Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-12-13
CHAPTER xxx


her-Now go with the story.
CHAPTER xxx
%HAT whatever she did would react up.
on Peter, Althea never thought, per.
"A haps would not have cared had she.
Could she have heard the whole of what
the distracted woman said she might not
have been so bitter. She did not know
that Williams had come home raving drunk
and had refused to allow her or anyone
to use the telephone threatening the en-"
tire household that she had stolen OUT
talen a taxi and gone for DR.. COBB, fear
full her husband would harm himself or
others that finding Dr. Cobb out Of town
she turned to Peter, her own physician,
rather than let a stranger know her unhap-
piness. But all Althea heard was that Peter
was 80 kind-when he was not kind to
her.
came in. When she heard the nurse NOV
ing about, Althea descended the stairs,
went into the private office and said:
DR.. Graham will not require your serv-
ices any longer, Miss Howard. You may
go now, at once. Anything due you he
will mail"
Miss Howard grew white as She raised
pleading eyes to Althea's face.
els the doctor" She hesitated look
ed again at Althea's hard set face, then
gloves and shabby purse and went slowly
out. 80
''There, that's done" AIthea said, feel
ing Of triumph possessing her for a mo-
ment, to be followed by a frightened wave.
Would Peter be terribly angry? She de-
cided he couldn't be if she did the work.
She would almost be willing to wear the
nurses uniform if he wanted her to.
She took several messages, carefully
writing them down as she had seen Miss
Howard do. But there were one or two
calls asking about continuing certain medi-
cines, another from physician using terms
with which she unfamiliar words she
couldn't spell, medical terms
1t was nearly noon when Peter came
in A quick glance, then he asked:
"Wheres Miss Howard?"
"She's gone"
"Gone-gone where? Any calls?"
Eyes, they are all here She handed
him the slips upon which she had written
the messages. He read them, called up
one number, then turned to her and said:
"Now tell me. Where and why did Miss
Howard go? 1t doesn't seem like her to
leave me in the ldrch like TINS she
knows how busy I am"
81 told her to CO. AItheas voice was
steady but she was trembling. Face to
face with Peter, what she had done did
not seem so simple.
"You told her to go-sent her on an
GRAND? Well, she will soon be back but
I'm sorry you felt you had to take her
away from her work.
81 didn't send her on any errand. l sent
her away I will do her work for you.
Surely I am as capable of answering the
telephone and taking messages as she is.
And I won't have her around"
T Peter stared, unbelieving, Incompetence
ing.
''You mean that you discharged Miss
Howard-and without consulting. me?" his
voice growing hard as he looked in her
face
Eyes AS I told you last night wife
how a
right to say who shall compose the house
hold. I'll do the same work for you, Pc
ter You'll not miss her. in that way"
Her voice unconsciously pleading
Peters face famed with anger. The
veins stood out his forehead. Althea
cringed a bit as she saw, but her attitude
never changed; she looked steadily at him.
"I told her if you owed her anything
you would mail it. You probably have her
address"
'You dared-dared interfere in my work"
Peter muttered, more to himself than to
her. The thing was monstrous And why
lhad she done it? 1t couldn't be for econ
Omy's sake. He was making money, that
she knew
He went to the telephone and called
a number.
az want to speak to Miss Howard" he
said
A moment passed. then he spoke again;
to the office. There has been a misunder-
standing in my absence. Thank you.
shall wait for you"
what do you mean, Peter?" Althea
asked. >'Why do you tell her there has been
a misunderstanding?
ITO save your pride. Unless she refuses
to remain after the insulting thing you have
done, I shall have her here at work again
at once"
"You mean that you will take her back
after I have discharged her? After 1 have
offered to do her work."
''If she will come-yes-"
'"Then I am right! 1t is not an office as
sistant you want, but girl to make love
to-" Althea swept out Of the office leav-
ing Peter staring after her in amazement.
"She doesn't believe that, she can't" he
muttered. "And she wouldn't care if it
were true, except that it might hurt her
pride. She was crazy to discharge Miss
Howard, What can 1 say to the girl?"
Continued Saturday. Renew your sub.
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