Wives of the Rich

• 1916
• Other, Drama

John Grant, capitalist, is devoted to his wife, but is obliged to curtail her weekly allowance because of her fondness for cards. Robert Baker, a wealthy bachelor, is a great admirer of Mrs. Grant and calls frequently. Finding that her allowance is not enough for her losses at cards, Mrs. Grant, incited by society friends, deceives her husband in the hope of gaining more pocket money. Mrs. Grant loses a hundred dollars at cards, and she gives her I.O.U. to Mrs. Condon, the hostess. Not knowing where to obtain the money to pay this debt, she confides in Baker, who asks to be permitted to loan the funds to her and she reluctantly consents. In order to obtain more money, Mrs. Grant purchases a costly necklace on credit and pawns it, hoping to pay for it with her gains at cards. She loses all this money, and the jeweler, unable to obtain the money from her, says, "If you don't pay for the necklace by Tuesday, I will take up the matter with your husband." Later, Baker writes Mrs. Grant, asking her to call on him at 9 o'clock that, night. A scrap of this note falls into her husband's hands, and he decides to follow his wife to Baker's apartments. There is nothing else for Mrs. Grant to do but visit Baker. Grant also goes, and through a trick hides in Baker's smoking room. Once inside, Baker forces his attentions on Mrs. Grant. There is a terrible struggle in the next room, and despite his pounding on the door, Grant cannot break it down. He hears a pistol shot. He crawls through a window into Baker's room. He finds the man dead and his wife gone. Grant goes home and finds his wife sitting at the fireside. A look into her husband's face and Mrs. Grant realizes that he knows it all. She then explains how Baker accidentally shot himself trying to wrest the revolver from her, which she had carried with her to defend her honor.