Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-30
The Gates of Silence"
By Meta Smmfn5, AmhW at "HHShsd Up"

to Shoot-eVen If you knew how which
You don't my good Jex.
ooh, yes. I can shoot straight enough.
Mr. SAKE" lex said lie had dropped the
redundant sir" but there was still that
infection Of ironic respect in his voice
Straight enough, assure you: only that
is a pleasure ! must deny myself The
police are coming and | mustn't inter
fere with the due course of the law"
The Game Up.
"The police What DO You mean"
SaXe's insolence was superb but he
passed the tip Of his tongue over his
dry lips. lie knew well enough what he
meant. The game was up: the colossal
carelessnees which had overlooked this
brass bound box and its contents had
done him in at last. He saw ruin star
ing him in the face. once the police be-
gan, whore would they end? All the ugly
secrets Of Tempest street would come out
his connection with the murdered man,
the trade they had shared. Perhaps who
knew? they might even connect him
with the murder
The skin under Saxe's hair pricked. All
the gay insouciance Of his manner was
gone; over the golden-hued skin the ugly
pallor Of fear lay like mask Of gray
paint
'Do need to be more explicit-M Des-
chapel? The English police have sum
mary method of dealing with blackmail.
1t Is not one Of those professionals which
commend themselves 10 the English mag
nation
Just for a moment his malice got the
better Of him, his arm wavered little,
his weapon lowered SAKE, vigilant and
agile as cat, saw his chance. with
sudden lunge forward he had caught the
weapon and the hand that held It In
grip that was like a wise.
"G'll do for YOU" he cried you
treacherous cur Of an informer! I'll make
you curse the day that you were born"
For the moment JeX, slight and fragile
in no physical sense match for the man
who stood over him with the living fire
Of hatred in his eyes, was absolutely at a
disadvantage then suddenly unexpected:
ly, he kicked out. Taken utterly by sur
prise, SaXe's grip relaxed. There was
report, a cry hoarse and ugly like that Of
wounded beast. and Paul SAKE mrched
and stumbled and fell face forward by the
side OF the round table by the bed
lex stood looking down at him, his
face white and terror stricken
What had he done?
With fingers that trembled he thrust
hand; then. on an almost unconscious
impulse, seeing that dusk had fallen on
the room, he struck match and lighted
the oil lamp that stood on the table
above the dead man.
The police must have light to guide
them when they came. lie drew the
blind up TO the top and left the bed
room door wide open. then, cautiously
and stealthIly, as though hidden eyes
and ears watched and listened, he crept
down the stairs and out into the desert
cd street
The sgnboard of the Toby jug rat
| tied and swung in the rising wind as
the little figure came down the street
a quaint figure with pigtails flying and
long legs on which the ungartered black
stockings hung disconsoately like with
ing snakes, necesstating frequent and
! irritated clutches on the part OF their
wearer to prevent them descending alto
gether
At the door OF the shop the child
stopped and looked up at the swaying
sign with eyes Of ecstauc welcome.
Looking Mt to bust 'isself as usual,
bless i'm" she said; then, opening the
shop door, cautiously she went in.
No one came out of the parlor at the
sound of the tinkling bell but on the
| threshold OF the shop the gray cat met
! her with agitated mewings and appraised
tail. There was a slight haze in the
air and an acrid smell as Of singed wool.
Bess raised her head and shifted dis
tastefully
| "SomefnNs on fire. I don't fink," she
said Then, raising her voice, she called
! "Grandad, Grandad!"
There was no answer, and little
tremor shook the child She was tired
and on the verge Of tears as 1t was.
Since early morning she had not tasted
food. The journey from Sussex had
cost her every penny Of the carefully
| boarded pocket money her grandfather
had sent her from time to time. For
Bess had fulfilled her threat-she had
run away from the "gentlewomau' who
had, for a consideration, consented to
mold her future after her own model.
back to the beloved shop In the West
minister Stun and the old man and the
cat that, so far as she was capable of
affection, she loved,
"Wots 'appened?" the child said, with
a little catch in her breadth "Oh, my
lor. wots appened?"
She stepped to the foot Of the stairs
and looked up. There was a great blaze
Of light and the smell Of burning had
increased With a choking little cry she
ran upstairs,
To Be Continued in Next Issue.