Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-24

losing some of his sleepy expression; and
observed the speaker and his companion
the small. shrinking, frightened-looking
little woman who bore so heavily on her
escorts arm, as IL ready to drop with
exhaustion.
It appeared that he knew Maitland by
sight. or else thought that he did.
"Oh, ye're Mister Maitland, amt yous?"
he said. Nope; If Misther Bannermans
in his offs, 1 dunno nothin' about It,"
He was to meet me here at two"
Anisty affirmed. Its very important
case. I'm sure he must be along, imme-
diately, II he's not upstairs You're
SURE?
Nah. amt sure. He may've been
here all night, f'r all know. But I'll
take yous up 4 you want" with doubt
full glance at the girl.
This lady is one of Mr.. Bannerman's
clients, and in great trouble" The self
styled Maitland laid his hand in a pro-
tecting gesture over the fingers on his
arm; and pressed them cruelty. 1T think
we will go up. thank you. If Banner
mans not in, can phone him. I've a
pass-key"
The Waterman appeared satisfied: Matt
lands social standing was guaranty
enough.
IAN right sir Step in"
J The girl made one final effort
by Godr' he told her in whisper IF
\ you dare ="
And somehow she found herself at his
side in the steel cage. the gates clang
ringing loud in her ears. The motion OF
the car, shooting upward with rapidly
increasing speed. made her slightly giddy.
Despite Anisty's supporting arm she
reeled back against the wall of the cage,
closing her eyes The man observed this
| with covert satisfaction.
| As the speed decreased she began to
feel slightly stronger; and again opened
her eyes. The floor numbers, black upon
white ground. were steadily slipping
down. the first she recognized being Is.
The pace was sensibly decreased Then
with a slight jar the elevator stopped
at %.
'Yous know the wayT'
Perfectly" replied Anisty. Two
flights up-in the tower"
Right. When yous wants me, ring.
The car dropped like a plummet, leaving
them in darkness--or rather in a thick
gloom but slightly moderated by the
moonlight streaming in at windows at
either end of the corridor. Anisty gripped
the girl more roughly.
Now my lady! No shennanigan!'
A futile, superfluous reminder. Temper
arily at least she was become as wax in
his hands. So complex had been the days
emotions, so severe her nervous tension,
so heavy the tax upon her stamina, that
she had Iapsed into a state OF subjective
consciousness In which she responded
without purpose, almost dfeamily, to the
suggestions Of the stronger VIII.
YEARLY she stumbled up the two brief
flights of stairs leading to the tower-like
cupola of the skyscraper; two floors SUI
\ perimposed upon the rooA with scant ex-
cuse save that of giving the building the
distinction of being the Hottest in that
section OF the city-certainly not to lend
any finishing touch Of architectural beau
Y ty to the edifice.
On the top landing a door confronted
them, it's glass panel shining dimly in
the darkness. Anisty paused, unceremo-
niously thrusting the girl to one side and
away from the head of the staircase; and
fumbled in jocket, presently producing
a jingling bunch of keys. For a moment
or two she heard him working at the
lcck and muttering in an undertone-
J probably swearing-and then, with a.
4 click, the door swung open.
i The man thrust a hand inside, touched
an electric switch, flooding the room with
light, and motioned the girl to enter She
4 obeyed passively, thoroughly subjugated:
and found herself in a large and we'll
I furnished office, apparently the outer OF
two rooms. The glare of electric light
at uISi partly ptluueu neIs ana Sne matt
ed instinctively a few steps from the
door. waiting for her eyes to become ac-
crstomed to the change.
Il Behind her the door was CLOSED soft
ly; and there followed a thud as a bolt
was shot. An instant later Anisty caught
4 her by the arm and, roughly now and
without wasting speech, hurried her into
the next room. Then. releasing her, he
turned up the lights and, passing to the
I A.
wide; for the aid in the room was stale
and lifeless.
And now" said the criminal in a tone
OF satisfactionS now we can talk busi-
ness, my dear"
He removed his overcoat and hat
|, throwing them over the back of a con-
venient chair, drew, his ringers thought
fully across his chin, and. standing 1t a
} little distance, regarded the girl with a
? shadow of a saturnine smile softening
the hard line of HIS lips.
r She stood where he had left her, as II
, volition was no longer hers. Her arms
hung slack at her sides and she was
swaying a trifie, her face vacant, eyes
blank; very near the preaking-dow
3 point.
The man was not without perception
and recognized her state-one in which
he felt assured, he could get very little
out Of her She must be strengthened
and revived before she would or could
respond to the direct catechism he had
in store for her. In his own interest
therefore, more than through any yield
ing to motives of pity and compassion
he piloted her to a chair by a window
and brought her a glass of clear cold
water from the filter in the adjoining
! room.
The cold, fresh breeze blowing in
her face proved wonderfully invigorat
ing. She let her head sink back upon
the cushions of the easy. comfortable
, leather chair and drank in the clean all
in great draughts, with a sense of re-
newing vigor, both bodily and spiritual
=. The water helped, too: she dabbled TIT
!, tip of a ridfculously small handkerchief
. in il and bathed her throbbing temples
The while, Anisty stood over her, wait
} ing with discrimination If with scam
patience.
What was TO come she neither knew
nor greatly cared but with an instinct
i've desire to postpone the inevitable
moment of trial, she simulated deadl!
languor for some moments after hecom
ing conscious of her position: and la!
passive. long lasnes all but touching he
cheeks-in which now a faint color wa;
!. growing-gaze wandering at random
out over a dreary wilderness of ia