Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-10-03
Initials Only By Anna katherine Creme
A Thrilling Mystery Story Of Modern Times

thing seemed up. He had shown himself
d 1901 and by good rights ought to ack-
| hokIedge his defeat and return to head
| quarters. But he had too much spirit
! for that. He would rather-yes. he would
rather face the pistol he had once seen
IN mis- enemy's hand. Yet it was hard
to sit here waiting, waiting
Suddenly he started upright He would
so meet his fate-be present in the room
! itself when the discovery was made
which threatened to upset all his plans.
He was not ashamed of his calling and
| Brotherson would think twice before at
lacking him when once convinced that
! he had the department behind him.
| Excuse me, comrade," were the words
with which he endeavored to account for
| his presence at Brotherson's door. MY
lamp smells so, and I've made such a
mess Of my work today that I've just
stepped in for a chat. If I'm not wanted,
! say SO. | don't want to bother you, but
you do look pleasant here. 1 hope the
| thing I'm turning over in my head-every
man has his schemes for making a for
| tune, you lInOW-will be success some
day. I'd like big room like this. and a
lot of books, and-and pictures
Craning his neck, he took a peep at
| the shelves, with an air of open admra-
| ton which effectually concealed his real
purpose What he wanted was to catch
one glimpse of that empty space from
| his present standpoint, and he was both
astonished and relieved to note how mar
row and incOnSpicuous it looked Ger
tainly, he had less to fear than he sup
posed and when, upon Mr.. Brotherson's
! invitation, he stepped into the room, it
! was with a dash Of his former audacity,
/ yNNi Nl1 1rf~ +el,y
quick, strong and unexpected likeness to
his old self
But if Brotherson noticed this, nothing
in his manner gave proof Of the fact.
! Though usually averse to visitors, espe
cially when employed as at present on
! his precious model, he quite warmed to-
ward his unexpected guest, and even led
| the way to where it stood uncovered on
| the table.
You find me at work" he remarked.
q don't suppose you understand any but
your own
| IF you mean to ask if l understand
what you're trying to do there, I'm free
to say that l don't. l couldn't tell now,
offhand, whether it's an air ship you're
planning, hydraulic machine or-or-"
He stopped, with a laugh, and turned to-
ward the book shelves Now here's what
| ike. lueSG DOCKS just take my eye.
Look al Them then. / like to see a
man interested in books Only, I thought
| if you knew how to handle wire, 1 would
get you to hold this end while 1 work
with the other"
| Il guess l know enough for that" was
! Sweetwater's gay rejoinder.
| But when he felt that communicating
wire in his hand and experienced for the
! first time the full influence of the others
| eye, it took all his hardihood to hide the
! hypnotic thrill it gave him. Though he
| smiled and chatted, he could not help
asking himself between whiles, what had
killed the poor washerwoman across the
| court, and what had killed Miss Chal-
| loner. Something visible or something
; invisible? Something which gave warning
of attack, or something which struck in
silence. He found himself gazing long
and earnestly at this mans hand, and
wondering if death lay under it. 1t was
a strong hand, a deft, clean-cut member,
formed to respond to the slightest hint
! from the powerful brain controlling it..
! But was this it's whole story. Had he
said all when he said this?
Fascinated by the question, Sweetwater
died a hundred deaths in his awakened
| fancy. as he followed the sharp short in
structions which fell with cool precision
! from the others lips. A hundred deaths,
| say, but with no betrayal of his folly.
The anxiety he showed was that of one
eager to please, which may explain why
on the conclusion of his task Mr.: Broth
erson gave him one of his infrequent
| smiles and remarked, as he buried the
model under its cover, You're handy and
you're quiet at your job. Who knows but
that l shall want you again. Will you
come if l call you?"
won't ~ was the gay retort, as the
detective thus released, stopped for the
book still lying on the floor "Paolo
and Francesca" he read, from the back,
as he laid it on the table. Poetry"
lie queried.
ROT scornfuly returned the other,
as he moved to take down a bottle and
some glasses from cupboard let into
another portion of the wall.
Sweetwater taking advantage of the
moment, sidled toward the shelf where
that empty space still CAPPED with the
tell-tal hole at the back. He could easily
have replaced the missing book before Mr..
| BrOtherson turned. But the issue was too
doubtful He was dealing with no absent
minded fool, and it behtoved him to avoid
above all things calling attention to the
book or to the place on the shelf where
! it belonged.
But there was one thing he could do
and did. Reaching out a finger as deft as
! Brotherson's own, he pushed second
volume into the place of the one that was
gone This yelled the augur hole com
pletely; u fact which so entirely re-
/ eved his mind that his old smile came
| back like sunshine to his lips, and it
was only by a distinct effort that he
kept the dancing humor from his eyes
as he prepared to refuse the glass which
Brotherson now brought forward:
None of that" said he. You must
not tempt me. The doctor has shut
down on all kinds of spirits for two
months more, at lease. But don't let
me hinder you I can bear to smell the
stuff Ny turn will come again some
| day
But Brotherson did not drink Setting
down the glass he carried. he took up
the book lying near, weighed it in his
hand and laid it down again, with an
air Of thoughtful inquiry Then he sud
denly pushed II toward Sweetwater.
s,TA,