Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-05-21
The
wife
By JANE PHELPS.
Copyright, George Mathew Adams)
By JANE PHELPS.
Copyright, George Mathew Adams)
A DESPERATE .RESOVE.
CHAPTER XCVu

as did |. If men in other kinds of
business were obliged to resort to
such eXpedients as Neil appeared to
consider necessary to win success.
thought of fathers quiet, uneventful
respected existence. OF men like Mr.
Powers to whom all looked up and
whose name was a synonym for hon
esty and square dealing. Then of Mr..
Frederick his blunt honesty his hab-
it OF calling a spade a spade as he
so often expressed it, and of how even
Neil admired his rough goodness and
probity. Then | would think of Neil
the man loved, the father of my boy
and long with all my heart and soul
to have him like these others.
had been very proud of my hand
some husbands success. Very blind to
the manner of its making. | had been
very happy also at first. Now all this
was changed. was no longer so proud
of his success; no longer quite so
blind: And was no longer happy. The
upheayal had been gradual in way,
but it had come.
Now my whole mind was fixed on
saving my husband from the mortify-
ing blame of the public. He was so
boastfully proud of his success, so
ambitious to become one of the rich
men of the city, that it seemed terri
BILE to me that he should perhaps be
disappointed That he would meekly
yield to circumstances | did not i'm
agine. He would fight for what he be-
lieved his rights regardless of what
1, what anyone could do If I accom-
plished anything it must be by seem
ing not to drive him. and he had
treated me so cOldly since the letter
episode l had not much hope of being
able to coax him.
[ worried until ] looked i'll, and
aunt was anxious about me, although
! assured her l was all right. Neil still
preserved his attitude of GOODNESS, but
some way | did not feel quite so re-
sentful since I had heard him declare
that no one could say anything about
his relations with Mrs. orion. l was
obsessed with the idea that if l had
received his friends perhaps l could
have prevented much that must have
happened, even tho | was unaware just
what it was You see not even yet did
| understand about Neils business,
never had he explained the slightest
transaction to me.
Suddenly a thought came to me.
would show Neil that l too could be
a good fellow as | so often had
heard him describe Blanche orion. It
might not be too late for me to re
trieve my mistake in driving him
to make her home. not mine, his place
of meeting men who preferred to do
business over a dinner or supper ia
BILE to the more conventional way at
mans office.
With this thought in mind 1 tele-
phoned Mr.. Frederick.
Can you tell me when the next din
ner is to come off at Mrs. Orton's?"
l asked
'Yes-on tomorrow night" world
of wonder in his voice.
Thank you" And after little de-
sultory talk hung up.
| had been thinking about what he
had said about Mr.. Scott. l knew
where Mr.. SCOTS office was, and ma
king myself as attractive as possible
l went to the building in which it was
located. I would waylay him when he
went out to luncheon. 1 had heard
Neil say that one could set his watch
by SCOTS luncheon hour so if he
were in town | had no fear that |
should have to wait long. l scarcely
had taken a position where I could
see the elevator when it disgorged its
crowd of busy hungry men and wo-
men when l spied him coming toward
me. walked briskly along until l was
beside him, when l said:
How do you do Mr.. Scott? 1t is a
long time since l have seen you"
had extended my hand in friendly
fashion.
Il am in hurry, you will have to
excuse me-" he said merely touching
his hat, and entirely ignoring my out
stretched hand Tears of mortified
pride filled my eyes. He had seemed
to Ii te me in the days he used tc
come to the house. had conceived the
idea that if were nice to him, asked
him to visit us, perhaps | could per,
suade him to be lenient with Neil.
mad failed miserably. I would not give
I'D. I would go to Blanche Orton's
dinner [ would show Neil that | toe
could help him to entertain men like
Scott. I did not confess it even tt
myself. but knew that I had intend
ed to 90 ever since 1 had called Fred
erick on the telephone and asked
when it was to be.
But why had Mr.. Scott so insultet
me? II must be because of something
Neil had done and Mr.. Frederick hat
said he was bad man to have for al