Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-11-26
A Story of Love, Adventure
and Mystery By REX BEACH

st. Phillip street, Go personally and
in secret, for there are spies among
the police.
"one Who Knows"
Good Lord! Do you believe it,"
Il shall know in an hour" In reality
Sc had no doubt that his informant
told the truth. On the contrary, he
found that he had been waiting, sub
consciously, for a hint from this mys-
terious but reliable source, and now
that il had come he felt confident and
elated. "A leak in the department
would explain the maddening series of
checkmates up to date" After a mo-
ments hesitation he continued:
IF Gino Cressi proves to be the boy
I saw that night, we will put-the rope
around his fathers and his uncle's.
necks, for he is little more than
child and they evidently knew he
would confess if accused; otherwise
they wouldn't have been so careful TO
hide him." He rose and, cycling Dreux
intently, inquired, "Will you go along
and help me take him?"
Bernie fell into sudden panic of eX-
element. His face paled, be blinked
with incredible rapidity, his lips
twitched and he clasped his thin,
bloodless hands nervously.
"Why-are observation-disclosures
alone?'
Norvin nodded. "If they have spies
among our own men ene least indis-
erection may give the alarm. Besides,
there is no time to lose; it would be
madness to go there after dark. Will
you conner"
'sYou-b-b-bet," Mr. Dreux stue-
tered After a painful effort to con-
troll himself, he inquired with rolling
eyes, "S-say. Norvin, will there be
any fighting-any d-danger?'
Blake's own imagination had already
presented that aspect of the matter all
too wildly.
yes. there may be danger" he con-
fessed. I'VE may have to take the
boy by force" His nerves began to
dance and culver, as always before
every new adventure. Perhaps, after
all. you'd better not go. understand
how you feel"
The little man burst out in force
full expletive.
Pudding! I want to fight. DIDN'T
you see?"
mo. I don't"
i've never been in a row. I've never
done anything brave or desperate, like
like you. I'm aching for trouble. L
go looking for it every night"
"Really!" Blake looked his incre-
dulity.
"Sure thing! Last night 1 insulted
perfectly nice gentleman just to pro-
woke a quarrel. I'd never seen him be-
fore and ordinarily 1 hesitate to accost
strangers. but / felt as if I'd have hys-
terics if 1 couldn't lick somebody; so
I walked up to this person and told him
his neckite was in rotten taste
What did he say?'
HE offered to go home and change
st. I was<so chagrined that cursed
him, fearfully."
"Berniey'
Dreux nodded with an expression OF
the keenest satisfaction. II could have
cried. 1 called him a worm, a bug a
boil weevil; but he said he had fami-
" and didn't intend to be shot up by
some well-dressed desperate.
Il suppose it's, the blood of your an
cestors."
81 suppose it is. Now, let's go get
this dago boy. I'm loaded for grizzlies
and If the Malta cuts in I'll croaR some
body" He drew a huge rusty military
revolver from somewhere inside his
clothes and flourished it so recklessly
that his companion recoiled.
Together the two set out for st. Phil
in street Blake, whose reputation for
bravery had become proverbial, went re-
luctantly, preyed upon by misgivings;
Dreux, the decadent, overbred dandy,
went gladly, as if thirsting for the
fray.