Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-03-28

turned with added force as she felt the
touch of his hand and heard herself
say:
so this is Phil. have often heard
of you from your brother Have you
seen him?"
mo-" he said. Il don't want him to
know I'm here-yet. II came to see
you" He paused twisting his cloth cap
in his fingers.
He was in a desperate strait His
brothers silence since his visit TO the
house in Aoyama (of which Phil had
learned from the servanD had seemed
to mean the worst The place had con-
tanned sufficient documents in evidence
as to his mode of living, and the refiec-
ton opened gloomy vistas of poverty
from which he turned with abject fear
and dread There was one alternative,
and this, a grisly shadow, had stalked
beside him since an evening when he
had dined with Borsonin. 1t had peo-
pied his sleep with terrifying visions
which even Haru and the brandy had
been unable to Danish, and his waking
hours had been haunted by the experts
yellowish eyes. Between devil and deep
sea. he had heard of his brothers en-
gagement, and the wild thought of APP
peaIng to him through Barbara had
come to him as a forlorn hope. Now,
face to face with her, he found the
words difficult to say.
Wont you sit DOWN." sic said, and
took a chair opposite him, looking at
him inquiringly
IT ought to apologize for a rig like
this" he went on, glancing at his sorry
raiment, "but 1 came in a friends motor,
and I'm going back tonight. 1 thought
you wouldn't mind, now-now that you
are engaged to marry Austen. o. are,
aren't your
We CHI
said slowly, Il have promised to marry
him."
''Then you know him pretty well, and
YOU know that he-that he doesn't al
together approve of me-"
IT have never heard him say that" she
interrupted quickly.
It's true, though he rejoined bit
terly. Hes always been down on me
I'm not staid enough for him. He made
his money by grubbing, and he thinks
everybody else ought to do the, same
lists the matter of money 1 want TO
speak to you about.
You see. Austen never overlooks any
thing He's as likely as not 10 cut me
off entirely and leave me high and dry.
| IL thought perhaps you wouid-you
might get him to do the decent thing
and help me out of the hole. If 1 once
got straight I'd stay so, but want a
I
work for what I spend! He ought 10
| give it to me. I can't go on as am;
I'm in debt--in deep. / can't take up
my chits at the club. I'm living In
Tokyo now-in a Japanese house In
| Aoyama that a friend has loaned me
because 1 haven't the face to show my
self in Yokohama"
He twirled his cap and looked up at
her. That reminds me-" he said, with
]
there the other day when 1 was away,
and afterward 1 found something OF
yours which he must have dropped. Here
! it is 1t has your name on it." He
handed her a small locket with broken
chain.
She took it with an exclamation. She
was staring at him strangely. This
house you speak of-whose is it?"
ut belongs to Mr.. Daunt."
you mean-you say-that you have
been living in it?'
Yes. Why?"
She had risen slowly to her feet, her
face hotly suffused "Then-then Ha-
ru-" She spoke in dry whisper.
He started, looking at her with quick,
resentful suspicion. What do you
know about Haru?"
Never mind! Never mind that 1
want to know. Haru-she is-Mr
Daunt was not"
He never saw her in his life so rar
as 1 know" he answered sulkily. What
has that to do with it?"
For an instant she looked at him with
out word, her fingers working. Then
she begun to laugh, in low tone, wild
| ly, chokingly "Of course! OF course!
What has that to do with it? WHAT
you want is more money, isn't 1t. That
is all you came to tell me!''
He, too, was on his feet now, uncer
tain and mistrustful. Was she max
ing game of him? He saw Barbara-s
gaze go past him-to fasten on some
thing in the background. He turned. In
the doorway with it's maple leaf por-
there stood Austen Ware.
Barbara's laugh had fallen In a shud
dering breath that was like sob.
Here is your brother now she said.
Austen, Phil and / have been getting
acquainted. And what do you think?
He has found my lost locket." she
held it up toward him.
He had come toward them. In the
dim light his face looked very white,
and his eyes glittered like quicksilver.
He held out his hand.
''Why, Phil!" he exclaimed. This is
a great surprise. When did you arrive,
and are you at this hotel?'
Phil had stood shamefaced. At the
tone, however, which seemed an earnest
of renewed favor, he flushed with re-