Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-15
THE LOVE TRAP
BY HAZEL DEYO BACHELOR
CHAPIER LIZ
Marjorie to the Rescue

~ ALL had spent a night and day IN
4 the small dingy bedroom OF longing
~ house West Eleventh street II
was late afternoon, ami she was sitting On
the umpy bed, reading through the long
columns of want advertisements and trying
to keep back the tears that kept CHOKING
her throat and blurring her eyes,. It seemi-
ed wears since she had left the luxury OF the
Thorrilton and yet if it had not been Tor
the thought Of Jeffry Arnold, she would not
have been entirely unhappy. At the no
ment of her leaving she had been able to
Justify herself with Marjorie Macdonald.
Marjorie had come into the hotel just as
Gail was paying her bill, and Marjorie knew
the minute Gail raised her eyes that some
thing wrong.
Gail had but one idea and that was to
escape from the Thornton without leaving
an address behind but Marjorie would not
have it So Before Gail knew it she was
telling Marjorie everything, and because sue
meticulously avoided mentioning Jetfry Ar
nold's name during the entire conversation
Marjorie, who not publicity woman
for nothing, drew her own conclusions
She did not try to persuade Gail to re-
main at the Thornton. She allowed her 10
depart to the boarding house on West Elev-
enth street after she had made sure of the
right number.
81 want to keep in touch with YOU she
| explained sweetly, as Gail reluctantly gave
her address. keep up your spirits, and
you re sure to get something to do and Ill
look you UP in few days to find out how
everything is going
Gail thought of this now as she sat
hunched up on the hard, lumpy bed. She
was grateful for Marjorie's friendship: it
made her long to do something to justify
it, and yet the want ads were anything but
encouraging, and in the back of Calls mind
there was a terrifying loneliness against
which she was fighting with all her might.
A knock at the door brought her quickly
to her feet and at her breathless Come in"
the landlady appeared in the doorway.
Someone downstairs to see you,' she
said disagreeably l don't allow callers in
the rooms so you'd better come down."
No flicker of smile crossed her face
Gail thanked her. She\ was suspicious of
this girl who wore such beautiruI clothes
and yet had been content with the meanest
| bedroom in the house. There was mystery
here that would certainly bear watching.
Gail entered the dreary darkened parlor
fully expecting to see Marjorie Macdonald,
but the color famed into her face as Ieffry
Arnold rose and came toward her. For a
long momeEt they stood looking at each
I other, for all the world like two strangers,
and it suddenly occurred to Jeffry that they
were strangers, excepting for the fact that
from the first moment he had looked into
this girls eyes something had flashed be-
tween them; something that he had not been
with her? Would she understand?
He found himself cropping for speech, he
| who never in his life had been at a loss for
| words. Here she was, this girl who had
| stirred him so strangely. All her defenses
were down and yet there was nothing hum
| BILE about her; she held her head high and
| looked at him with level eyes
$50 you ran away" he began slowly and
| then suddenly the words came with a rush.
Did you think I would let you go? Didn't
you know that would seek you out, no mat
ter where you were hidden?"
Gail flung out her hand, as though in
protest.
''You can't feel that way about me when
you know what I've DONE" she walled.
ooh, can't II" he Knocked, his blue eyes
quizzical "And after all, what have you
done? If things had been any different I
might never have met you. Did you ever
stop to think of that?"
Impatient Of words, his eager hands were
reaching, out for her. They closed on her
shoulders, and then went around her fierce
: ly, possessively, as Gail, with little sob OF
surrender, lifted her face to his
THE END