Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-19
HER MONEY
BY. CAROLYN BEECHER
CHAPTER LK


" NCONSCIOUSLY to Althea her friend
| ship for Kenneth Moore gave both
- Peter and Kenneth ground for think
ing she cared for Moore. Kenneth had
kept a close hold upon himself since that
long ago day in the search for flowers
when he had told her of his love; had
seemed content to ask for nothing more
than the friendship she told him was all
she could give. Yet he saw the gradual
widening of the rift between her and Peter,
sensed the tenseness often in the situation.
Althea had told him how much she liked
Miss Bundy-that was when she Srst came
and that she wanted Peter to keep her.
She had also told him she disliked Miss
Howard, was glad when she left. Now Miss
Bundy was gone, Miss Howard back in her
old place in the office.
Moore spoke of it to Althea:
81 see Miss Howard is back. I thought
you intended to keep Miss Bundy?"
what I like makes no difference so far
as the oace is concerned" she replied,
speaking more bitterly than she knew.
"Peter thought Miss Bundy incompetent
"By the way, I met her in the street
day two ago. She looked pretty seedy.'
II believe she hasn't found position as
yet" Althea replied, then changed the SUBJ
ject. Moore didn't tell her the discharged
nurse had asked him for and received
, money. That he too had parted with ten
dollar bill.
Peter was half way up the stairs when
he heard Moore's voice, heard him and
Althea chatting and laughing. Slowly he
! retraced his steps, went into the office and
sat before his desk fighting with the
jealousy that racked him-a jealousy he
; felt was not without foundation.
"She's faithful-good and true he
said, his eyes staring straight ahead "but
now long can she, any woman, remain faith
full in mind and heart when in love with
so fascinating a as Moore? Yet
can't give her up yet-not yeti"
No thought of his profession was In his
mind; no shrinking from scandal and
gossip because of it, the harm 1t would do
him. 1t was Of Althea alone he was think
ing. Her love he craved more than any,
thing else in the world.
"She seemed to love me at FIRST" he
soliloquized strangely along the same lines
Althea few days before had followed.
Those few days in Holden-when we were
first married-she seemed to care. But 1t
was all acting-must have been. She was
ashamed to have me know she had married
me to get that money! wish it had gone
for those damn drinking fountains-that
she never had seen it. Two weeks of hap
piness-if l never had had that two weeks
wouldn't try to hold her now. If she
had not been as she was then, If she had
| been honest-as she is now, / could let her
go-if it would make her happy. But when
| think of her as she seemed them
| can't"
| Voices in the hall interrupted his mu-
| sings. The door of the reception room
! opened, then there was tap on the office
| door.
"Are you there, Peter?"
Come in" he said rising
| Kenneth wants us to go out to dinner,
just informally Shall WEI"
| I'm sorry, Althea, but I have two calls
to make-it will be impossible for me to
60" Then after a moment: But YOU go
| along, there's need for you to stay at
home
you are sure you don't mind having
dinner alone?" Althea asked. He seemed
very willing she should go out with another
man; perhaps he wanted to be rid of her.
"Of-course not! run along and enjoy
yourself What it cost him to speak so
carelessly, with Moore waiting, she would
| never know.
Cali right then, Kenneth, you'll either
| have to withdraw your invitation or be
bantering tone.
Il am sorry you can't accompany us,
Doctor" Kenneth said, as they turned
away.
Peter listened until he heard Moores car
; move swiftly away, then with a groan threw
MS arms. upon the desk, his head bent upon
| them. F
In popular restaurant AIthea was gay
| est OF the gay. After dinner Moore pro-
| posed play, then they had supper and a.
| dance Never once did Althea's conscience
| trouble because Of spending the evening
with Moore. Peter had been ONLY all too
willing she should leave him. If, as often,
there sounded a false note in her gayety.
| Moore was too delighted to have her with
| him to notice ~
1t was long after midnight when the car
| drew up to the curb with Althea. Rnt
late as 1t was she found Peter still out.
| NO wonder he was willing / should 20
with Kenneth" she said HE probably has
been with Mrs. Williams" her Jealousy.
rushlng TO the one person with whom he
was, as she believed, in love-
Continued Thursday. II your time 10
| about out, renew now 50 rs not to miss n