Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-10
The Red Cloak


What results? Speak up. sweetwa.
ter"
None. Every man. woman and boy
connected with the hotel has been ques-
toned. many Of them routed out OF their
beds for the purpose, but not one Of them
picked up anything from the floor of
the lobby, or knows Of any one who did"
There now remain the guests"
And after them pardon me. Mr.
Gryce-the general public which rushed
in rather promiscuously last night"
II know it; it's task. but it must be
carried through. Put up bulletins. pub
ish your wants in the papers-do any
thing, only gain your end"
a bulletin was put up
Some hours later Sweetwater re-entered
the room, and, approaching Mr. Gryce
with smile, blurted out.
The bulletin is a great go / think
of course, ! can not be sure-that it's
going to do the business. I've watched
every one who stopped to read it. Many
showed interest and many emotion She
seems to have had a troop of friends. But
embarrassment! Only one showed that
thought YOU would like to know"
Embarrassment? Humph! a mani"
mo, a woman; a lady. sir; one of the
transients. | found out in a jiffy all
/
"A woman We didn't expect that
| Where is she? Stn in the lobby"
/ NO. sir. She took the elevator while
was talking with the clerk"
There's nothing in it. You mistook
her IMPRESSION"
81 don't mink so. bad noticed her
when she first came into the lobby. She
was talking to her daughter. who was
/ with her, and looked natural and happy.
/ But no sooner had she seen and read that
! bulletin than the blood shot up into
| her face and her manner became furtive
and hasty There was no installing the
| difference, sir. Almost before l could
point her out, she had seized her daugh-
ter by the arm and hurried her toward
the elevator. | wanted TO follow her. but
/ YOU may prefer to make your own in
quiries. Her room is on the seventh floor,
number 7l2, and her name is watkins
Mrs, Horace Watkins, of Nashville"
Mr. Gryce nodded thoughtfully, but
made no immediate effort to rise
us that all You know about herr" he
asked
Yes this is the first time she has
stopped at this hotel. She came yester-
day Took a room indefinitely Seems
all right; but she did blush, sir. l never
saw its beat in a young girl"
, call the desk Say that I'm to be told
! if Mrs. Watkins. of Nashville, rings up
during the next ten minutes Wen give
her that long TO take some action. If she
fails TO make any move, I'll make my own
approaches
! But he returned almost instantly
Mrs Watkins has just telephoued down
that she is going to-to leave, sir"
ITO leave?'
/ The old man struggled to his feet. NO
J 12, do YOU say? Seven stories,' he
sighed But as he turned with a hobble.
he stopped There are difficulties in the
way OF this interview he remarked
"A blush is not much TO go upon I'm
afraid we shall have TO resort to the
shadow business and that is your work
not mine"
But here the door opened and boy
! brought In a line which had been left
at The desk It related to the very mat
ter then engaging them, and ran thus:
/ Il see that information is desired as
to whether any person was seen to stoop
TO the lobby floor last night at or shortly
after the critical moment of Miss Chal-
toner's fan in the half story above |
can give such Information. / was in the
lobby at the time and in the height Of
the confusion following this alarming in
! cldent, / remember seeing a ladv-one
OF the new arrivals ,there were several
coming in at the tme)-stoop quickly
down and pick up something from the
floor. l thought nothing of it at the time.
and SO paid little attention 10 her APP
pearauce, can only recall the sudden
, ness with which she stopped and the color
i Of the cloak She wore. IL was red and
The whole garment WAS yolumiuous. II
you wish further particulars though in
/. TRUTH have no more TO give You can find