Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-10-02
DESTINY'S CHILD
BY HAZEL DEYO BACHELOR
CHAPTER LII
A Rash Decision
A Rash Decision
RECKLESSNESS seized Lorry wht

A RECKLESSNESS seized Lorry when
~ she finally left the Ford apartment,
- - and she decided to walk the short dis
tance home. Jim Ford had ordered taxi
for her. but she would not allow him to put
her into it.
Nonsense" she had insisted, you'll take
more cold" And then as she emerged into
the cold frosty. air the impulse seized her to
walk Diminishing the taxi, she set out at
brisk pace 1t wasn't late, not quite half
past eleven, but the streets were virtually
deserted Hurrying along, Lorry was alb
sorbed in her thoughts. A loneliness had
settled over her heart. She dreaded going
back to the apartment: she knew that she
would lie awake for hours thinking about her
blind foolshness of the past, and her brief
joy at the thought of calling up Courtneys
lawyer had vanished in the thought that even
he might not know where Courtney had gone.
She was walking briskly, as though she
had definite object in view, but as she
turned corner into an even lonel1er street,
she became conscious Of the fact that some
one was following her. Her heart leaped in
sudden panic, but almost imm ediately she
tried to reassure herself. 1t was probably
some one who had come out of one of the
houses and like herself was on his way home,
but as she quickened her steps the footsteps
behind her were suddenly accelerated. He
was following her. she was sure of it, and
she had two long blocks to go before she
came toNthe door of her apartment.
Don't be little goose" she said to her
self in an effort to be calm. Suppose he is
following you, suppose he speaks to you,
you can manage the situation" But for all
that she was afraid; the man was gaining
on her. In a furry of fear she began to run.
Her feet made scarcely any sound on the
pavement, but the footsteps of the man be-
hind her rang out clatteringly. He was rum
ming, too running faster than she was. Could
she make the entrance to the apartment be-
fore he reached her side? 1t seemed doubt
full; her breath was coming fast; her heart
was hammering against her breast like 8 live
thing; she couldn't keep up this pace much
| longer. AS she ran she thought suddenly OF
| her key. She must get it out and have 1t
| ready. Desperately she rummaged In her
/ bag. At last her fingers closed on the key,
| but she had unconsciously slackened her
| pace, and just as she reached the door of
! the apartment house the man came abreast
of her.
You little fool" he said between his
teeth: His breath was coming in pants and
| he was close enough for Lorry to scent the
! smell of liquor. He caught her arm, but she
| wrenched away from him, and then in a
panic of fear she pounded with all her
| strength on the glass door that led into the
| lobby. Perhaps the elevator man would hear
/ her and come to her aid If only he weren't
| asleep! And then suddenly the door swung
| open, and with muttered oath the man be-
| hind her was Off down the street Lorry
| stumbled into the lobby, drew long breath
as the door closed behind her, and then
| found herself looking up into the eyes Of
| her husband.
Courtney" she stammered. "Oh, Court
/ney!" But there was no answering CLEAN in
| his eyes; his face was set and stern.
"They told me at the club that you had
teIephoned. / thought perhaps something
was wrong, and when I rang and couldn't get
reply came over" ST
miss Barton never hears the telephone
once she is asleep" Lorry explained breath
| lessly, land let Ellen go out. But thought
you had gone away; they told me you had
| left"
my train leaves at 1 o'clock" he ex-
planned briefly. did you want to see me
about anything Important"
Lorry looked straight up into his eyes.
Eyes" she said very softly, her heart in her
voice 'Will you come upstairs?"