Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-03

when he le0rueu % TAOA leh AAAAASSS'
length he said to Freneau:
MY boy, you've got to go and borrow
of your papa-in-law to be, or we've got
to close the shop. Our branch offices
are bowling for their back pay, and
we've got to pull down some cash some
where or pull down the blinds. Go talk
tn Pierpont and show him the books.
Show him the big killing we're going
to make in the street if he'll tide US
over Go on, and come back with the
bacon. or don't come back at all"
Freneau would almost rather have
gone to the electric chair, but needs
must when thexdevil drives. So he took
a big bouquet and a big ledger and
taxicab to the Stafford house.
And whom should he meet as he was
ushered in out Lois telling Pierpont
good-by. And what should Pierpont say
but, Il am going to tell you great
secret, Lois. Dick, here, Is engaged to
Gloria: Don't tell anyone
Lois had no more self-control than
to topple over. Freneau was disguised
with her more than ever now. She had
enough presence of mind to blame her
collapse on the heat Of the room and
her alarm for Gloria. And the excuse
sufficed for old Stafford, but as she
left. she gave the sadly shaken Freneau
a look that said, "Oh, no, won't tell
anyone, but I'll tell you something"
That was what here eyes said, while
her lips said: Congratulations to you
both I'm sure you'll be very happy.
Good-by."
Freneau's heart fluttered still more
when he preached the subject of the
loan to Pierpont-brolSe to Pierpont the
unpleasant news that his new son-in-
laws first act was TO borrow money. He
out 1t on a business basis, but Pierpont,
like most other millionaires, hated to be
sponged on, and he shook his head IN
answer to Freneaus proposition.
Freneau was in a pitiable plight. He
was about to stink away in despair,
when he happened to think to say:
''You offered me a reward for the rescu-
ing of Gloria from the Indians. i re-
fused the money then. so 1 thought that
acknowledgement thought"
That's true" said Pierpont. That
suggests a way out of it. Your propo-
sition does not appeal to my business
sense, but I can do this. I'll pay you
double the reward with compound inter-
est for five years. That will square us
up"
Freneau smiled with a renewal Of
hope, and Stafford wrote him an i'm
portant check.
Ignorance may be bliss, but il
is not preparedness. Freneau was
blissful in his belief that Lois was
ouieted. He did not dream, nor
did she, that David Stafford was now
awakened. When Freneau took Lois to
the taxicab, she lowered her vail, but
a veil is only a partial disguise at best,
and it may attract attention. Neither
Freneau. but in teneau he had met
Mrs. Coleridge was passing, or that she
stared hard. Mrs. Coleridge was one
Of the prettiest faces in Freneau pack
of discards. She was a sort of female
Freneau's, but in Freneau she had met
her match because she allowed herself
to be more thrilled than thrilling. He
had passed on without a long pause
before her shrine.
Mrs. CoIeridge had seen Freneau with
Lois at various tea dances, and she
Lois all the more readily
for her veiI. She was outraged in her
finest sensibilities. She felt it her duty
to see that Lois was punished. She
did not want to appear as complain |
Ing witness, but her righteous indigna-
ton carried her to a large hotel III
whose writing room she found pen, ink,
paper, envelopes, and secrecy. one dash |
cd off a little note TO David advising
him that his wife was showing more
interest than he might approve in GER
tain heart breaker. Mrs. Coleridge
neglected to sign her name In fact.
she rather disguised her handwriting,
though this made little difference. since
David did not know it, anyway. She
dropped the little letter into mail box
with the innocent glee of an anarchist
slipping a bomb with time fuse under
a millionaire's automobile.
The United States post office authorl-
ties carried the loaded letter to David S
office for her. He opened 1T and read
it, but could not understand 1t: He
cad il AGAIN and understood it, but
could not believe IL. He was about 10 !
toss it in the wastebasket, where such
messages belong. He read 1t again. IT
threw him into a black pit of agony
md CONSERVATION.
Now, he could, but would not believe
it. He wondered who are heart break !
err" might be. He remembered that
Lois had been fond of Freneau years
before He dismissed this suspicion
with contempt. He loathed the letter.
Only towards and mischief makers
write such letters. tAe lew LIS one
from him as if it was something u.l-
clean. Yet the anonymous poison gnaw-
ed away In his brain. He clenched and
unclenched his hands and paced the
floor. beads Of perspiration dripping
down his face.
At last he fought it out with him
self and decided that he would trust
Lois till she was proved unworthy. |
However. the letter seemed to whisper /
TO HIM. "a little test will do no harm.
OF course, Lois was guiltless, but per-
hans she had been careless of appear
ances 1t would be better to wait and
rehuke the indiscretion when ii occurred |
He had been talking of a trip south to
4 meeting of board of railroad direc |
tors on which his father mad placed
him. 1t was not necessary for him to
20. But he might pretend to leave,
and then He dared not put the
scheme into words.
But he dared not let the chance go
past to make sure.
That evening, when he went home, |
Lois greeted him with her usual !
warmth. Before he had quite decided |
what to do, he had told her that he
vas called south for ten days, and he /
,ad not urged her to go with him She |
lid not ask to go. In fact, he thought |
hat she took the bad news with just |
, little TOO much philosophy. He was |
ormented with shame and suspicion.
The next day, when he went to his |
office. he bade her goo5-by as If he |
we're the criminal and she the saint.
lie could not have imagined that Lois
,nlv waited his departure 10 fling on
Ter hat and her veil and speed to Fren-
eau before he should leave for his own