Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-21
The Brass Bowl

I away in the cavernous depths OF a trou-
sers pocket.
You win wait outside" said Matt
1 land. until come out or-or send some
body. for you to take wherever directed.
| Oh, that's all rlght-not another wordv
The door closed behind the overwhelmed
! nighthawk. and the latch clicked loudly.
For a space Maitland stood in the hall
way. troubled. apprehensive, heart
I strangely oppressed. vision clOuded by the
memory OF the girl as he had seen her
only a few minutes since; as she had
| stood beneath the chandelier, after acting
upon her primary clear-headed impulse
TO give her rescuer the aid OF the light
He seemed to recall very clearly her
! slight figure, swaying, a-Quiver with
4 fright and solicitude-care for him!-her
face. sensitive and sweet beneath its rGd'
/ dy crown Of hair. that OF a child waking
4 from evil dreams. her eyes seeking his
I with their dumb message Of appeal and
/ OF He dared not name what
/ else.
Forlorn. pitifuI. little figureI Odd it
| seemed that he should fear to face her
| again., alone. that he should nnger reluc-
tant 70 cross the threshold OF his study,
mistrustful and afraid alike OF himself
/ and OF her-a thief.
than the words that voiced the hunger OF
his heart? Yet II he spoke. words
such as those toto a thief what
would be the end OF ii all3
What did it matter? Surely he, who
knew the world wherein he lived and
moved and had his being. knew bitter well
the worth OF its verdicts. The world
might so hang, for all he cared. At least
his life was his own, whether TO make or
mar. and he had not to answer for 1t to
any power this side OF the gates OF dark
ness. And II by any act of his the
world should be given a man and a wom-
an In exchange for a thief and an idler.
perhaps IN the final reckoning his life
might not be accounted altogether vast
ed. -.
He set back his shoulders and inspired
deeply. eyes tightening; and stepped into
the study. resolved.
Mis-" he called husl1ily; and
stopped, reminded that not yet did he
even know her name.
1T is safe now" he amended, more
clearly and steadily, ito come out. II you
will"
He heard no response. The long gleam-
ing folds OF the portieres hung motion
less. stilL a sharp and staccato clatter
OF hOofs that had risen in the streets,
III you please" he said again,
| loudly.
The silence sang sibllant IN his ears;
and he grew conscious OF q sense OF anx-
iety and fear sitting in its intensity.
At length. stridinR forward. with a
swift gesture he flung the hansings aside.
xII.-oN RECOMMENDATION.
Gently but with decision Sergeant Hick-
ey set his face against the allurement Of
the wine cup and the opportunities OF his
| fellow-officers.
he was tired. he affirmed with a weary
nod: the lateness of the hour rendered
him quite indisposed for convivial DALI
ance. Even the sight OF o'Hagan. seduc-
ton incarnated. in the vestibule. bottle
under either arm, elutching a box OF
cigars jealousy with both hands, failed to
move the temperate soul
Man." he waved temptation aside with
Il gesture Of fnality. don't guess I'll
take nothin' tonight thanks. G'night
! all"
And. wheeling. shaped q course for
| Broadway.
The early morning air breathed chill but
| grateful TO his feYered brow. Oddly
that he had INDUCED In no
Il
himself perspiring profusely. Now and
again he saw Mt to pause, removing his
hat and utilizing lsTgz sOiled bandana
| with grim abandon.
| At such times his face would be up
/ turned. eyes trained upon the dim in
/ hnities beyond the pale mOon-smitten sky
And he would sigh proroundly-not the
furnace sigh OF a lover thinking Of his
mistress, but the heartfelt and moving
sigh Of the man OF years and cares who
has drunk deep Of that cup of bitterness
called Unappreciated Genius.
Then. tucking the clammy bandana into
| a hip pocket and withdrawing his yearn-
/ ing gaze from the heavens, would strug-
/ gle on, with a funereal countenance as the
outward and visible manifestation of a
mind burdened with mundane concerns;
such as Zone might shrewdly surmise)
that autographed portrait OF a deputy
commissioner Of police which the detect
ives lynx-like eyes had discovered on
Msitlands escritoire. uphappily, toward
the close OF their conference, or, possibly,
the mighty processes Of departmental law,
with it's attendant annoyances of charges
preferred, hearings before an obviously
prejudiced yet high-principled martinez,
/ reprimands and rulings, reductions in
rank, breaking" transfers; or-yet a
third possibility-with the prevailing rate
/ OF wage as contrasted between detective
and "sidewalk-pounder." and the cost Of
living as contrasted between Manhattan,
on the one hand, and Jamaica, Bronsxille,
or ST. George, Staten Island. on the other.
A dimIy lighted side-entrance presently
doomed invitingly in the sergeant's path.
He glanced up. something surprised to
find himself on Sixth avenue; then, bow
] ed with the fatigue Of busy day. turned
aside, entering a dingy back room sepa-
rated from the bar proper Cat that Illicit
hour by a curtain Of green baize. A num-
Der OF tables whose sloppy imitation rose
wood tops shone dimly In the murky gas
light, were set about, here and there, for
the accommodation Of a herd of sleepy
| eyed, case-hardened habitues.
: Into a vacant chair beside one of these
/ the detective dropped and Familiarity re-
ouested the lantern-jawed waiter, who
presently hustled to his side, TO Back
| meh up a tub Of suds, George.
Nah" in response 20 a concerned query,
IT amt feeIin' up to much tonight"
Hat tilted over his eyes, one elbow on
the chair-back, another on the table,
fiabby jowls quivering as he mumbled
the indispensable cigar, putty hands
cIasped across his ample chest, he sat
for many minutes by the side Of his un-
needed drink. bordering, turning over and