Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-07-01
CHAPTER VIII
Alternating Affections

LuS WIISlcSS N1CLdSTdpu.
Nevertheless Garrick insisted on
crossing the park and dropping in
at the Usonia. On the register,
freshly blotted, he read:
Miss Ruth Walden, Nonowantuc,
L. I.
Miss vira Gerard, Nonowantuc,
L. I.
"Too late to disturb them-but
you can bet it won't be late in the
morning when they're disturbed"
Garrick turned into a telephone
booth and rang up Nita Walden.
"I'll wager Ruth doesn't sleep much
tonight" he concluded. 'r h g
thought Of you and the wrecked car
and the mess she is in will keep her
awake. A few serious thoughts in
the darkness will do her a lot Of
good. Wen stop for you-early."
1t was not much after seven
when Garrick, Dick and Mrs. Wal
den rode up in the Usonia elevator.
AS the door Changed shut, Mrs. Wal
den motioned Garrick back, with q
nod.
In her haste and nervousness she
nearly stumbled to the door of
Ruth's room. She put her hand on
the wall to steady herself and lis.
tened. In the room she heard voices.
She raped but did not wait for
Ruth to open, for the door was not
locked.
"Mummsyw Without a seconds
hesitation Ruth ran to her mother.
There was no reprimanding. Nita
Walden felt only a joy to have re-
covered what she thought might
have been lost. Only mother
could know the depth Of that feel
ing.
She took Ruth's pretty face low
ingly in her hands and looked in
tensely into the beautiful blue
depths. Mother love and trust were
trying to drown suspicion.
"Ruth-is everything all right
with your" Her hold on Ruth tight
ened.
''How could I ever do anything
49,. with a Mummsy like your
There was that in Ruth's eyes that
told Of innocence in spite Of her wild
love of excitement.
Don't worry. Mrs. Walden"
chimed in Vira. "Her only COM
panions last night were a bottle of
Omicron oil and my greasy fingers
doing a massaging act.
Ruth laughed outright but Mrs.
Walden smiled a serious smile. you
to say.
Vira answered another knock at
the door. It was Garrick and Dick.
Ruth looked up surprised. "How did
you know I was here?"
"Dick's invented a wireless mind
reader. Love will find a way" Gar
rick answered with twinkle as he
looked from Ruth to Dick.
Dick couldn't say anything at
first. Mrs. Walden took his hand
and pressed it gratefully, then she
turned deliberately from Ruth and
Dick and began talking to Garrick
and Vira as she moved away.
Ruth . if you only knew the
relief L feel at seeing you again! I
was afraid you had been hurt or
something. If you could only have
seen me you'd know what you mean
to me. I felt so sorry for your
mother, Ruth. Please be a little
careful for her sake" 4
Dick had taken her hand and for
gotten to let it go. Ruth looked at
| him and away and approved of the
holding. Such a little, soft hand to
do the risky things that had been
| suggested by her active mind.
I'll have to let go, Ruth, or . .
Somebody must have slipped a pow
der OF. vial in my food or coffee, like
| they did in the old days-hang it.
| they don't need love philtres in these
days when they make 'em as won
| derful as you! Confound it. the wilder
you are, the more 1 want to have
you to Ruth, dear, lean over.
want to whisper something" Ruth
| leaned over. IT love you"-and q
light, surreptitious kiss on the ear.
Ruth" It was Garrick, with a
smile that he might have worn if he
| had been forty years older. He
| walked her over to the window aside
| leaning down to talk low to her. All
that Dick caught was a fragment
and the estate-the income Of ten
million dollars, next month-when
you are eighteen" In a manner
| that no one else could initiate, Gar.
| rick was not scolding. He was just
giving a little fatherly advice. Ruth
| said little, almost nothing. But once
their eyes met, There seemed to be
a flash of understanding. "And,"
with his still serious smile. "be-be
careful"
Glenn called to take vira to the
country and the four motored back
to Mrs. Walden's apartment.
"Well, Mummsy, it's good to get
home. I'm going to kiss you again"
Mrs. Walden looked at her pretty
girl and. sighed. What a joy it is
and what a responsibility to raise a
girl in these days of woman's free.
DOM"
Nothing to what it must be to
raise a boy!' retorted Ruth. Then a
moment later, Mother, We'll go out
to the club together. I'm going to
put on my swankiest gown-and
get the drop on those old gossips out
| there-sweep 'em off their ears.
Just watch mer'
Dick and Garrick were taking
! leave. Nov, Ruth" Garrick said
gravely smiling, ''let me go shome
and sleep. Don't do anything more
| until I get few hours of rest. 1t
| takes sleep to keep up with you"
AS Dick was prolonging the good
by and trying to arrange when they
were to see each other again bell
boy opened the hall door and set
down beautiful basket of roses.
| Ruth's face sank to the flowers.
Wrinkling up her little nose she
looked teasingly at Dick. She drew
a card out of the basket and threw
| it on the table.
"Mummsy, see what Jack Curtis
sent me. Isn't he thoughtful? They
are my favorite shade"
Mrs. Walden looked none too
| pleased. Dick was in the depths
again. He would willingly have