The Blue Mouse

Summary

Searchlight Insurance clerk Teddie Barker, smitten by clerk-cum-ingenue Clara Brummer, barters his heart for a dowry that dangles like a neon carrot: five grand once he claws his way to branch-manager rank. Enter Mr. Bock, a lecherous director whose promotions orbit the gravitational pull of pretty spouses; Teddie’s real fiancée, luminous yet unpretentious, fails to dazzle. Salvation slinks in from a smoke-laden Palais de Danse: Dolly Frivoluse, the cobalt-furred flapper known city-wide as “The Blue Mouse,” will masquerade as Mrs. Barker for two crisp hundred-pound notes. A few winks, a borrowed wedding ring, and suddenly Teddie’s star ascends—corner office, secretary, swagger—until jealous clerks, suspicious wives, and a furniture-auction-turned-carnival detonate the masquerade. One Park-Street townhouse, two rival Mrs. Barkers, and a tipsy director later, contracts are signed, dowries delivered, and the blue mouse scurries back to her midnight burlesque—leaving the insurance ledger forever inked with the scent of jasmine, champagne, and white lies.

Synopsis

Teddie Barker, an employee of the Searchlight Insurance Company, falls in love with Clara Brummer. Her father does not, at first, acquiesce to the engagement, but after persuasion agrees and attends the marriage of his daughter, and promises a dowry of £5,000 when the young man attains the position of branch manager in his company. Mr. Bock, the director of the insurance company, has a weakness for granting concessions to his employees who have fascinating wives. Bumble, as general factotum, is well aware of this, and when Teddie calls for an interview, he advises him as to the necessary ways and means, and shows the methods of his colleague, John Bains, for advancement. Teddie has a most unsatisfactory interview with the director, and Bumble then advises him that if his wife is prettier than Mr. John Bains', and he will bring her along, his appointment is certain. Teddie is very downhearted, but eventually he is smitten with a brilliant idea. He will persuade one of the habitués of a famous dancing hall to impersonate his wife. Miss Dolly Frivoluse, known to her many admirers as "The Blue Mouse," readily agrees to his proposition, and for a payment of £200 consents to appear as his wife, until she can influence Mr. Bock to promote Teddie to a position as manager. Teddie introduces "The Blue Mouse" as his wife to Mr. Bock outside their offices, and the director is quickly captivated. He insists on driving them to No. 14 Park Street, the home of "The Blue Mouse." The following morning the presence of Mr. Barker is requested by the director, and he is promoted to a higher post, but not yet a branch manager, and occupies the office adjoining his chief. Teddie is in high spirits, and writes to "The Blue Mouse" asking her to come to his office that evening and to bring her photograph. Mr. Bock appears on the scene when the pseudo wife arrives, and he is more than ever enamored with the lady. The wife of another of his clerks sees the frivolity between Mr. Bock and "The Blue Mouse," and follows the lady home and finds out who she is, and promptly writes an anonymous letter to Mrs. Bock, which causes the director's domestic happiness to be disturbed. Teddie and "The Blue Mouse" now arrange that they will endeavor to bring matters to a climax, and a letter is written by Dolly to his director asking that her husband may be sent away, and suggests that she should like to have dinner with him. Teddie is ordered to a northern bank, and Mrs. Bock is advised that her husband will not be home until late. Mrs. Barker's father, Mr. Brummer, is anxious for his son-in-law's success, and calls at his office, interviews the director, and informs him he has just left his daughter's house at 30 Linden Street. Mr. Bock having recently driven to No. 14 Park Street with Teddie and his wife ("The Blue Mouse") a dispute arises as to Mr. Barker's address. The real Mrs. Barker appears opportunely at the office and appeases the excitement of Mr. Brummer, but she is believed to be "The Blue Mouse" by Mr. Bock. Mr. Barker returns and is upbraided by Mr. Bock for his infidelity to his wife. Complications are now approaching a crisis. The plot moves to the residence of "The Blue Mouse." Mr. Brummer arrives at her house to clear the doubts in his mind as to his son-in-law's address and is satisfied that there must be two "Teddie Barkers." Mr. Bock now appears and is cajoled by Dolly into signing a letter appointing Mr. Teddie Barker a branch manager, and thus fulfills her part of the contract. "The Blue Mouse" is in debt and a sale of her furniture takes place, which is surely on novel lines. A band and light refreshments to entice prospective buyers and some amusing scenes are enacted when Mrs. Barker and Mrs. Bock attend the sale while their husbands are endeavoring to hide from them in the house.