Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-14
HIS BROTHERS WIFE
BY RUBY NJ. AYRES
CHAPTER XII
~ Knew IT,

and they were hack once more at the Red
Grange. She nerved herself for the inevita-
BILE scene. When she Fisher follow
David into his study, she stood for mo-
ment with her hand pressed hard over her
eyes.
Soon they would come for her-soon she
would be called down there to answer the &C
cusation Fisher would make against her.
But the moments passed, and nothing hap
pened. She could hear their voices rising
and falling, but nothing happened, and she
went slowly upstairs.
But behind that closed study door, Fisher
had inquired of his friend with excited i'm
petuosity:
David who is that woman?"
Bretherton raised his eyes from cigarette
he was lighting.
"What-woman?" he asked slowly.
THAT girl-Mary, you call herr
"Well?"
There was little pause, then Fisher
broke out again eXcitedly:
who is she? You think she is NigePs
widow, | know, but
81 never said I thought so. I know rs
we'll you do who she is Brethertons
voice rather 1inty. "She Is Mary Fur
nival," he added deliberately. Il have
known it all along"
Monty Fisher stared at his friend for an
instant without speaking. Then:
You knew it all along, my dear fellow!
And you allowed this woman to deliberately
deceive you, and pass herself off as Nigers
widOw?"
II knew it all along"
There was something in the quiet answer
that Fisher resented.
He had been David Bretherton's closest
friend for so long that it struck him unpleas-
antly to realize that he had been shut out
from all this.
Mary Furnivals influence must be great
indeed.
After moment he tossed his cigarette
into the fire, and shrugged his shoulders.
"Of course it's no business of mine; but I
admit I can't understand you. What is the
result going to be? How in Heavens name
are you going to get rid of her?'
| Il am not sure that l wish to get rid OF
her" said Bretherton.
Fisher stared. A dawning suspicion crept
into his eyes; he thought Of his sister, and
her anger that night when she came back
from the Red Grange. She, too, had seen
what hold this strange woman was obtain
ing in the house, even though she had been
thousand miles from guessing the real
truth.
"You know your own business best, OF
course he said, with an effort But it is
my duty to warn you that you are doing
very foolish thing. What has become of
NigeIs widow, them"
II have no more idea than you have. /
have never seen her in my life.
Bretherton laughed little.
Don't look so worried, Monty. I'm not a
child I think you trust me to manage
my own affairs. Believe me, I've a very
good reason for doing what am
THE womans an adventures! 1t
scandalous affair.""
Fisher flushed UP he spoke. He had
never known till now how much he would
have liked to see his sister married to David.
He was shrewd enough to guess that 1t was
not mere curiosity that had prevented David
from turning Mary FurniVal out of the
house.
Miss Varney came into the room just then,
and put stop to further conversation Her
first question was for Mary.
She glanced al Fisher alphabetically as she
spoke.
"Its extraordinary how I miss the dear
| child if she is out of the room for long" she
said. cts wonderful how she has grown
to be part of our lives, isn't 1T David"
David did not answer, and Miss Varney
went on
But, of course, you know her we'll. Mr..
Fisher. You saw a great deal Of poor Nigel.
didn't you?"
/ mot great deal. And think I only
met his wife or twice"
well. you will see great deal OF her
now il you come to Red Grange" the old
lady went on innocently. 1T is my sincere
wish that she makes permanent home with
us.
Fisher did not answer He was wonder
self discovered. He had read Alright the
pleading in her eyes He almost wished
that he had said nothing yet to David; ~
might have been useful to have kept =
friendly side turned to both OF them.
When Mary came in to tea he made him
self particularly pleasant to her. He said
that he hoped she would take advantage of
his sisters invitation, and come to stay with
them in town.
Dora will be pleased to have YOU" he
said and wondered directly afterwards
what made him say it.
He knew perfectly we'll that Dora never
cared at all for her own sex; he remembered
distinctly what she had said about Mary.
Mary thanked him, but neither trefused
nor consented; she only spoke when she was
pon teddy addressed.
You are very quiet, my dear; have you
headache?" asked Miss Varney solcitously.
"No-I don't know. Perhaps / am little
tired"
Involuntarily she raised her eyes to
David; he was looking at her steadily.
The color rushed into her face; she bit
her lip.
What did he know? she wondered. What
| had Fisher said to him, if he had said any
thing? She could not believe that he knew
the truth as yet; she was sure that II he had
done so he would have turned her out Of the
house then and there
And Dolly was not dead, she had not gone
down with the Multane, she had believed
there was even that excuse for her to
offer.
Well, it would soon be over and done
with. These weeks at the Red Grange
would soon just be dream that had been
dispersed by the searching light of day; she
Iioti w. hat nj OIL without a