Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-02
By Louis joseph Vance
Author of 1.-The Brass BowL 3"
"No Mans Land, " Etc.

Rhode started. 'lIuh?" he demanded
in confusion.
what's your interest in Madame sa-
varan?"
| ooh, you don't gotta worry about her,"
And Madame Savaran?'
Rhode evaded.
II think she can take care Of herself
/ if there's anything in rumor-
"She can do that, all righ, all right
I'm thinking about Miss Grayce
THAT'S all right; she won't get hurt
but why do you want her, rather than
anybody who might chance to see tnab
advertisement, to get the situationT
well :" The Inventor of Occupa-
tions studied the ash of his cigar
! thoughtfully. 81 got hunch that glrl S
straight" said he. slowly.
II think you'll find she's too straight
4! to be your cats-paw."
1 Rhode subjected the cigar to sun
more keen inspection. Then, moving
| back his chair, That's just what I'm
countin' on" he said inscrutably. come
on; we gotta be movin'. They're clos
| in up"
1t was so; the front doors had been
closed and the shades drawn. Now the
bartenders were busy clearing up anu
the lights were being lowered.
Baffled and wondering, Crittenden fol-
door to the hotel lobby and then on out
to the street, where they paused.
Coin downtown, 1 suppose?" said
Rhode. well, g'dnight. Remember, If
anythin' turns up to change our plans
| I'll call you up or wire you. Otherwise,
you come aboard by nine, if not before"
Goodnight"
VERY WELL" said Crittenden shortly.
He walked slowly down Broadway
suddenly aware he was acutely tired
OF him no less than of the city's mil
lions the heat of the day had taken its
toll of stamina. He would be glad to
reach his room and bed.
On the corner of Thirty-fifth street he
paused an instant, his eyes instinctively
seeking one of the huge painted sign
boards raised above the roofs of row
of buildings on the south side of Thirty
fourth, at the corner of Sixth avenue
Only that morning he had noticed paint
ers at work, blocking out a new design;
it was finished now, glaring in its coat
of gaudy colors beneath a row of cleo
trio lights.
Opening Tuesday. September fifth :"
he read aloud; 'Princesse Theatre
Lefty Noon in Witchcraft-comedy by
lyman Dodd.'
He lifted his shoulders, smiled oddly
and moved on. lips framing noiselessly
unspoken thoughts. If he had until that
moment entertained any lingering doubts
as to whether he would in the last analy-
sis close with the proposition put be-
fore him by Rhode, it was now alto
gether swept away and as If 1t had new
er existed.
Borne northwards from the hay on the
wings of a vagrant breeze, welcome
breath of GOODNESS came stealing through
the thermal channels of steel and stone;
like a sigh of the city turning IN the
oppression of its sleep. Otherwise the
quiet seemed unusual, even for that late
hour; so much so that the ordinary new
er-ending traffic in the street. OF trolley
cars and skulking nighthowk hansoms
and fitting batlil1e taxicabs, forced It
self upon the notice that at another
time had accepted all as commonplace.
He turned into Twenty-fourth street
lust as the great clock in the MetropoI-
itan tower across the park was telling
the hour OF half-past one. The sonor-
Gus echo, dying, left a hush disturbed
only by the footsteps of a solitary pc
destrian; but for Crittenden the block
was silent and deserted-save that
somnolent taxicab stood before a door
two or three removes from his own
lodgings. e,..,.
Midway between Broadway and Sixth
avenue. ascending iron steps to an IRON
stoop he let himself into a dark nall
way, then CROPPED his way, through the
gloom made sensible by single hght
turned low upon the second LANDING, UP
three flights to the topmost floor where
in the back of the house he came 10 ms
door.
II stood ajar-presumably he had neg
Iacted IN lock it that morning. with
sIiobt exclamation of annoyance ne
rushed IT open, entered, and closed IL
behind him. Then, confused, he paused
for a long moment, half inclined TO De-
Ieve that through some strange aperrd-
tion he had found his way into the
wrone, room, perhaps into the wrong
house. -.
rrbere was a scent in the air. per-
f,ne as delicate as the ghost OF deao
caress vet potent to dissipate that Ia
niliar atmosphere and to evoke IN It's
stead a dream of yesterday SO sao anu
poignant with memories that ms Oreath
caught in his throat and ne gaspeo
as if sitting. ...,,.
him. Through the VIDE horth HeHs
overhead q. dull glow stole, wrath OF
twilight, barely tempering the shadows
The dimensions of the room spreau
round him. indistinctly as intimate as
the naIm of his hand, yet as strange
and unreal as a vision in illness.
He forced composure upon hlmselI
with an effort of will He must not
pernitR Imagination so to trick MN.
what he fancied was madness, bred or
that shock of meeting and recognition
He drew a deep breath, strobe
hastily to a wall bracket, struck
match and lit the gas.