Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-27

Just as yeh say. sir
Awed and awkward, the police detec-
tive stumbled up the steps behind his
imperturbable guide; it was a great
honor, in his eyes. to lunch In company
with a swell" Man of stodgy common
sense and limited education that he was,
the glamour of the Maitland millions OBJ
sCured his otherwise clear vision COM
pletely. And uneasily he speculated as to
whether or not he would be able to ma
nipulate correctly the usual display of
knives and forks.
An obsequious head waiter greeted
them, bowling in the lobby Good after
noon. Mr.. Maitland he murmured Ia
BILE for two?"
Good afternoon" responded the mas
querader, with an assumed abstraction,
inwardly congratulating himself upon
having hit upon a restaurant where the
real Maitland was evidently known.
There were few circumstances which he
could not turn TO profit, fewer emergen-
cies to which he could not rise, he com
plimented Handsome Dan Anisty.
"A table for two" he drawled Matt
land-wise, I'm a corner somewhere, away
from the crowd, you know"
This way, if you please, Mr. Matt
land"
by the way" suggested the burglar, I'M
MS SeTNlelle anu BldHCAh6 hCCiAAy
about the room-which. by good chance,
was thinly populated. by the way, you
know, you haven't told me your name
yet
"Hickey-John w. Hickey. detective bu-
| reau.'
"Inank YOU" A languid hand pushed
the pink menu card across the table to
AR Hickey. And what do you see that
you'd like?'
We'll - Hickey became conscious
] that both unwieldly feet were nervously
! twined about the legs of his chair; blush
! ed, disentangled them, and in an
attempt to cover his confusion, plunged
madly into consideration of a column OF
! table-d'hote French, not one word OF
which conveyed the slightest particle OF
! information to his intelligence.
| We'll" he repeated, and moistened his
! lips The room seemed suddenly very
| hot, Notwithstanding the fact that an OBJ
noxious electric fan was sending current
of cool air down the back of his neck.
! II amt" he declared in ultimate des'
! peration, hungry, much. Had a bite a
| little while back, over to the Gilsey house
| bar"
Would a little drink"
Thanks. l don't mind
Waiter, bring Mr.. Hickey a bottle OF
/ Number Y. For me-let me see-cafe al
! lait," with a grand air, and rolls.
/ You must remember this is my breakfast,
! Mr.. Hickey. l make II rule never to
| drink anything for six hours after ris-
! ing" Anisty selected a cigarette from
| the Maitland case, lit it, and contemplated
the detectives countenance with win
/ ming smile. Now, as TO this Anisty al
1 fair last night. =.
! Under the stimulus of the champagne,
to say naught Of his relief of having eva
ded the ordeal of the cutlery, Hickey dis
coursed variously and at length upon the
| engrossing subject of Anisty, gentleman
craftsman. while the genial counterpart
! of Daniel Maitland listened with apparent
but deceptive apathy and had much ado
to keep from laughing in his guests face
| as the latter, perspiringly earnest unfold
| ed his plans for laying the burglar by
! the heels.
From time to time, and at intervals
steadily decreasing, the hand OF the most
{ sought the neck of the bottle, incllninS
it carefully above the thin-stemmed glass
i that Hickey kept in almost constant mo-
ZION. And the detectives fatuous ic
ouacity flowed as the contents of the bot
tie ebbed.
! Yet. as the minutes wore on, the burg
] lar began to be conscious that II was Dul
a shallow well of information and amuse-
ment that he pumped The game Iasci
mating with it's spice of daring as II nae
primarily been, began to pail. AT lensth
the masquerader calculated the noun
as ripe for what he had contem'
plated from the beginning; and interrupt
ed Hickey with scant consideration, IN
The middle of a most interesting exposi-
tion. ,-
you'll pardon me, I'm sure, if 1 trouble
YOU again for the time"
The fat red fingers sought uncertainty
for the timepiece; the bottle was now
empty. The hour, as announced, was 10
minutes to 2.
eve an engagement" invented Anisty
plausiblv. with a friend at 2. If you'll
excuse me? Garcon, Tradition!
''Then 1 und stand. Mister Maitland, we
! en- count on yeh?
Anisty, eyelids dropping, tipped back his
chair trife and regarded Hickey with
fair imitation of the whimsical Malt
land smile. Hardly, 1 think.
'.Why not?"-truculently.
.oTo be frank with you, 1 have three
excellent reasons. The first should be suf-
hcient; I'm too lazy"
! DisRruntled, Hickey stared and shook a
disapproving head Il was afraid of that;
yer swells don't never seem to think moth
in of yer duties to soci'ty.
Anisty airily waved the Indictment
aside. Moreover l have lost nothing.
You see, / happened in just at the right
( moment; our criminal friend got notn J.
ling for his pains. The jewels are safe.
Reason Number Two: Having retained
my property, 1 hold no grudge against
Anisty."
"Well-I dunno
"And as for reason Number Three: I
don't care to have this affair advertised.
4 If the papers get hold of II they'll COOK
up a lot of silly details that'll excite the
cupidity Of every thief in the country, and
make me more trouble than l care to-
Iah-contemplate."
Hickey's eyes glistened. 'Of course, il
lyeh want it kept quiet" he suggested
significantly.
Anisty's hand sought his pocket How
much?"
well 1 guess 1 can leave that to you.
lYeh oughttuh know how bad yeh wani
the matter hushed."
LAS / calculate it then, fifty
fought to be enough for the
boys; and fifty will repay you for your
trouble"
The end of Hickey's expensive panetela
was tilted independently toward the CELL
ling. shouldn't wonder If it would" he
murmured gratifed.
| Anisty stuffed something bulky back
into his pocket and wadded another some
lthing-green and yellow colored-into a
little pill which he presently hlcked
lcarelessly across the table. The detec-