Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-10-04
Initials Only y By Anna Katherine Creme
A Thrilling Mystery Story Of Moaon Times

and impatient waiting on his own. But
as so many times before, he misread the
man. Earlier than common-much ear
lier. in fact. Mr.. Brotherson laid down
his tools and gave himself up to a rest
less pacing Of the floor This was not
usual with him Nor did he often indulge
himself in playing on the piano as he did
tonight, beginning with a few heavenly
strains and ending with a bang that made
the keyboard jump Certainly something
| was amiss In the quarter where peace
had hitherto reigned undisturbed Had
the depths begun TO heave, or were phys
teal causes alone responsible for these
unwonted ebullitions of feeling?
The question was immaterial Either
would form an excellent preparation for
the coup planned by Sweetwater. and
when. after another hour Of uncertainty,
perfect silence greeted him from his
neighbors room. hope had scared again
on exuitant wing, far above all former
Giscouragements.
Mr. Brothersons bed was in a remote
corner from the loophole made by Sweet
water: but In the stiffness now pervading
the whole building, the latter could hear
ms even breathing very distinctly. He
was in deep sleep.
The young detectives moment had
come.
Taking from his breast a small box, he
placed it on a shelf close against the par
ition. An instant of quiet listening then
"a, touched a spring In the side of the
box and laid his ear in haste, to his
loophole
strain of well known music broke
softly from the box and sent its vibra-
lions through the wall
1t was answered instantly by a stir
within then as the noble air continued
awakening memories of that fatal instant
when II crashed through the corridors of
the Hotel Clermont, drowning Miss Chal-
Ioners cry if not the sound of her fall
word burst from the sleeping mans
lips which carried SITS own message to
the listening detective.
1t was Edith, Miss Challoner's first
name, and the tone bespoke shaken
soul
Sweetwater, gasping with excitement,
caught the box from the shelf and 81
fenced if. it had done its work and il
was no part Of Sweetwater's plan to have
this strain located, or even TO be thought
real But its echo still fingered in Broth
ersons otherwise unconscious ears for
another Edith" escaped his lips, fol-
lowed by a smothered but forceful utter
ance Of these FIVE words you know
promised you
Promised her what? He did not say.
Would he have done so had the music
lasted a trite longer? Would he yet com
plete his sentence? Sweetwater trem-
bled with eagerness and listened breath
lessy for the next sound Brotherson
was awake. lie was tossing in his bed.
Now he has leaped to the floor. Sweet
water hears him groan, then comes an
other silence. broken at last 10y the sound
Of his body falling back upon the bed
and the troubled ejaculation of Good
Cod" wrung from lips no torture could
haze forced into complaint under any
daytime conditions.
Sweetwater continued to listen. but he
had heard all, and after some few minutes
longer Of Ruthless waiting, he withdrew
from his post. The episode was over He
would hear no more that night.
Was he satisfied? Certainly the event,
puorilc as It might seem to some, had
opened UP strange vistas to his aroused
imagination The words Edith, you
know | promised you" were in them
selves provocative OF strange and doubt
ful conjeCtures. Had the sleeper under
the influence Of strain of music ndis-
solubly associated with the death of Miss
Challoner, been so completely forced back
into the circumstances and environment
OF that moment that his mind had taken
up and his lips repeated the thoughts
with which that moment OF horror was
charged Sweetwater imagined the scene
saw the figure of Brothcrson hesitat-
ing a The top of the stairs saw hers ad-
vancing from the dining room, with star
tied and uplifted hand-heard the music
the crash of that great finale and de-
Cidcd, without hesitation, that the words
he had just heard were indeed the
thoughts OF that moment Edith, YOU
know | promised YOU What had he
promised What she received was death,
Had this been In his mind? Would this
have been the termination Of the sentence
had he weakened less soon to conscious
ness ana caution
SWeelwater dared to believe il. He was
no nearer comprehend aE the mystery il
| involved than he had been before, but
he felt sure that he had been given one
! true and positive glimpse into this ha-
raised soul which showed its deeply hid
! den secret to be both deadly and fear
some and happy to have won his way 50
! far into the mystic labyrinth he had
sworn To- pierce, he rested in happy UNI
| consciousness tin morning when
To Be Continued IN Next Issue