Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-04-23
The
Promo ter'S
Wife
By JANE PHELPS.
MIR. FREDERICK AGAIN AROUSES
BABARA'S DISTRUST.
By JANE PHELPS.
Copyright, George Mathew Adams)
CHAPTER LXXIII.

| hurried down to greet my guest.
| thought | detected look of some
thing very near pity in his eyes, a
hating in his speech and manner un-
usual to him. l wanted to ask
What do you know? Did you go to
Blanch Orton's?' Instead of which
l used the trifle greeting of society:
Good morning Mr.. Frederick!
this is so good of you to give me so
much of your time l know you are
busy man, and seldom in New
York" offering my hand.
ut is a great pleasure to be allow
ed to see you-the greatest l have"
he replied as he released my hand.
For moment we both seemed
tongue-tied. Then with his usual
straightforward almost brusque man
ner he said:
Il dined with. Mr.. Forbes last
night-at Mrs. Orton's. Scott was
there, and others
"Yes-what others? Any one II
know" l asked eagerly when he
paused for amoment
"That l do not know Some of
them hope you do not flute claim as
acquaintance. St was quite a large
party And
Were there any other women
there besides Mrs Orton?" Something
in his manner had aroused my sus-
picions.
Eyes, two others Very charming
women, very beautifully dressed but
not your sort at all-not Mr. Forbes
sort either. You have no reason to
be distressed upon that score They
were invited, l imagine, to help en-
terrain Thompson and Lane, perhaps
Scott, although he paid them very
little attention. Then there was con-
nor and Tearle?"
"Sonnor-Tearlt? Do l know
them? Their names sound familiar"
Il don't think you have met them
in fact l am sure from something
that was said that you have not. You
may have heard your husband men
ton them
DO you mind telling me what was
said to lead you to think l did not
know them?' He flushed before he
answered.:
Il do mind, yet l think l will tell
you. They intimated that you were
too highbrow for them. Nothing
against you surely" he smiled, "ra-
Their in your favor"
please tell me if there was any
thing-if you heard anything 1
should know. l am sure Lorraine
was mistaken, that Mr.. Powers must
have listened to some man who is
jealous of Neil's success. He is very
young, and has gone ahead of many
much older in a business way am
positively convinced he has done
nothing wrong-at least either inten-
tionally or knowingly"
Your faith is-well, is what might
be expected of you. But l am afraid
l shall have to hurt you. I am a
plain man you know, never learned
to camouflage my words. But even
if l hurt you l shall also help you
if | can. Sometimes people have to
hurt before it is possible to help
you know"
l felt myself trembling, growing
faint and weak with apprehension |
What had he found out? What had
Neil done?
Please tell me everything you
know
We'll in the first place, Mr. Forbes
does know that some of his schemes
will not stand daylight Not all of
them of course. Conner and Tearle
are men absolutely devoid of con-
science. They are the kind who
would take the last penny a widow
or orphan had and give them fan
cy engraved certificate for it-and
that is all they would give. No one
can have them as associates and not
have straight business men afraid of
them"
But l thought they put in money
themselves-into things, like Mr..
Scott, and others"
mo, they are promoters pure and
simple. Their job is to get the other
fellows money. Fellows like Scott
and Thompson, another rich man
they have on the string. Both Scott
and Thompson are fond of women,
and are gamblers. That is why they
are easily duped. The women are
provided, also the game. 1t sounds
raw as [ tell it. But as l told you |
cannot camouflage words. The food
is excellent, as well as the wine. But
the servants in that house must talk.
Although Mrs. Orion assured me
they did not"
What do you think of Mrs. Or
ton?" Would he tell me the truth,
what he thought the truth of her con-
nection with Neil?
Al