He whirled around and darted out the door before Bertha could get her vocabulary into action.
Elsie was the first to recover. “What in the world,” she asked, “is all that about?”
Bertha Cool snapped an elastic off the bundle of papers, unfolding a crisp-looking legal document, started reading aloud:
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
Plaintiff complains of defendants, and for cause of action alleges:
I
That the defendants are now, and at all of the times hereinafter mentioned were, co-partners transacting business under the firm name and style of Cool and Lam, and having their offices in the City of Los Angeles aforesaid.
II
That on or about the 8th day of April, 1943, 19— within the City of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, State of California, the defendants wilfully and maliciously uttered false and defamatory statements concerning the said plaintiff and reflecting upon her character, honesty, integrity, and which said statements were then and there well calculated to, and did, damage the reputation of the plaintiff.