Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-20
HER MONEY
BY CAROLYN BEECHER
CHAPTER LXXII.

HY don't you bring the child here
'\ N Then you could have her under you
care constantly Althea said as non
chalantly as she could, but with helgntened
color and humping heart beat.
Peter looked up as if not comprehending.
''What--"
"Why not bring her here for a time? W.
have no guests the room is bright and sunny
and Jane is fond Of children" She would
make her offer as impersonal as she could.
"Whv-Althea-do you mean it? You ar
sure it wouldn't annoy you-Lut you OUT
Still he could scarcely grasp it,
"T shouldn't let it," Althea answered coldly
in some unaccountable way hurt by his dis
| belief.
"Tt would be ideal-wonderful | could
keen Miss Howard and when not needed in
the office she could be with Doris. But II
would mean extra work; extra care for YOU
| | am afraid"
| "What do you mean-keep MISS howard
| 81 had about made up my mind to realeas4
Ibar until Doris was better or"-he hestatedS
and the anxious look again came into his eyes
| "the child grieves for her. She has lost, mo-
ticeably in the last few days.
at won't do any harm to try what the
charge would do for her." Althea said rathe5
! shortly.
| Indeed it wouldn't! L was only Ihinhl
of YOU
Leave me out of it, Jane will attend t5
all that is necessary. | understand you'll
wish that your operation should be success.
| She bushed as she put his thought Tor h1d
| little patient on this basis.
| "Ycr. wrong me, Althea, by putting my del
sire for the childs recovery on professional
| basis. Naturally every surgeon is anxious h1d
| operation should be successful specially il
| r r. ho finI11t md pV
But it is the child herself I am thinking Of. /
Then to interest Althea he told of his con,
versation of the morning; how he had told
Doris she was his "star patient and how tho
idea had appealed to the little girl.
"She is very lovable, Althea. If you do thid
you will soon become fond of her." He told
Of Doris dream, of her saying she thought
God didn't want her to get we'll here but that
| she would be well in heaven.
Tears hung on Altheas eyelids when he finI
ished but she would not wipe them away
would not let Peter how. the simple story
had affected her. But as soon as she could
command her voice she said:
'"The room will be ready today. You can
have her brought over in the morning if you
| like"
Think it over we'll, Althea. You do moi
| like Miss Howard and if she is up here With
her sister you will unavoidably see more al
her than you do now when she is in the
office"
| Il have made my offer, you can do as you
please" Althea SPOKE harshly. He disliked
her so he could not give her credit for al
good impulse.
Il accept it, Althea, and shall not strI
to thank you. But l am immensely pleased
and relieved. 1t will save me much time
that now have to spend going back and
forth watching her. Then it will also save
making other arrangements when Mrs Will
llams goes away H.
''Is she going? I thought she had given
up her trip to Europe"
mo, she goes very soon, believe" IL
Peter wondered that Althea talked of Mrs.
| Williams plans he gave no sign. Neither
did he voice the thought that the coming
| of the child would be good for Althea--
take her out of herself give her an inter-
| est. Perhaps wean her in a measure from
| the gay crowd she had lately found neces-
| sary to her happiness.
Althea, unconscious that Peter knew OF
her jealousy of Mrs. Williams, unaware that
Miss Bundy had told of her espionage and
! her reports, was quietly happy that she had
| at last spoken of the plan she had con-
sidered ever since Peter had shown such
| an unusual interest in his little patient
| The plan that every time it obtruded had
| been dismissed
But Peter who knew all that had happen
ed between Althea and Miss Bundy, could
| think of but one reason for her offer; she
| would prevent him seeing Mrs. Williams,
| keep him away from her house. Even so
| he grateful. The child had won her
| way into his heart. Often the thought had
| come to him that if she lived he would
| like to adopt her or in some way keep near
| him. Now he accepted Althea's offer thank
| fully, not caring oVermuch about the mo-
| tive that had actuated her. sure that once
| little Doris was in the house Althea coU
| not help loving her and perhaps becomiffy
! a bit interested in her as we'll. b
He sent Miss Howard over for the after
| noon, as he had promised Doris he would.
| When she returned she surprised him by
! bursting into tears.
''She isnt' as we'll, Doctor!" she sobbed.
| mot nearly as we'll as she was week ago.
81 know, but I have a plan for her-and
you. That is, Mrs Graham has, and I
! think she will soon regain her lost strength.
She is coming here. You can be with her a
great deal and that is what she needs. She
has fretted for you" ,-u.
/ Continued Saturday This story Is draw.
| ing to an end. Renew now to avoid missing
the concluding chapters.