Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-06-30

voice. and then dropping her
bundles on a chair in the lit
tie hallway she rushed into the sit
ting room Of their tiny apartment.
long chair. Jean had bolstered hira
up with pillows before she had left
that afternoon and aside from tho
fact that his clean-cut features were
very white and his eyes were closed
there was nothing alarming about
his condition, Jean drew little
breath of relief as she looked at him.
Poor DEAR" she murmured to her
self, hes asleep. What a little sill
ly I ami"
And humming a tune under her
breath, she began to get things ready
was brought out and covered with
heavy lace cloth. Jean had kept
most Of the linens that had been in
use in the big house uptown; they
helped to make her feel less the sro-
didness Of their way of living.
She made a French dressing for
electric grill. A couple of flowers
which she had bought cheap because
of their wilted condition stood in a
tiny vase in the center of the table,
and with a final touch to everything,
Jean went over and touched her ia
Their lightly on the shoulder.
with a little laugh she bent down
and kissed him on the forehead. In
stantly she sprang back, her eyes
wide with terror. His face was
cold!
Father" she almost screamed,
Father, speak to mel"
But Everett Northrup did not an
swer. He had slipped away from the
life that had become so difficult for
him, slipped away painlessly, leav-
ing Jean behind to face everything
alone.
A week later Jean stood alone in
the sitting room of the apartment.
Her simple black dress made her
look almost too slender and her skin
seemed whittier than ever by contrast
Out of the nightmare Of the last few
days only one fact remained clear
in her mind, ard that was that she
! had no money, not penny to go on
der resources to pay for the funeral
| expenses. For shortly before his
| death Everett NorthrIp had put al
| most everything he possessed in one
big venture, venture that he had
been sure would yield big returns
and which, like all the rest. had drop
| ped to zero.
In winding up her fathers affairs
Mr.. Heaslip, the family lawyer, had
| been very kind. He was sorry for
this slim. black-robed girl who had
been brought up In luxury and had
never wanted for anything.
81 suppose you know you have a
GUARDIAN" be had said to Jean on
her visit to his office.
"a guardian?"
YES, your father appointed q
guardian for you over two years ago
Evidently he was none too sure then
| of his prospects and wanted to leave
you provided for. Do you know any.
thing Of this man? He lives in the
west, is a ranch-owner, believe
His name is Brand, Mark Brand"
Jean shuddered. 81 never heard OF
| him."
II have sent for him to come to
New York, and in the meantime
should be glad to have you come and
stay with us, my dear. Mrs. HeasliI
would be glad to have you"
Jean thought of cool-eyed Barbara
Heaslip and Janet with her sharp
tongue, girls who had once belonged
| to her own gay set, and she shudder-
ed away from the thought of seeing
| them now.
IF you don't mind, Mr.. Heaslip.'
she had said tremously, I'D rather
be alone for the present"
of course, my dear, Of course.
understand. Stay where you are un.
til Mr.. Brand comes. He ought tc
arrive In a day or so now"
And so Barbara had gone back tc
| the apartment to wait, and this very
| afternoon Mark Brand-she WINGED
every time she heard the name-was
to arrived