Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-20

COmDlnduOn.
Nothing gone" he announced. An mar
tlculate gurgle from the PROSTATE man
drew black scowl from Matt
land. Recovering, Good morning, he
said politely to the butler, and stridins
out of the house by the front door, was
careful to slam that behind him, ere
darting into the shadows.
The moon was down, the sky cold.
Opaque gray, overcast with light drift
of cloud. The park seemed very dark
very dreary; a searching breeze was
sweeping inland from the sound, soughing
sadly in the treetops; a chill humidity
permeated the air, precursor of rain
The young man shivered, both with chill
and reaction from the tension of the
emergency just past.
He was aware OF an instantaneous loss
of heart, a subsistence of the elation which
had upheld him throughout the adven-
ture: and to escape this to forget or over
come it, took Immediately to his heels.
scampering madly for the road, oppressed
with fear lest he should find the girl
gone-with the Jewels.
That she should prove untrue, faith
less. lacking even that honor which prov
erblally obtains in the society of GRIM
inals-a consideration of such POSSIBLE
ity was intolerable, as much so as the
suspense Oh ne COulQ IAObB
would not, believe her capable of ingrat-
itude so rank; and fought fercely, unrea-
soningly, against the conviction that she
would have followed her thievish in
stincts and made OFF with the booty.
A judgment meet and right upon him,
for his madness!
Heart in mouth, he reached the gates,
passing through without discovering her,
and was struck dumb and witless with
relief when she stepped quietly from
the shadows of a low branching tree, Of
fering him a guiding hand.
Come" she said quietly. This way"
Without being exactly conscious of
what he was about he caught the hand in
both his own Then" he exulted almost
DISQUALIFICATION you didn't"
His voice choked in his throat. Her
face, momentarlly upturned to his, gleam-
ed pale and weary in the dreary light;
the face of a tired child, troubled, sadden-
ed; yet with eyes inexpressibly sweet.
She turned away. Juggling at her hand.
You doubted me, after ALI" she COM
mented, a trihe bitterly.
'I-no! You misunderstood me. Believe
me, +"
"Ah, don't protest. What does it make
or mar, whether or not you trusted me?
I. You have" she added quietly, 1.-The
jewels safe enough, / suppose?"
He stopped short, aghast. IT! The jew
elsv'
II slipped them in your coat pocket
before"
Instantly her hand was free, Maitland
ramming both his own into the side
pockets of his top-coat. They're safer
She smiled uncertainty.
we have no time" said she. "Can you
drive"
car, which had been cunningly hidden in
the gloom beneath a spreading tree on the
further side Of the road Maitland, crest
fallen, offered his hand; the tips of her
fingers touched his palm lightly as she
Jumped in. He hesitated at the step.
You wish me tor"
She laughed lightly. Most assuredly.
You may assure yourself that shan't
try TO elude you again" ~
IT would I might be sure of that" he
said, steadying his voice and seeking
her eyes.
"Procrastination won't make it any
more assured"
He stepped up and settled himself in
the drivers seat, grasping throttle and
steering-wheel; the great machine thrill
ed to his touch like live thing, then
began slowly to back out into the road.
For an instant IT seemed to hang palpitant
on OeaQ center, Inen SnOI out IKE a nOunu
unlesshed, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES miles
away over the hood.
II seemed but a minute ere they were
laundering over the Myannis bridge A
little further on Maitland slowed down
and, jumping out, lighted the lamps. In
the seat again-no words had passed-he
threw in the high-speed clutch, and the
world flung behind them, roaring. There
after breathless, stunned by the frenzy
thoy On
through the night, crashing along de-
serted highways,
In the east a band of pallid light lifted
! up. out of the night. and the horizon took
shape against II, stark and black. Slowly
stealthily, the formless dawn dusk spread
over the sleeping world; to the zenith
the light-smitten stars reeled and died,
and houses, fields. and thoroughfares lay
a-glimmer with ghostly twilight as the
car tore headlong through the grim. un-
lovely, silent h&nterland Of Long Island
/ City.
The gates of the ferry-house were mex
orably shut against them when at last
Maitland brought the big machine to a
tremulous and painting halt, like that of
! an over-ridden thoroughbred. And though
they perforce endured a wait Of fully Is
minutes neither found aught worth say
ling; or else the words where
! with nifty TO ClOlne tlSiF thoughts,
were denied them. The girl seem
ed very weary. and sat with head
dropping and hands clasped idly in her
llap. To Maitland's hesitant query as to
her comfort she returned a monosyllabic
reinsurance. He did not again venture to
disturb her; on his own part he was con-
scious of a elogging sense Of exhaustion.
of a drawn and haggard feeling about the
leyes and temples; and knew that he was
keeping awake through main power of
will alone, his brain working automati-
Ically, his being already a-doze.
The fresh wind off the sullen river serv-
! ed in some measure TO revive them, once
1.-THE gates were opened and the car had
taken a place on the ferryboat's forward
I extreme. Day was now full upon the
world; above horizon belted with bright
magenta, the cloudless sky was soft tur-
quoise and sapphire; and abruptly while
the bid unwieldly boat surged across the
narrow ribbon of green water, the sun
shot up with a shout and turned to an
! eyanescent dream Of fairyland the gaunt,
/ rock-ribbed profile of Manhattan island,
buIking above them in tier upon tier
of monstrous buildings.
4 On the Manhattan side, in Difference to
the girls low-spoken wish, Maitland ran
the machine up to Second avenue. turn
ed north, and brought It to stop by the
curb, a little north of Thirty-iftii street
: And now whither%' he inquired
hands somewhat impatiently ready upon
the driving and steering gear.