Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-05
ton of it's bein' known"

/ ton OF it's bein' known
Hickey"
"Ah. excuse metz
Drive on. cabby-instantly! DO you
hear?'
Hickey backed suddenly away and the
cab, sprang into motion; while Maitland
| with a face of fire sat back and ragged
, and wondered.
! Across Broadway toward Fourth ave-
nue. dashed the hanson; and from the
curb-line Hickey watched II with hu-
morous tight in his dull eyes. Indeed,
| the detective seemed in extraordinary
conceit with himself. He chewed with
. an unaccustomed emotion upon his cold
I cigar scratched his cheen, and chuck
led; and, chuckling, pulled his hat well
down over his brows. thrust both hands
into his trousers pockets. ana snambled
back to the st. Luke building-his heavy
body vibrating amazingly with his Sc
cIet mirth.
4 And so, shutting sluggishiy. ne merges
! into the shadows, into the mob that
surges about the building, and passes
from these pages.
In the gathering hanson, steadying
/ herself with a hand against the window
frame. to keep from being thrown
| against the speeches. man beside her,
confusion at the moment found no
words, from this eloquent silence she
drew an inference unjustified. such as
lovers are prone to draw. the world over,
and that lent a pathetic color to her
| thoughts, and chilled a little her mood.
She had been too sure.
But better to have it over with at once
rather than permit it to remain for ever
a wall of constraint between them. He
must not be permitted to think that she
would dream of taking him upon mis- gen.
ercus word.
1T was very kind of you," she said in
steady, small voice, Ito pretend that
we-what you did pretend. in order
TO save me from being held as a
witness. At least, I presume that is
why you did it?-with a note of un-
certainty.
ut is unnecessary that you should be
drawn into the affair" he replied. with
some resumption of his self-possession.
TT isn't as If you we're"
"A theft" she supplied as he hest
tated.
"A thief" he assented gravely.
But IL am" with a break in her
voice.
But you are not" ne asserted almost
fiercely. And, Dear" he said boldly,
don't you suppose 1 know
II what do you known
That you brought back the jewels,
for one minor thing. 1 found them al
most as soon as you had left And
then I knew knew that you
cared enough to get them from this fell
low Anisty and bring them back to me.
knew that I cared enough to search the
world from end 10 end until l found
you, that you minght wear them-if
you would"
But she had drawn away. had averted
her face; and he might not see it; and
she shivered slightly, staring out of the
window at the passing lights. He saw.
and perforee paused
"You-you don't understand" she told
him in a rush. "You give me credit
beyond my due. I didn't break into
your flat again, tonight. In order to re-
turn the jewels-at least, not for that
alone"
But you did bring back the jewels?"
She nodded.
Then doesn't that prove what claim,
prove that you've cleared yourself
NO" she told him firmly, with the
hrmness OF despair; 1T does not. Be-
cause / did not come for that only.
came with another purpose-to steal, as
we'll as to make restitution. And
/ stole"
There was a moments silence. on his
part incredulous. II don't know what
you mean. What did you steal? Where
Is itT'
"I have lost tt"
WAS IT in your hand-bagT'
You found that?
You dropped it in the trunk-closet.
found il there. There is something of
mine in it?''
Dumb with misery, she nodded; and af
ter a little, You didn't look OF course"
81 had no right" he said shortly.
"Other men wo-would have thought
they had the right. I th-think you had.
the circumstances considered. At all
events" steadying her voice, I say you
have. now. I give you that right. Please
go and investigate that handbag. Mr..
Maitland. I wish you to-"
He turned and stared at her curiously.
IT don't know what to think" he said.
Il can not believe"
You mu-must believe. I have no right
TO profit by your disbelief. q.
Dear Mr.. Maitland. you have been kind
20 me. very kind to me; do me this last
kindness, IL you will"
The young face turned to him was
gravely and perilously sweet very nearly
he forgot all else. But that she would
not have
do this for me. What you
will find will explain everything You
will understand. PerhaDs'-timidly-
perhaps you may even find II in your
heart TO forgive. when you understand
II you should, my card-case
is in the bag, and. She fall
tered, biting her lip cruelty to steady a
voice quivering with restrained sobs
Please. please go at once, and-and see
for yourself!" she implOred him passion
ately.
or sudden he found himself resolved.