was thought necessary and the case was closed, both the court and
the charity organization society crediting themselves with a case
successfully handled and terminated.

About a year later Mrs. Williams again applied, stating that her
husband's bond had lapsed, his payment had ceased, and that she had
no knowledge of his whereabouts. Although her home and children were
still immaculate she failed to satisfy the social worker who this
time visited her home with the plausible story which she had told
before. The children's health was not good and they seemed
unnaturally repressed and unhappy. Ugly reports that Mrs. Williams
drank came to the society. The school teacher deplored the effect
which the morbid nature of Mrs. Williams was having on her youngest
child--a daughter just entering adolescence. The son, a boy a little
older, was listless and unsatisfactory at his work, and defiant and
secretive toward any attempt to get to know him better. He spent
many nights away from home and was evidently not on good terms with
his mother. As soon as Mrs. Williams saw that real information was
desired she began indulging in fits of rage in which she displayed
such an exaggerated ego as to cause some doubts as to her mentality.
Baffled at every turn the case worker decided to interview the man,
if possible, to see if through him any clue to the situation might
be gained. The first step was to gain the confidence of a former
fellow-workman and friend of his who now maintained his own small
shop. This was done after several visits, the deserting husband
consenting to an evening meeting in his friend's shop.

A most illuminating interview followed. Mr. Williams was found to be
an intelligent though melancholy and self-centered man. The couple
had married somewhat late in life, it being Mrs. Williams' second