Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-03
VIII. DANCE OF THE HOURS.

VIII. DANCE OF THE HOURS.
-Four p. N.
The old clock in the corner of the
| study chimed resonantly and with delib<
GRAFTON: four double strokes; and while
vet the deep-throated music was dyine
into silence the telephone bell shriekeo
\ impertinently.
Maitland bit savagely on the gag ano
1 knotted his brows. trying to bear *.
The effect was that of a coarse file rasped
across raw quivering nerves. And ne
lay helpless, able TO do no more TOWARD
endurance than to dig nails deep into
his palms.
Again and again the hendish ciamoT
! shattered the echoes. Binding nashes
| OF agony danced down the whlte-hot
| wires strung through his head, taut from
! temple 10 temple.
Wo,,ld the fool at the other end never
be satisfied that he could get no answer !
Evidently not: the racket continued
| rnercuesslv short series OF snrlil
calls alternating with imperative rolls
prolonged until one thought that the tor
tured metal sounding-cups woulo crdcS S
ThouSht! nay prayed that either such
would be the case, or else that one hea"
might at once mercifully be rent asun-
der.
| That anguish so exquisite should be the
means Of releasing him from his bonds
| seemed a refinement of irony. Yet MAT
Hand was aware between spasms, that
helm was on the way. The telephone IN
strument for obvious convenience hau
been equipped with an extension pen
which rang simultaneously IN " hagah
quarters. When Maitland was not az
homo the ianitor-valet, so warned, woulu
answer the calls. And now, in the stilI
Intervals. the heavy thud Of unhurrieo
feet could be heard upon the staircase.
O'Hagan was coming to answer; ana TAX
ing his time about IL. 1t seemed an age
before the rattle Of pass-key In latch an
lnounced him; and another ere, all uncon-
scious of the figure supine on the olVan
against the further study WALL the old
man shufned to the instrument, lifted re-
ceiver from the hook, and applied 1t to
his ear.
wei. wel?" he demanded with that
limpatience characteristic OF the illiterate
for modern methods of communication
''Pwhat the divvle ails YEP
"Rayspicts to We. ma'am. and tits sorry
1 am didn't know twas Teddy
Hes not
IVAN o'clock. there or whereabouts"
Faith and he didn't say
"pwhat name win be tellin' him7"
"Kape ut to yersif, thin. 'Tis none of
me business"
eff We do, I'll not answer. Sure. am 1
to be climbln' two flights av sthairs iv'ry
foiye minits-"
"Good-by yersilf." hanging up the re-
!ceiver. And the divvle fly away wild ye'
grumbled O'Hagan.
AS he turned away from the instru-
iment Maitland managed to produce a
sound, something between moan and a
siranaleu cough The old man whirled
on his heel "Pwhat's thot?
, The next instant he was bending over
Maitland, peering into the face drawn
and dishgured by the gag. THE saints
presarve u.s. And who the divvle are We
at all? Pwhy don't We spaxe?'
Maitland turned purple; and emitted a
furious snort.
mister Maitland, be all thots strange!
Is ut mad 1 am? Or how did we
= get back here and into this Ak, sor. and
me swapin' the halls and polishin' the
brasses fernist the front dure iv'ry min
! ute since We whit outT'
& Indignation struggling for the upper
hand with mystihcation in the Irish
mans brain. he grumbled and swore; yet
busted his fingers. In a trice the binding
gag was loosed. and rope and straps cast
free from swollen wrists and ankles. And,
; with the assistance OF a kindly arm be-
hind his shoulders. Maitland sat up, grin
ming with the pain Of renewing circula-
ton in his limbs.
wild these two oies mesilf saw We lave
: three hours gone. sor. and c'ud swear
no sowI had inferred this house since thin.
Pwhat does ut all name, be all thot's
holy2"
/ 1T means" painting. brandy and soda
lO'Hagan. and be quick"
Maitland attempted TO rise, but his legs
gave under him, and he sank back with a
) stihed oath. resigning himself to walt
the return Of normal conditions. AS for
, his head II was threatening to split al
any moment the tight wires twanging
Internally between his temples while the
, corners of his mouth were cracked and
sore from the pressure of the gag. All
OF which totted up a considerable debit
against Mr.. Anisty's account.
For Maitland, despite his suffering, had
found time 10 figure II out TO his per-
sonal satisfaction-or dissatisfaction, II
YOU prefer-in. the interval between hls
: return TO consciousness and the arriva
e OF O'Hagan. IT was simple enough TO de-
! duce from the knowledge In his posses
e sion that the burglar. having contrived his
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