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

/ Madison, please, and hurry-hurry?
"Ah, I'm ringin 'em. They amt an
swered yet. Gimme time. :
There they are. Go ahead"
| Hello. hello"
! ''Pswhat is ut?"
| Her heart sank: O'Hagan's voice
meant that Maitland was out.
| "O'Hagan-is that you?
Tell Mr.. Maitland-
Hes GAVIN out for the noight
an"
Tell him, please"
! But he's out. Ring up in the marn-
i'm
but can't you take this message fos
The door was suddenly jerked open
and Anisty leaped into the room, face
White with passion. Terrified, the girl
/ sprang from the desk. carrying the IN
strument with her. placing the reVolv-
| ing chair between her and her enemy.
The brass bowl, please-tell MIN
that" she cried clearly into the re-
ceiver.
And Anisty was upon her, striking ene
! telephone from her grasp with one s"iIt
blow and Selling her savagely by ths
/ wrist AS the instrument clattered ana
| pounded on the floor she was sent reel
j ing and staggering half way across the
| room.
| AS she brought up against the flat
| topped desk, catching its edge and saw
ing herself a fall, the burglar caught up
] the telephone.
| who is that?" he shouted imperatiVeEy
| into the transmitter.
| Whatever the reply, il seemed to please
him. His brows cleared. the wrath that
had made his face almost Understandable
subsidized: he even smiled. And the girl
! trembled knowing that he had solved her
| secret: for she had hoped against nope
| that the only words he could have heard
| her speak would have had too cryptic
a significance for his comprehension.
AS. slowly an composedly, he replaced
| the receiver on its hook and returned
| the instrument to the desk. short ana
! rotund figure of a man, In rumpled even
| ing dress and wearing wilted collar.
! hoped excitedly into the room, cast at
4 the girl one terrified glance out of eyes
| that glittered with excitement like black
| diamonds. set in face the hue or yeast
| and clutched the burglars arm.
"Oh. Anisty, Anisty!" he cried piteouS-
| ~. What is il? What as It? Tell mel!
IT'S all right" returned the burglar
| Don't you worry little man. Pull your
self together" And laughed.
But what-what-" stammered the
! other.
only that she's given herself away"
! chuckled Anisty: beautifully and COM
pletely The brass BOWL says she,-
| thinking / never saw one on Maitland's
deski-and 'O'Hagan, and who the divvle
/ are you?' says the man on the other end
Of the wire, when 1 ask who he is.
And? And?" pleaded the little man,
dancing with worry.
And It means that my lady here re-
turned the jewels to Maitland by hiding
them under a brass ash-receiver on his
| desk-ass that 1 was not to know!
| You are cute, my lady!" with an
| ironic salute to the girl, but you've met
! your match in Anisty."
| And" demanded the other as the burg
lar snatched up his hat and coat, what
will you do, Anisty?'
"Do?"-contemptuously why, what is
there to do but go and get them? We've
raised too much and made New York too
| hot for the two of US, my dear sir, to get
out OF the game without the profits"
But beg of you"
"YoU needn't, "-grimly. at won't bring
you in any money"
But Maitland"
els out. O'Hagan answered the phone
Don't you understand
But he may return!'
That's his lookout. I'm sorry for him
| IL he does" Anisty produced the revolver
from his pocket, and twirled the cylinder
| significantly IT owe Mr.. Maitland some
| thing" he said, nodding to the white
faced girl by the table, and 1 shouldn't
| be sorry to
And what" broke in the newcomer,
| what am going to do meanwhile?"
| Devil the bit I care! Stay here and
keep this impetuous female from calling
| up police headquarters, for good guess.
Speaking of which, I think we
| had best settle this telephone business
| once and for all"
| The burglar turned again to the desk
| and began to work over the instrument
with small screw driver which he pro-
| duced from his coat pocket, talking the
/ while.
| Our best plan, my dear Zimmerman, is
| for you to come with me, at least as far
| as the nearest corner. You can wait
| there, If you're too cowardly to 60 the
limit, like a man. I'll get the loot
and join you, and we can make a swift
hike for the first train that goes farthest
| out of town. . A pity, for we've
done pretty we'll, you and I. old boy: you
| with your social 'entree and bump Of To-
cality to locate the spoils, me with my
| courage and skill to lift 'em,
and an equitable division. .
| Oh, don't worry about her, Ban
nermani She's as deep in it as either of
| only she HdppSio W NC
and an outsider on this deal. She won't
bIab. Besides, you're ruined anyway, as
far as New Yorks concerned. .
Come along That's finished: she won't
send any important messages over that
wire tonight, / guess.
my dear young lady!'' Rising and
throwing the overcoat over his arm, he
waved his hat at her in sardonic courtesy.
ct can't say it has been a pleasure to
know you but-you have made 1t interest
ing, 1 admit And bid you a very good
night. The charwoman will let you out
when she comes to clean up In the morn
ing. Adisu, my dear!
! The little man hustled after him, bleat-
ing and fdgeting; and the lock clicked
She was alone utterly and for
: lornly alone . and had lost .
lost all, all that she had priced and hoped
Il to win, even . even him.
She raised huttering, impotent white
hands to her temples. trying to collect
herself.
In the outer room a clock was ticking
Jnconsciously she moved to the doorway
and stood looking for time at the white
expressionless dial. 1t was some time-a
minute or two-before she deciphered the
hour.
Ten minutes past 2! All. the life
time she had lived in the past 20 minutes!
And the futility of it all!