Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-22
THE SUPERIOR SEX
BY HAZEL DEYO BACHELOR
CHAPTER l.

CTEELE had not gone to Hillcrest himself
in his efforts to discover, Anne's secret.
~ He had sent private detective, and he
thought OF this fact now as the long train
carried him out Of the Grand Central Station.
Some day he would have had to know. Anne
couldn't have kept the past away from him
forever. And now the worst was over. Even
the thought of Anne's child seemed unim por-
tant weighed beside the fact that he was 60
Ing to see her again.
Manlike, and wrapped in his egotism,
Steele reasoned from just one standpoint. He
was going to be magnanimous, he had decid-
ed to forgive Anne, and take her back. The
thought that she might decide againg going
back had not occurred to him for minute.
The train pulled into Hillcrest and mo-
ment later Steele was in the station asking
directions from the agent. AS he walked up
the hilly little street, he felt lght-hearted, al
most happy. It wasn't until he had climbed
the porch steps of Mrs Higgins little cottage,
and had rung the bell that doubt assai1ed
him.
Suppose Anne weren't here! He had rea-
soned of course that she must be. She had
nowhere else to go, and 1nasmuch as she had
left her check book behind, the problem of
money would prevent her going far.
Quick footsteps inside, andAth suddenly
the door flung open, and AIMS stood facing
him across the threshold. Up to that moment
he hadn't realized how he hungered for her,
but now as his gaze swept over her face, pas
sion surged up in him.
ANNE" he said huskily, eve come for
you. I've come to take you home, dear"
She stood there heSitating, almost as
though she were undecided about whether to
ask him in, and she did not speak, she did
not even change color. She simply stood there
staring at him. until finally he moved forward
and as he did so, she was forced to move back
and let him in.
She led the way then into small but home
like little sitting room, but she did not ask
him to sit down, and for the first time Steele
felt uncertain as to just how to proceed He
had imagined she would greet him joyfully,
but instead she was treating him like a
stranger and her cold aoofness chilled his
eagerness
"Anne, before I say anything more" he
went on hurriedly, 81 want you to know that
[ was wrong, I was half crazy that day. I
hardly knew what was saying. I don't be-
lieve any of the things saida dear you'I be-
lieve that won't you, and forgive me?"
For moment she did not speak, and then
with her wide eyes fixed on his she nodded
slowly. go, yes forgive you. 1t doesn't
matter. Nothing matters now"
Her voice was so toneless that it struck a
chill to his heart She seemed so apathetic,
SO 1istless, as though life were dead in her Tt
didn't seem possible that the warmth of his
words had reached Aer, and then suddenly he
was across the room and would have seized
her in his arms if she hadn't suddenly drawn
back.
Don't you see' she said still in that tone
less voice, "that what you said that day,
doesn't matter-not now"
"But it does matter l was a brute to talk
to you like that, but Anne, if you love me,
don't hold it against me. want you so much,
dear; surely you must know that"
He was being patient with her, he was try
ing to be calm, when it took every ounce of
will power that he possessed to keep from
catching her in his arms.
Next: 1.-THE Limit of Endurance" Renew
your, subscription now so not to miss one
of the concluding chapters.