San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-17
A Woman 0bsessed
Chapter XLVIU.
BY CAROLYN BEECHER
Copyright, 1898. by Carolyn Beecher

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Il was trying to find quarters TO
her, it was luacheon time and as
had others on my list, asked he
to have a bite with me-" he parried
What of it?"
Who is she? What's her name:'
Sharply, incisively, came the qeus
| ton.
"She's Miss Hammond" Shl
would ferret out the name If III
seemed reluctant to give it. He knew
! nothing of the envelope in the bureau
drawer, the envelope containing thai
long black hair she had picked from
his coat or her suspicious caused by
it. So he answered carelessly, hoping
to end the conversation: us dinner
ready? I'm as hungry as a bear"
You've got to leave that office
I'll not endure it, you're going 10
often have you lunched with this Miss
Hammond"
"Once.' He flushed as the lie left
his lips. She saw it and drew her
own conclusions. "Now if you have
finished catechising me let's have
dinner"
Where does this Miss Hammond
live?"
Il don't know" Bruce replied i'm
patiently. Il have found nothing to
suit her; probably she went to some
other agent" He was really glad he
could honestly say he didn't know
where she lived. Of course, she had
moved. He had given her the money
to do so.
Muriel said no more, but her white,
reproachful face took all his appetite
and he ate scarcely more than she,
which was almost nothing. Desper-
ately 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 a mess by hid
ing 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 50 unreasonable.
You will give up your position,
won't you, Bruce?" she asked as they
sat in the living room, he pretending
to read, she idle.
mo, l shall not! What ails you,
Muriel? Most wives would be glad
to have their husbands get on as well
as L have and be anxious to help
them"
mo wife who loved her husband as
l love you would want him to stay
where he was making her miserable
by associating with people she does
not know or dislikes."
You dislike every one"
Every one but you, dear, and when
l love you to the exclusion of every
one, everything, it is your duty to DO
as | ask. Please tell me you will give
up your work in that office"
Once for all, Muriel, l emphatical-
ly shall not. Now be good girl and
stop talking about it. There's a rip
ping story in that magazine [ brought
home. Read it and forget your foolish
ideas about the office"
is that woman, that Miss Ham
mond, pretty?"
Il don't know-she's dark, and you
know ] prefer blondes. Aren't you a
blonde?"
"Is she the woman you bowed TO
that day was with you?"
me read my paper. shall wish l had
stayed downtown with the boys if
you don't"
"If you have time to take others
to lunch l shall come down and you
and / can lunch together. 1t would
be a 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 holly:
" Please do no such thing! You have
made me the laughing stock of the
office as it Is. The afternoon you
waited for me one of the boys twitted
me with having 'nurse-maid.' 1t
was unbearable. Had Longworth not
discharged him when he heard of it
| 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
WELL"
"You think it-all right when that
Longworth 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 / said before"
Then leave the office"
With muttered oath Bruce re-
sumed 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 posi-
ton 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 Muriel's suspicious
were aroused. But he must find a
way. He couldn't dump the girl when
she was trying her best to find a posi-
ton, and he had promised to help her.
He would have to be careful, very
careful. He hated himself for the de-
ceit, 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 reit-
Grating her old story of her devotion
to him, her wanting only him, she
begged him TO do it for her sake.
Gently as he could he refused. Burst
ing into passion of sobs and tears
she refused to be comforted until.
almost wild. Bruce became angry and,
they quarreled bitterly.