Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-10-31

square as die in ali matters not con-
nected-well. not connected with my pro-
fession.' he smiled in burst of that
whimsical humor which not even the Sc
robustness of the moment could quite sup
press.
And what surety have / that YOU do
not consider this very matter of mine as
coming within the bounds you speak of?'
None But you must trust me that
far"
Brotherson surveyed him with an irony
which conveyed a very different message
to the detective than any he had Intended
Then quickly:
ITO how many have you spoken dilat-
ing upon this device. and publishing
abroad my secret?"
Il have spoken to no one, not even to
Mr., Gryce. That shows my honesty as
nothing else can"
You have kept my secret intact"
Entirely so, sir"
$50 that no one, here or elsewhere.
shares our knowledge Of the new points
in this mechanism"
Il say so. sir"
Then if I should kill YOU. came in fe-
rocious accents, "now-here-"
You would he the only one to own
that knowledge. But you won't kill me"
Why"
Need l go into reasons
Why, l say"
Because your conscience Is already too
heavily laden to bear the burden of an
other unprovoked crime"
Brotherson, starting back. glared with
open ferocity upon the man who dared to
face him with such an accusation.
God, Why didn't | shoot You on en-
trance he cried. Your courage is GER
tainly colossal
fine smile without even the hint
of humor now, touched the daring de-
tective's lip. Brotherson'S anger seemed
to grow under it, and he Loudly repeated.
IT'S more than colossal; lis abnormal
and"-a moments pause tuen with an
ironic emphasis" quite unnecessary.
save as a matter of display, unless YOU
think you need it to sustain you through
the ordeal you are counting You wish to
help me finish and prepare for flight"
81 sincerely do
You consider yourself competent"
II do"
Brothersons eyes fell and he walked
once to the extremity of the oval flooring
and back.
"WeH, Wen grant that But that's
not all that is necessary. My require
ments demand a companion In my first
fight. VIII YOU go up in the car with me
on Saturday night?"
a quick affirmative was on Sweetwa-
ters lips but the glimpse which he got of
the speakers face glowering upon him
from the shadows into which Brotherson
had Withdrawn stopped its utterance, and
the silence grew heavy Though it may
not have lasted long by the clock, the in
. I'LL
others features across the intervening
space was of incalculable moment to
Sweetwater, and possibly to Brotherson
AS drowning men are said to live over
their whole history between their first
plunge and final rise to light and air, so.
through the mind of the detective rushed
the memories of his past and the fast
fading glories of his future; and rebeling
at the subtle peril he saw in that sar-
dontc eye, he vOCiferated an impulsive:
mo! I'll not and paused, caught by
a new and irresistible sensation.
breath of wind the first he had felt
that night-had swept in through some
crevice in the curving wall, tapping the
canvas enveloping the great car. 1t acted
like a peal to battle. After all a man
must take some risks in his life, and his
heart was in this trial of a redoubtab BILE
mechanism in which he had fun faith. lie
could not say no to the prosper Of being
the first to share triumph which would
send his name to the ends of the earth !;
and, changing the trend of his sentence.
he repeated with calmness which had
the force Of a great decision:
81 will not fail you i'm anything If
she rises" here his trembling hand fell
on the curtain shutting off his view of
the ship, "she shall take me with her
SO that when she descends I may be the
first to congratulate the proud inventor
of such a marvel"
so be it, shot from the others lips
his eyes losing their threatening look
and his whole countenance suddenly aglow
with the enthusiasm of awakened genius
Coming from the shadows, he laid his
hand on the cord regulating the rise
and fall of the concealinS curtain.
Here she isl he cried, and drew the
cord
The canvas shook, gathered itself into
great folds and disappeared in the shad-
ows from which he had Just stepped.
The air car stood revealed-a star
Ting. because wholly unique, vision.
Long did Sweetwater survey il, then
turning with q beaming face upon the
wstchful inventor. he uttered loud "Hur-
rah!"
Next moment. with everything forgot
ten between them save the glories of this
invention both dropped simultaneously
TO the floor and began that minute exam
nation of the mechanism necessary to
their mutual work.