Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-09-16

copyrighted, 1901, by
The sky was cioudless and the sun
shone down IN blazing splendor. The
hills swan IN a golden haze, the streets
were white with dust. the. air was OPP
pressively stiIl. But the sheriff strobe
on unmindful OF personal discomfort The
apple OF his eye. his Rosalie, his mother
less four-year-old. had strayed from the
pretty cottage across the park. and the
slow-witted hOusekeeper knew nanght OF
her whereabouts. She had played about
the yard until late In the morning and
was only missed when the sheriff came
across from the gloomy county buildings
for his one o'clock luncheon. ki..te
The stalwRrt sheriff trembled as he
hastily dispatched the housekeeper 10
the nearest nelghbors. and himself strobe
OF in the direction he fancied the child
would most likely go. Later on II nee
esSary. he would raise a general alarm.
There was good reason for the sher-
IN 70 feel troubled over the thought that
the child might be stolen. He was a ter
ror for evfl-doers and more especially
those suspected evil-doers. the tramps.
He had declared open warfare against
them. and for the most part they gave his
bailiwick wide berth. He had been
threatened openly and anonymously. and
what way 70 strike him harder than TO
steal his dearest treasure? The sheriff
breathed hard and STROBE on. There was
one impudent vagabond who had irri-
tated him quite beyond endurance, and he
ha ! treated him with unusual harshness.
He had released this fellow from jail that
very morning and roughly bade him be
gone. He remembered the bitter look the
tramp had flung as he shambled away.
The sheriff was hurrying toward the
gorge, that deep cleft IN the hills that OPP
ened mp less than a hundred rods from
theisheriff,s home. Resale had been there
with him. She loved the cool depths, the
trickling streams. the birds that darted
and sang. Il was natural that she should
seek Il alone. And the sheriff remem-
bered that the tramp had gone that way.
too. tEt
AS she entered the great cleft and fol-
lowed the narrow winding pathway his
keen eyes were busy searching for traces
OF the child The current Of afr that al
ways stirred through this huge funnel
famed his heated face but he did not feel
Il. BY the side OF the almost dry bed
OF the stream he hurried on. Presently
he came TO the pool. a natural basin
where the stream as IL fell down the high,
rocky terrace Just beyond, had worn =
deep hollow. The pool was dark and
gloomy, and fits black waters had an un-
savory reputation. The sheriff paused by,
the margin and anxiously looked across
the still surface. Then something at his
feet attracted him. He hastily picked it
up. It was a bit OF scarlet ribbon, and his
soul. sickened as he stared at II, and
film blinded his eyes when he turned ana
peered into the black depths. Than half
unconsciously he flung down his hat and
drew on his coat, and was just STOPPING
TO remove hts shoes, when something fiut-
tered TO his feet.
He started at it where IL lay on the black
rock before him-a grotesque white image
per doll. When he raised his eyes e was
to discover whence it came. Then. noting
the direction Of the current Of air, be hur-
.ried forward and clambered up the rocks
where the slender stream came tumbling
down. AS his head and shoulders rose
above the level beyond he paused. The
scene was an amphitheatre where rock
had shrunk away and left clear and level
space. The sky was blue above, the grass
was OF moss like softness, and the trees
hung thickly over the cliffs on either side.
on the yielding turf. on the sunniest
spot sat a tramp, an unmistakable tramp
-unkempt, tattered. grimy, and not far
away, with faint smile dimpling her
rosy face. lay the missing child fast
asleep.
The tramp had been cutting dolls from
mangled newspaper with a tiny pair Of
scissors that were attached to huge
pocket knife. There were paper dolls
scattered and futtering on the turf here
and there, and little Rosalie held two in
her chubby fingers. The tramp, with a
doll Just dropping from his scissors point,
was gazing at the sleeping child, soft
ened look upon his hardened face.
The sheriff stepped forward. The vag-
abond looked up and quickly raising his
hand pointed TO the sleeping child. The
sheriff involuntarily halted, but his look
was black and his fists were clenched.
You scoundrel," he muttered. what
does this mean?" He came step near
er. The tramp did not stir.
Might as wen cut out the hard words,
sheriff" he hoarsely whispered. I've
heard 'em all before. You gave 'em TO me
hot the other morning. Cussed me up hill
and down, and-and struck me-" He
turned his head and his glance fell on the