Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-11-17

CChapter XVII. Continued)

Gloria paused at her window and
seeing Doctor Royce just stepping
INTO his car. she unused on him
He was an increasingly interesting mys-
terry 10 her. very much at her beck and
call In some ways. and absolutely beyond
her control In others.
He looked back and waved his nand
She thought he waved TO her and she
answered his salute Then she saw that
he was signaling to someone else and
had not seen her. IL was a woman he
vas signalling TO. for he lifted his hat
csariA wondered who II was and felt an
odd ouirk OF jealousy. 1t needed heT
like 4 stitch In the side.
She would have felt a sharper stab II
she had known that Doctor Royce was
waving at Lois. Lois was with Casimir's
wife. reading TO her and comforting the
sick woman as best she could. The
sight had startled Doctor Royce, as
much as Il pleased him.
The wild and ruthless Lois had given
I'D her perilous intrtgues. indeed, II she
could give herself the monOtOny OF min
istering to the lonely and the sick and
take pleasure and pride in such service
Is a substitute for the aHnorOus lawless-
ness that had made her hateful in
ROyce's eyes
AS he rode on into the city he felt a
great elatiOn- He was not a religious
man. but he loved q wholesome. health
full soul as well as a body that was
clean and we'll He had kept Gloria
from learning OF Lois AFFAIR with Ere
neau for Gloria's own sake Now he
believed that under cover OF the decep-
ton LoIs own had been enabled to re-
deem itself.
He felt that Lois had earned the right
10 have back the letters she had sent "a
Freneau- Whether she should wish q
destroy them or keep them as a re
minder and warning from her evil past
they belonged 70 her and TO no one else
Certainly Royce had no further right In
them
When he reached his ONCE and gath
cred up his instruments he took the
package OF letters from the safe and
rut them In his pocket Then he re-
turned to the motor and sped back &C
the Stafford country home
II was q long ride and he was troubled
about many things. about Gloria's de-
termination TO probe into the secret:
that.could mean only a cruel disillusion'
ment for her, about the chances FOL
Trask's recovery. and the dangers thai
threatened the Staffords IL the newspa
pers or the police learned with what In
dependence OF the law the prisoner
Trask had been captured and held. He
wondered at his own connivance In th'
matter. and he shuddered TO think how
many illegal acts are constantly com
nttted by the most respectable people
When he reached the Stafford estate M
stopped the driver Of his car and go
rlrt. telling the man to take the case o.
instruments up 10 the house. Royce
had seen Lois strolling about the lawr
In a mood Of soIemnity. He felt Nthal
the time was appropriate for the sur
render OF the letters He wondered II
he had the right 20 deliver them ovel
70 her. Yet he knew that he had ne
right to keep them IL seemed that M
had so tangled himself In the net OF tn'
Freneau AFFAIR that anything soeVer M
did was bound to be wrong.
Mr.. Royce hurried to Lois and cali
ed to her. She turned TO him sad
lv and weakly. He knew too mucr
aboot her for her TO face him without
shame. He brought a little smile 81
relief to her along with swift eiusf