Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-03-13
The
Wife
MR.. FREDERICK'S WORDS WORRY
BARBARA.
By JANE PHELPS.
Copyright, George Mathew Adams)
CAPTER XXXVIII,

bound. Dead, it left her free to in
trigue my husband
Mr. Frederick spoke to me. heard
his voice, but did not grasp anything
he was saying. My mind was numb
with the thought that had come to me.
Had Payne Orion before he died,
known of the intimacy Of his wife and
Neil? And had it made him careless
of his health?
1t was an hysterical womans
thought, but it gripped me- That he
had been i'll for long, that scarcely
ever had he been able to accompany
his wife anywhere since | had known
them; that this illness might have
been caused by an added cold, never
occurred to me- AS nearly all women
would have done, l took his sudden
death to mean something to me simply
because my husband had shown a pref
erence for the mans wife.
What are you thinking of, that you
won't speak to me?" Mr.. Frederick's
voice brought me back to realization
of my rudeness.
Pardon me. l was so shocked by
what you told me that was most i'm
polite. 1t is dreadful! dreadful"
Payne Ortons love for his wife was
a matter of common comment among
his friends Could it be possible that,
because of some intrigue of hers, he
had wanted to die? And was Neil the
other party to the intrigue?
I tortured myself with the thought
Mr.. Frederick was shrewd man, and
doubtless understood more of the
cause of my answers to his questions
p than l realized.
Finally he commenced to talk of
Neil Then l pulled myself together.
Anything pertaining to my husband
was vitality interesting to me.
HE has wonderful staying powers
We all have to hand it to him for one
thing said Mr.. Frederick, "if he
makes up his mind to do anything, he
will go through fire and water to ac-
complish it
l thought | detected some subtle de-
sire to comfort me by this praise of
Neil-if it were praise. l would put
my pride in my pocket and ask one or
two questions.
Tell me about that Mr.. Scott-the
man interested in Mexican mines" l
spoke as casually as l could.
DO you know him."
"Yes-he dined with us one night
81 shouldn't say he was-your sort.
Not that Scott isn't all right as far as
some things go; but he's hardly man
/ would want you to meet.
The words had scarcely left his lips
before he flushed and stammered an
apology:
81 had no right to say that! Your
husband is the one who has the right
to say who you shall or shall not meet.
Forgive me-"
There is nothing to forgive-Neil,
Mr.. Forbes, is connected in some bust
ness matters with Mr. Scott, and that
is the reason he brought him home
with him. But he seemed such diff
ferent type from any man y have
known, that | was curious AS usual,
had not the courage to go on with
anything that looked like criticism of
Neil
often used to wonder if all wives
were as fearful of doing anything to
lose the love of the man to whom they
were married, as was L. l seemed TO
realize from the first days of our life
together that Neil would brook no
questioning of himself, his affairs. Ev-
cry time had attempted to get closer
to him in this way it had resulted dis
astrously had been the cause of the
only ouarrels we ever had had.
HE is a different type. Coarse,
common, but absolutely straight in
business. And hard as nails with those
who are not. have always said that
| should be very sorry for anyone
against whom Scott had a grudge. He'd
fay them alive?"
THAT is theway he impressed me.
/ returned, then changed the subject
But in my mind was new undercur-
rent of fear. Suppose this Mr.. Scott
should get grudge against Neil be-
cause of some business they had in
common-suppose because of that min
ing stock Neil had persuaded him to
buy?-my thoughts went no further
Mr. Frederick commanded my atten-
ton.
Tomorrow-Mr. Frederick Offers to
Be Bargara's Friend.