Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-11-22
A Story Of Love, Adventure
and Mystery By REX BEACH

,ractic, was sure TO wreck her digestion
and ruin her teeth. but she had confound-
ed him utterly by displaying twin rows
as sound as pearls. as white and regular
as rice kernels. Her digestion, he had
TO confess. was that of a Shetland pony
and breathed ecstatic blessings upon his
name.
Near the corner c stumbled over boy
hiding in the shadows. Then, as he
turned north on Rampant street he ran
plump into oDnnelly and O'Conneli.
II just came from your house" he told
Dan. Il thought I'd drop in and smoke
one OF your bad cigars. Is there anything
new?''
Not much. I've had a hard dav and
there was a police board meeting tonight
I'm tagged out"
No more letters, eh?"
NO. But I've heard that ISABELLA is safe
in Sicily. That means his finish. I'll have
something else to tell you In day or so;
something about your other friend
Cardr'
NO, Really
IF what I suspect is true, it'll be a
sensational can't credit the thing myself
that's why l don't want TO say anything
lust vet I'm all up in the air over it
A moment later the three men had sep
arated. Donneuy and O'Connell turning
toward their respective homes. Blake
continuing is way toward the heart Of
the city.
But the chiefs words had upset Nor
wins complacency. His line of thought
was. changed and he found himself once
more dwelling upon the tragedy which
had left such "A mark upon his life Mar
tel had been the finest, the cleanest fell
low he had ever known; his life, so full
OF promise. had just begun, and yet he
had been ruthlessly stricken down. Nor
win shuddered at the memory. He saw the
road to Martinello stretching out ahead
OF him like a ghOst-gray canyon walled
with gloom; ne heard the creaking o.
saddles, and mufTled thud OF hOofs in the
dust of the causeway, the song Of
lover, then
Blake halted suddenly. listening. From
somewhere not far away came the sound
again; il was a gunshot, deadened by the
blanket OF mist and drizzle that shrouded
the streets. He turned. 1t was repeated
Cor a third time, and as he realized from
whence it came he cried out affrightedly:
"Donnelly! Donnelly! oh, God!"
Then he began TO run swiftly. as he
had run that night five years before, with
the lights of Terranova in the distance,
and in his heart was that same sickening,
horrible terror. But this time he ran,
not away from the sound. but toward it.
AS he raced the slippery streets the
night air was ripped again and again
with those same loud reverbeTations. lie
saw by the pickering arc lamp above the
crossing where he had just left Donnel-
" another figure flying toward him, and
recognized O'Connell. Together they
turned into Girod street
They were in time to see a flash from
the shed that stood in front of Laru-
bios shop. then an answering squirt Of
flame from the side of the street upon
which they were. The place was full Of
noise and smoke. At the farther cross
ing a man in a shining rubber coat
lInelt and fired. then rose and scurried
into the darkness beyond. Figures broke
cut from the shadows Of the wooden
awning in front Of Larubio's shop and
followed, some turning toward the left
at Basin street, the others continuing
or through the area lighted by the sput-
tering street light and into the night.
one Of them paused and looked back as
IL lOath TO leave the spot until certain
o. his work.
Side by side Blake and o'ConneI rae
ed toward the chief, whom they saw
lurching uncertainty along the BAN
Quette ahead Of them. The detective was
cursing; Blake sobbed through his tight
clenched teeth.
Donnelly was down when they reached
him and his empty revolver lay by his
side. Norvin raised him with shaking
arms, his whole body sick with horror.
Are you badly-hit, old MANI" he
gasped.
"Pm-done for!" said the chief
weakly. "And the dagos did it,"
From an open window above them a
woman began to scream loudly:
Murder! Murderl"
The cry was taken up in other quar-
tiers and went echoing down the street.
Doors were flung wide, gates slammed,
men came hurrying through the wet
night hurting startled questions at each
other, but the powder smoke which hung
slusgishly in the dark night air was
sufficient answer. 1t flOated in thin blue
layers beneath the electric lights. grad
ually fading and melting as the life eb-
bed from the mangled body of Dan DON
nelly.
1T was nearing dawn when Norvin
Blake emerged from the hospital whith-
er Donnelly had been taken. The air was
dead heavy, dripping winding sheet of
fog wrapped the city in its folds. no
sound broke the silence of the hour. He
was sadly shaken, for he had watched
a brave soul pass out of the light, and
i'm his ears the words of his friend were
ringing:
Don't let them get away with this,
Norvin- You're the only man 1 trust"