." I entered the apartment. Mr. Keen was sitting in the living room, and I stopped, feigning surprise. We'd agreed that I must pretend not to know him. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you had a visitor." Howard nervously introduced us, and I said, "I won't be long. There are just a few things I want to get. ..." I dragged a suitcase out of the closet and began filling it with the dresses and other clothing I had left behind at first. I concentrated on the JANUARY, 1941 movements of my hands to keep myself from dropping this farce and telling Howard I had come back because I loved him. And then I caught a glimpse of his face, and it steadied me. It was a study in bewilderment and rising anger. Whatever else he had expected, he hadn't thought I would come home unexpectedly and coolly prepare to take myself even further out of his life — and he didn't like it. "I have a job, Rosemary," he said truculently. "Have you?" I marvelled at the coolness of my voice. How could I speak so off-handedly, when inside I was burning? "That's very nice. I'm glad." The closet that opened into the living room was empty now, and I bustled off into the bedroom. Through the half-open door I heard Mr. Keen murmur: "Well, Forbes, you were going to tell your wife you didn't want her, if she ever came back — but I must say it seems as if she weren't going to give you the chance." "It just proves what I told you!" Howard burst out furiously. "You've met her now — you can see she doesn't love me. She wouldn't treat me this way if she did!" WELL, what do you care?" Mr. Keen said comfortingly. "You've decided you're better off without her anyway." "Urn — yes — " Howard said doubtfully, just as I came back into the room, my arms piled high with lingerie for the suitcase. "You'd like to keep all the books, wouldn't you?" I asked Howard. I picked up an evening coat he'd given me, long ago; looked at it critically and then tossed it over a chair. "You might give that to Calypso, if you see her. She always admired it." "See here!" Howard roared, reaching my side in one long step. He seized my arm, knocking clothes out of my hands and onto the floor. "You're still my wife! You're not going to act this way, sailing in here and thinking you can sail right out again. Give me that suitcase!" The touch of his hand swept away all my poise. A blazing tide of emotion rushed through me. "You might as well do what he says, Mrs. Forbes," Mr. Keen's voice broke in from behind us. "Especially since you know very well you didn't intend to take that suitcase out of here if you could possibly help it." HOWARD swung around. "What? How do you know she didn't?" I said, "Because Mr. Keen found me and brought me back, Howard. But you'd found work and said you didn't ever want to see me again." "I — " Howard looked from me to Mr. Keen, and back again. "I was crazy," he said humbly. "You mean more to me than anything in the world. I knew that when I saw you walk in here tonight." Mr. Keen and I exchanged a quick glance of understanding. "Then you do want me back?" I asked softly. "Do I?" Howard said. "Do I!" Mr. Keen stood up. He nodded benevolently. I really believe he was as happy over the way things had turned out as Howard and I were. And then he left the room. Over Howard's shoulder, I saw him go. I thought, in my new-found happiness, how infinitely fortunate we had been to have Mr. Keen helping us. And yet, in the months that have passed since then, as I have been able to know Mr. Keen better, I've realized something even more important. The aid he gave us is only a small part of the good he does everyone with whom he comes in contact. Knowing that has helped to bring me a new humility and understanding. "The Wife Who Ran Away" is the first in a series of Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons, stories, produced on the air by Frank and Anne Hummert. Others will appear in future issues of Radio Mirror. STATEMENT OF THE OWNERSHIP. MANAGEMENT, CIRCULATION, ETC., REQUIRED BY THE ACTS OF CONGRESS OF AUGUST 24. 1912, and MARCH 3, 1933, of RADIO AND TELEVISION MIRROR, published Monthly at Dunellen, New Jersey, for October 1, 1940. State of New York ) County of New York J Before me, a Notary Public, in and for the State and county aforesaid, personally appeared Fred R. Sammis, who, having been duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that he is the Editor of the RADIO AND TELEVISION MIRROR and that the following is, to the best of his knowledge and belief, a true statement of the ownership, management (and if a daily paper, the circulation), etc ... of the aforesaid publication for the date shown in the above caption, required by the Act of August 24. 1912, as amended by the Act of March 3, 1933. embodied in section 537, Postal Laws and Regulations, printed on the reverse of this form, to wit: 1. That the names and addresses of the publisher, editor, managing editor, and business managers are: Publisher, Macfadden Publications, Inc., 122 E. 42nd St., New York City; Editor. Fred R. Sammis. 122 E. 42nd St.. New York City; Managing Editor, None; Business Managers. None. 2. That the owner is: (If owned by a corporation, its name and address must be stated and also immediately thereunder the names and addresses of stockholders owning or holding one per cent or more of total amount of stock. If not owned by a corporation, the names and addresses of the individual owners must be given. If owned by a firm, company, or other unincorporated concern, its name and address, as well as those of each individual member, must be given.) Owner: Macfadden Publications. Inc , 122 East 42nd Street. New York City. Stockholders in Macfadden Publications, Inc. : Bernarr Macfadden Foundation, Inc., 122 East 42nd Street, New York City; Bernarr Macfadden, Miami Beach, Florida. 3. That the known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 per cent. or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities are: (If there are none, so state.) None. 4 That the two paragraphs next above, giving the names of the owners, stockholders, and security holders, if any, contain not only the list of stockholders and security holders as they appear upon the books of the company but also, in cases where the stockholder or security holder appears upon the books of the company as trustee or in any other fiduciary relation, the name of the person or corporation for whom such trustee is acting, is given; also that the said two paragraphs contain statements embracing affiant's full knowledge and belief as to the circumstances and conditions under which stockholders and security holders who do not appear upon the books of the company as trustees, hold stock and securities in a capacity other than that of a bona fide owner; and this affiant has no reason to believe that any other person, association, or corporation has any interest direct or indirect in the said stock, bonds, or other securities than as so stated by him. 5 That the average number of copies of each issue of this publication sold or distributed, through the mails or otherwise, to paid subscribers during the twelve months preceding the date shown above is (This information is required from daily publications only.) ^.^ fr£d ^ S/MKJ& Sworn to and subscribed before me this 18th day of September 1940 (SEAL) JOSEPH M. ROTH. Notary Public Westchester County. Certificate Filed in N. Y. Co. No. 439 N. Y. Co. Register's No. 1 R 299 Commission expires March 30, 1941 49