Mollie's Substitute Husband

"Mollie's Substitute Husband" by Max McConn is an early twentieth-century story that plunges John Merriam, a small-town high school principal, into the exciting world of Chicago after he runs into Mollie June, a former student now married to a powerful senator. Merriam's unexpected adventure takes him to a lively cabaret, a stark contrast to his quiet life in Riceville, Illinois. His reunion with Mollie sparks old feelings and pulls him into a political plot led by reformers who want the senator to change his mind about a key law. As Merriam gets deeper into this world of political games and personal desires, he faces challenges that test his values and push him towards love, ambition, and a pursuit of what's right. The novel kicks off a mix of personal past, risky choices, and the search for fairness.