Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-05-29
The
Promo ter'S
Wife
By JANE PHELPS.
Copyright, George Mathew Adams)
ONCE MORE BARBARA COMEDIES
IN MIR. FREDERICK.
By JANE PHELPS.
Copyright, George Mathew Adams)
CHAPTED CYL

tons visit, it in a way made me very
uncomfortable. More so perhaps than
l had been since the day l had been
snubbed by Scott. l tried to put my
self in a business mans place but try
as | would | could see no reason why
a legitimate business should be car
ried on in such a way; why it should
be necessary to use the means Neil
was using to interest them in his
projects-if those projects were per-
fectly legitimate.
But | said nothing to Neil, although
1 told him of Mrs. Orton's visit. He
seemed rather surprised l thought at
first, but afterward l concluded |
had been mistaken. He asked me no
questions and seemed to take it for
granted that it was simply a social
call, without any Interior object,
Yet while I said nothing to Neil,
l did not keep her visit-the cause
of it rather, a secret. Mr.. Frederick
called in the afternoon of the following
day and found me alone, altho it was
my afternoon at home. My afternoons
were not as we'll attended as formerly,
a cause of chagrin to me.
| poured him tea, then said:
q had caller yesterday, Mrs. Orion
You know she was so nice to me the
other night that l began to like her
again. used to think she was really
charming when her husband was alive
She came to tell me why she received
those women | would not betray her
in any way but l felt l must put the
questions which were bothering me to
some one. She said that men like
Tearle and Conner weren't happy un-
less they we're entertained by hand
some women who could play cards" l
realized as | finished that I had not
said what l intended, and that it
sounded rather puerile.
Eyes, they are rather fond of the
ladies'"
Tell me, please, Mr.. Frederick, is
it necessary to do business IN that
way-legitimate business 1 mean? IL
seems so strange to me. Father al
WAYS attended to business at hrs Of
flee 7 thought that was what offices
were for.'' | tried to speak lightly.
did not want him to think | was TOO
much worried.
81 scarcely know how to answer you
-Barbara.' he had hesitated over my
name. He seldom addressed me so.
"But it is done sometimes. Men ike
Tearle and Conner are hard to han
die sometimes. They are hard drinkers
and want their own way, especially IN
New York. They have the arrogance
of men who have made great fortunes
quickly"
"But why mix business with cards
and-ladies?' l asked. why not keep
them separated" Can it be done?"
"I-perhaps-" he slowly slipped his
tea and I knew he was trying to think
how to satisfy me without blaming
Neil.
Please Mr.. Frederick don't treat me
as child. Neil wont tell me anything
about his affairs. 1 hear things and l
can't stand being kept in the dark any
longer. You are my good friend, aren't
YOU? If you are please tell me what
TO do to get Neil away from these peo-
nle and from-that business.
was so ignorant, so absolutely
IMMERSED in Neils affairs that he,
anv one could see at once how little
knew of business. l think that
was why he was sorry for me and
tried to help me. 1 had shown him
wanted to help Neil It made no differ
ance that he cared for me, really
think it made him more anxious to
help Neil. He knew that I loved my
husband passionately and that l would
he true to him always no matter what
happened.
81 wish I could. I honestly do he
replied in his peculiar way. I'D give
a good deal to set him straight But
TIM afraid he'll have to come a crop
ner first-before he will listen to any
one"
"You have talked with him."
eyes, only yesterday. I called at
his office. had seen Scott and Scott
means mischief. He claims that Mr..
Forbes has misrepresented his prop
critics and so has induced him to in
vest. He didn't say misrepresented,
but that sounds better. tried to paci-
fv him but he wouldn't listen to me.
Then | went to your husband and he
wouldn't listen either. guess I'm not