Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-01-17
The Kingdom Of Slender Swords
Authsr sf Hearts oOurag eeus Satan sandsrson Etc.
-fs.s Copyright. 1910 The .Bobhs- Merrill Company
By Halle. Erm;n;s R,ves

other scenes and other times. he smiled
to himself How long IT had been since
he sung them-not since the old col
lege days. That happy irresponsible era
or senior dignities came back WILDLY to
him, the ampus and the singing. For
years he had not recollected it all so
keenly He had been gIee club soloist,
pushed forward on all occasions and
applauded to the echo. Praise of mis-
singing he had accepted somewhat hum
orously-never but once had II touched
him deeply, and that had been on COM
mencement afternoon.
He had slipped away from the waver-
ing cheers at the station because he
could not bare. the farewells, and. far
down one of the campus lanes, had come
on pretty Mrs Claybourne sitting on a
rustic bench. Again he heard her speak.
as plainly as If 1t we're yesterday: why,
If IL isn't Mr.. Daunt! I wonder how the
university can open in the fall without
you!" He had sat down beside her as
she said: This very insistent young per-
son with me has been heartbroken be-
cause we could not get tickets for the
Glee Club Concert last night. She want
ed to hear you sing.
He had looked up then TO see young
girl, seated on the leaning trunk OF a
tulip tree. Her neutral-tinted skirt lay
most hidden by spray Of the great.
creamy-pink blossoms. Some quality in
its delicate loveliness had made him
wish to please her and sitting there he
had sung the song that was his favorite.
Mrs. Claybourne had pulled big branch
Of the tulip tree to shand him like bou-
quet over the footlights, but the girls
parted lips, her wide deep brown eyes,
had thanked him in better way!
The music, now floating over the gar
den by such subconscious association, re-
called this scene overlaid, but never for
gotten. Harkt A cascade of silver notes.
and then an old air that had been re-
vived in his time to become the mad
ness Of the music-halls and the pet Of
the pianolas-the one the crowded cam
pus had been wont to demand with
loudest voice when his tenor led the
Senior Singing" 1t brought back with
a rush the familiar faces, the gray ivied
dormitories with their slim iron bal
comics. the throbbing paint of mandolins,
and his own voice
"Of all the girls that are so smart,
There's none like pretty Sally!
She is the darling of my heart,
And she lives
He scarcely knew he sang but the vi
brant tenor lifting across the scent of
the wistaria, came clearly to the girl at
the piano. For a moment Barbara's fin
gers played on, as she listened with a
strained wonder. Then the music ceas-
ed with discord and she came quickly
through the open window.
The song was smitten from Daunt's
lips In the instant that she stood out
lined on the broad piazza, a fierce snarl-
ing yelp and c1atter came from within
the house and there rang out a screamed
/ To In, a
open and the huge figure of Doctor Ber-
sonin ran out, pursued by a leaping
white shadow, while the air thrilled to
the savage cry of a hound, shaken with
rage.
Run, Barbara The Ambassador
voice came from the doorway But the
white. moonlit figure, In its gauzy even
ing gown, turned too late. Empty handed
Daunt dashed for the piazza, as, with
crash. a heavy porch chair, hurled
by Japanese house boy. penned the
animal for an instant in a corner. He
caught the white figure up in his arms,
sprang into the shade or the wistaria ar
Dor, and set her feet on its high rail-
ing. The voice from the doorway called
again, sharply.
This way, Doctor! Qufck!"
The wolf-hound trailing its broken
chain, had leaped at the crouching ex-
launched straight. at the crouching ex-
pert. The latter had dragged something
small and square from his pocket and
he seemed now to hold this out before
him. Daunt, wrenching a cleat from
the arbor railing, felt puff of cold
wind strike his face. and something
like an elfin note of music. high and
thin as an insects. drifted across the
confusion. He rushed forward with his
improvised weapon-then4 stopped short
The dog was no longer there.
The Ambassador made an exclamation.
He stepped down and peered under the
piazza; even in the dim light, the long
space was palpably empty. The head
boy spoke rapidly in Japanese and point
ed toward the gate
He says he must have jumped down
this side explained Daunt, land run
out to the street He's nowhere in the
garden, at any rate. We can see every
inch. How surprising" He spoke to the
boy in the vernacular. He will have
the gates closed at once and telephone
a warning to the police station"
Bersonin had sat down on the edge of
the piazza. lie was crouched far over:
his big frame was shaken with violent
shudderings, Suddenly his head went
back and he began to laugh-a EARRING,