Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-23
A WOMAN OBSESSED
BY CAROLYN BEECHER
CHAPTER, XJVW

n MuriePs question about the tall,
dark girl he had lunched with. His
mind moved quickly. Muriel must be pla-
Gated and he could not tell her the truth
the whole truth.
81 trying to find quarters for her, it
was luncheon time and as 1 had others on
my list I asked her to have a bite with me-"
he parried. ''What of it?'
"Who is she? What's her name?" Sharp
Iy, incisively, came the question.
She's a Miss Hammond" She would
ferret out the name if he seemed reluctant
to give it. He knew nothing of the envelope
in the bureau drawer, the envelope contain
ing that long black hair she had picked from
his coat or her suspicious caused by it. So
he answered carelessly, hoping to end the
conversation. "Is dinner ready? I'm as
hungry a BEAR
you've got to leave that office! I'll not
endure it, you're going to lunch with good
ness knows who. How often have you
lunched with this Miss Hammond"
Once" He flushed as the lie left his
lips. She saw it and drew her own conclu-
sions. Now, if you have finished catechis-
ing me, let's have dinner
Where does this Miss Hammond live?"
81 don't know!' Bruce replied impa-
tientIy. IT have found nothing to suit her;
probably she went to some other agent" He
was really glad he could honestly say he
had moved He had given her the money to
do so.
Muriel said no more but her white, re-
proachfuL face took all his appetite, and he
ate scarcely more than she, which was al
most nothing. Desperately he wished he
had told her of his first meeting with Lulu,
told her at the time the night he saved her
from drowning. But it was too late. He
had gotten himself in mess by hiding his
acquaintance with Lulu and he must get out
of it as best he could, 1t was Muriel s
own fault. He had to keep things from her
because she was so unreasonable.
"You will give up your position, won't
you Bruce?" she asked as they sat in the lfv-
ing re m, he pretending to read, she idle.
mo, 1 shall not! What ails you Muriel?
Most wives would be glad to have their hus-
bands get on as we'll as have and be anxious
to help them"
mo wife who loved her husband as love
you would want him to stay where he was
making her miserable by associating with
people She does not know or dislkes.'
"You dislike every one."
every one but you, dear, and when love
you to the exclusion of everyone, everything,
it is your duty to do as 1 ask. Please tell me
you will give up your work in that office" "
"Once for all, Muriel, l emphati, ally shall
not! Now be a good girl and stop talking
about it. There's a ripping story in that
magazine I brought home. Read it and for
''Is that woman, that Miss Hammond,
pretty?"
81 don't know-she's dark, and you know
prefer blondes. Aren't you blonde?'
rs she the woman you bowed to that day
was with you?"
Eyes. Now, for heavens sake, let me read
my paper. 1 shall wish 1 had stayed down
town with the boys if you don't
eff you have time to take others to lunch
shall come down and you and 1 can lunch
together. 1t would be change for me-
Bruce had not intended to tell Muriel of
the incident in the office the day young
WyckOff was discharged, but her remark
forced the words from him. He answered
hotly:
please do no such thing! You have made
me the laughing stock of the office it is.
The afternoon you waited for me one of the
boys twitted me with having 'nursemaid.
1t was unbearable! Had Longworth not dis
charged him when he heard of it I should
have licked the young cub. Now that we are
on the subject, l want to ask you not to
come to the office for me again. 1t doesn't
look WE'LL
"You think it all right when that Long
worth girl comes.'
"She only comes occasionally, comes to
drive her father home. None Of the office
mems wives come. 1t doesn't look WELL as
1 said before"
Then leave the Office
With muttered oath Bruce resumed his
pretense of reading. How had Muriel found
out about his lunch with Lulu? Suddenly
the answer came. 1t was Wyckoff He had
taken his revenge for losing his position by
coming to Muriel. 1t must be SO. He was
the only one who had seen him.
1t would be hard for him to help Lulu
now that Muriels suspicious were aroused.
But he must find a way. He couldn't dump
the girl when she trying her best to find
| a position, and he had promised to help her.
He would have to be CAREFUL very careful.
He hated himself for the deceit, but he was
helpless.
Once more before they retired Muriel
spoke of his leaving the office. She climbed
on his lap and twined her arms about his
neck. After reiterating her old story of her
devotion to him, her wanting only him., she
begged him to do lit for her sake. Gently as
he could he refused. Bursting into a pas
sion of sobs and tears she refused to be COM
forted until, almost wild Bruce became an
CRY and they quarreled bitterly.
Continued Tuesday. Renew your SUBJ .
ScnptiOn now SO not to miss chap
| ter of this absorbing story.