The Wheel

Summary

In a tangled web of familial obligations, reckless indulgence, and redemption, Ted Morton, scion of a wealthy banking dynasty, finds himself ensnared by his own profligacy. After incurring substantial losses at the roulette table, Ted's parents, exasperated by his intemperate lifestyle, urge him to settle down. In a hasty bid to assuage their concerns, Ted fabricates a marriage to Kate O'Hara, a milliner of modest means. However, when his parents reject Kate due to her perceived inferior social standing, Ted, in a gesture of defiance, proceeds with the union. Subsequently, his father disowns him, precipitating a period of financial hardship. Ted secures employment as an automobile salesman, but his vulnerability is exploited by Eddie Baker, a malicious acquaintance with a grudge, who lures Ted back to the roulette table. Ted's ensuing losses prompt a desperate attempt to recoup the funds, which only serves to exacerbate his woes when Kate, in a misguided effort to help, loses an additional substantial sum on a horse bet. Ultimately, Baker, beset by remorse, rectifies Ted's losses by providing a check, which, however, is misconstrued by Ted as evidence of an illicit affair between Baker and Kate. This misinterpretation culminates in a violent confrontation, which, paradoxically, paves the way for the Mortons' eventual acceptance of Kate and Ted's reconciliation.