Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-04-27
The
Promoters
Wife
.lRBARA PLANS RETRENCHMENT
By JANE PHELPS.
Copyright, George Mathew Adams)
CHAPTER LXXYI.


Norton when met her in the park:
that l should have made it my bust
ness to know where so much money
came from; how so yoalig a man as
Nell could make enough to afford
such Injuries. Yet when 1 had tried
to find QUIT had accomplished
nothing, only angered Neil
. Suddenly there came to me the
Aurmured sentence l overheard
when father was leaving us, and had
warned me to try and persuade Neil
to go slowly
A house of cards!' "Who else
had used that same expression?
Why Mr.. Frederick, of course. He
had said he was afraid Neil was
building A house of cards that af-
ternoon we drove in the park, and
had our first talk together.
Lorraine insisted upon walking
home with me. She was really dis
tressed, and plainly showed it.
"You are not to blame" she re-
peated when she finally left me.
"And remember I know you are not,
and will be, just the same friend
no matter what people say. I will
do all can for Neil too. l shan't al
low anyone to malign him when l
am around"
Thank you Lorraine. That makes
two
fGINhoH fo11yinoy OH hot
makes two?''
''Nothing-I was talking to my
self. Pardon me-" Imeant it made
two real friends 1 still had, Lorraine
and Mr.. Frederick. I think perhaps
might have felt all that had hppen-
ed more even than I did had / been
the sort of woman who has many in
Inmates. I wasn't. Most of my
friends were out of the city, so l
heard little gossip, as while had
many calling acquaintances. Lor-
raine as almost my only intimate
friend.
Ought we not to give up our beau
tiful home? Had we the right to
1--WE III IT, WOulu NGAA COloGHI W
retrench to an extent that would
amount to anything? I walked back
and forth, from room to room, rest
less, uneasy, wanting dinner time to
come sc that I might see Neil, talk
to him, md at the same time dread
ing to again accuse him of being
not quite fair in his business meth
DDS.
'Perhap we will rent the house.
1 said to myself: then to6k pencil
and papel I would make list of
everythin. we owned. 1t might be
necessary some day. l would have
it ready. 1t would at least keep me
so busy 1 couldn't think.
knew re owed many bills, had
fingered sheaf of them when l was
looking fol pad to use for the in
ventory I was going to commence.
Neil never talked in small sums, he
seldom pal, small bills, unless they
happened b be at some place we
weren't accustomed to trade, and not
always thel / ran them through
/ saw that tie total amount was very
large. l must speak to Neil about
them, and We must not run any
more. So had them ON tip of the
desk. If thet were in plal sight l
would not forget them.
Then l went up stairs-@4 would
commence tie inventory with my
own room.
VI / became Sd engrossed in my task
that time pa$ed unheeded. Each
article l put down held some associa-
ton l fingered over many, admir-
ing them, wondering if the time ever
came when others had them if they
would appreciate their beauty as
did.
Where are you, Bab?' Neil called,
the first intimation I had that he
was at home.
up stairs, I'll come right down.
Neil was in The library pouring
himself drink from bottle in the
cellarette. Son ething he had done
so seldom lately that 1 showed the
surprise | felt. When he brought
those men home with him it had
been a common occurrence. But
since he had been staying out so
much, it had been almost untouch-
ed.
Don't look as If l were commit
ting the unpardOnable sin because l
am taking drink" he said impa-
,tiently, taking another.
- Oh, Neil, don't! so want TO
-, e a good talk with you. And
vi never are the same when you
drink
aI'ye had ali the talking / can
stand for one day. Frederick came
into the office this afternoon, and l
tn a 10 81 he never would go or let up
kache. b Tx. If you don't let me alone
3opv form n down to the club for my