Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-24

self. Bruce rescues drowning woman
! but says nothing to Murel about it, be-
! cause of her jealousy. Later he and Mu-
! riel meet the girl, Lulu Hammond, on the
street They speak, arousng the angry
suspicion of MurieI and George Downey,
the girls escort. After a quarrel with
Muriel over the acceptance of an invitation
| to reception, Bruce leaves his home in
| anger Lulu overtakes him on the street
and asks him to take her to dinner. She
proves very attractive. Bruce gives her
! $50 TO relieve her poverty, but does not
tell Muriel.-N0w go on with the story.
CHAPTER XXXV
/ ~ RUCE really felt that he had cause this
| X time to be seriously angry. Not only
49, had he missed the dance, but Muriel
had been absolutely rude to both Mrs Long
worth and her daughter. Look at 1t only
| from business standpoint this was regretta-
! BILE. Longworth could throw good business
! the best that came to the office, his way
! Bruce's ambition to make good in business
and to repay his father in some manner for
| the disappointment he had caused him had
| grown with his unhappiness at home. Then
| too, when a big deal was in prospect he be-
came so absorbed he forget for the time that
| his home life was a disappointment and that
Muriel not the wife he in his innocent
boyish infatuation thought she would be.
SO after they reached home he continued
to keep silent and to brood.
Muriel tried by protestations of love and
her insistence on the duty he owned her as
his wife to make him talk to show some
feeling of 'pity for her pretended illness
which was, after all, real because of her nerv-
Gus excitement.
'Never mind If he is angry" she finally
said to herself as she retired to her room
leaving him with magazine in his hand but
not reading, as she knew. "He came home
with me, and if he didn't know I had the right
to his attentions it would be different He
will be all right in the morning and l got him
| away from those people-that grill How
dare she act as she did with him-my hus-
band!"
But in the morning Bruce, after an almost
sleepless night, was still silent, still aloof He
had tried to reason with himself, to make ex-
cuses for Murtel, but had been unable to think
of anything save his modification and his
feeling that wife who cared as much as she
| always declared she did, would help instead of
hinder him with his business friends
A frow fingered on his face as from force
OF habit he kissed her good-by. But there was
no warmth in the kiss, although she flung
her arms about his neck and said:
II knew after you had time to think It
over you would see how cruel it was to in
s1st upon going to that reception when 1
would rather stay at home with you. Come
home early, dear. will order a good din
ner, one you will enjoy"
Bruce made no reply But as he swung
down the street, never looking back, although
he knew she watched him from the window,
he muttered:
II wonder what kind Of man she thinks
I am-trying to square herself with din
ner! I won't go home at all; l will stay
down with the boys"
He had busy day, but the condolences
of the men in the office because Of Muriels
Illness their talk of the wonderful time they
had dancing, the early breakfast before the
party broke up, rasped his nerves and In
creased his resentment.
business finished for H. " hn al
over to the club, played golf until it was too
dark to see any longer and then joined two
bachelors at dinner. He did not telephone
as usual Let Muriel worry a bit. She
caused him anxiety and anguish enough.
Your wife wants to speak to you on the
telephone page told hil.
Bruce flushed with annoyance. He had
cautioned her against calling him at the club,
not once but many times.
''Well?' was all he said as he put the re-
ceiver to his ear
TWhy won't you come home? I tele-
phoned the office and they said you had
gone for the day. I have been waiting ever
since. Dinner is almost spoiled. Hurry"
I'm not coming home. 1 am dining with
friends" He hung up and returned to the
table.
Anything wrong?" one of the men asked.
mo" The answer was sharp.
In moment the boy appeared again.
you wanted on the telephone again,
NIL. SOnWdy
"Hello" he called.
"Why did you cut me off? I hadn't fin
ished talking"
II had"
aren't you coming homer"
mo. I'm dining with friends, as l told
you"
But I'm all alone and had such nice
dinner for you" Tears now were in her
voice.
Eat your dinner. I shall be late, and
don't call me again. If you do I shan't come
home at all!' Once more he returned to
his friends without waiting for an answer.
This time they asked no questions but had
he known that during his absence they had
pitied him and called him an "apron-string
husband" he would have been more furious
with Murtel--if that were possible.
Bruce seldom drank anything, rather
prided himself obeying the law now that
the country was presumably dry. But he
needed no urging to take a highball, then
second. Soon he was telling stories and had
forgotten everything but the pleasant COM
pany, the freedom and relaxation he felt.
1t was nearly midnight when the little
group departed. They lived in opposite d.
rections and Bruce said he would walk
home. The others took a taxi.
Just as they rolled away cIoaked figure
came up and touched his arm. He turned