Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-01
HER MONEY
BY CAROLYN BEECHER
CHAPTER XIV

CHAPTER LAW
II ETER knit his brows and the hand be-
meath the table was clenched until the
- knuckles showed white. To have his
name appear in such a connection was mad
dening. He couldn't understand 1t, but
was sure Althea was holding something
back. Would there be more in the papers?
One thing he knew, there would be no
bail furnished by Althea.
you know we can have nothing to do
with this woman. l will write the court
that we discharged her and wish nothing to
do with the matter"
Glow much would it cost to bail her
out?" Althea's ignorance of such matters
was only a little greater than Peters.
II neither know nor care. Neither your
money nor mine balls that woman. I can't
understand her appealing to us of all peo-
pie. She knows perfectly how | feel about
her. You are sure Althea, you are keep
ing nothing from me regarding your rela-
lions with this woman"
Il have done nothing but be kind TO her
Althea repeated in dull voice
Peter would not have conceded it, but
the article in the paper hurt Althea more
than it did him. To think that such UNI
welcome notoriety should come through her
fool1shness in encouraging Bundy to talk
of Peter maddened her. In spite of their
strained relations she had a great pride in
his success, pride of which he did not
dream. Never word had there been in the
papers about him, his success with some
delicate and intricate operation his connec-
ZION with the hospital that she had not
carefully preserved it. This terrible thing
III Wnlch his name was mentioned was the
only Item ever printed for which he need to
husband 1t was her fault
III never tell him I gave Bundy money
she declared to herself as she watched n 4
stern face He had turned again to the
article in the paper
1 can't understand that woman's daring
to mix you up in such disgraceful affair."
he said at last
1t makes no difference about me-" AL
thea answered. 81 am sorry vour mama
was mentioned
Makes no difference about you!" angrilv
repeated Peter. you are my wife, aren't
you? To have you mixed up in a drunken
court case is unbearable! I'll get hold Of
Kirk Ca newspaper friend) and see if
cant have the thing hushed up. Although
it is probably too late
Hadn't better bail her out? Wouldn't
that stop it?'
This is nothing less than blackmail.
You must not give that woman penny. I
did not tell you because thought you liked
her and she was gone But l found out
she was a confirmed drinker 1t would
have been better perhaps if I had told you
this, but l could see no need of distressing
you after she was gone"
They sat in silence. Finally Peter said:
"You remember told you l saw her hanging
around here one day and you told me she had
asked you to plead with me to take her back.
Have you seen her since? Talked with herr"
"Once," Althea acknowledged after mo-
ments hesitation 'She came on the same
errand-wanted to come back"
"And in spite of the fact that I discharged
her, you sympathzed with her. Made her
feel | was in the wrong. Nice position to
take with a woman of her stamp No wonder
will oct haro Of hnr ,Iro,,
scrape. But this is once she will get no sym
pathy from either of us. You will pay no att
tention to that note. I'll attend to this"
Althea was white and trembling. Would
Bundy tell him how she had p; ID her for
spying him? That was really what lit
was, what she had paid for-at least Bundy
would say so, although Althea tried to make
herself think she had given her the money
in charitable spirit. %
Remember, Althea, you are to keep Your
hands off this!" Peter said he rose from
the table. please explain to Miss Howard
that | may be detained and to make no APP
pointments for me today. If possible | mus2
have this story killed in the papers" His lips
twitched, showing the strain he was under.
Althea never had seen him SO distressed. IVY
Jane came into the room twice to clear the
table and still Althea sat there, her head in
her cupped hands, trying to think what to
do Should she obey Peter and run the risk
Of Bundy talking, giving him her version? Or
should she disobey him and send money for
bail or fine, rather word that she would pay
it, and so close her mouth?
Peter would go first to the newspaper man.
She would have time to call a messenger, get
a note to the court before he went there. But
did she dare
Kenneth Moore!
1t was as if someone spoke his name. He
would help her.
Continued Tuesday. If your subscription
expires i'm March renew now SO as not TO
,icc 1IaaI, IL L. lIo1adi stn