Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-28
TODAY s INSTALLMENT.

Betty's lover Jack Riming ton-Betty
herself weighed very lightly in the scales
against Tony-Tony and little Phil-her
husband and child. It wasn't treachery--
1t wasn't-it wasn't, 1t was sheerest ne
cesslty Of self preservation tHat demand
ed her action-and not self-preservation
alone-the preservation of Tonys happi-
ness Tony and little Phil
rlusDand and child!
With that rallying cry she had crushed
down all remorse, all sense Of protesting
honor and had sat down and written her
anonymous letter to the police. slipping
out long, long after midnight through the
sleeping house to post It in the pillar box
outside the lodge gates.
Little wonder that she dreaded to meet
Betty's ewes
Living there in the loneliness of the
darkened room. Edith Darlington burst
into tears-tears that drenched her cheeks
and hands with hot rain, but brought
no relief The bubble of her sophistrY
had burst suddenly To what had she
come? For weeks she had been living
in an inner world of bitterness. and to
that bitterness was added the sting of re-
morse. Until last night she had at least
been innocent. but now
The sudden opening Of the door broke
in on her thoughts. She turned hastily
on the couch, burying her tear-stained
face deeper in the shelter of the cushions.
A Startling Call
Mrs. Darlington? Are you here,
MN"
It was the soft voice of Betty's maid
Yes. Edith Barrngton's first i'm
pulse had been to feign sleep. but some
instinct prompted her to speak. IT am
~ at
Yes, MN You're wanted on the tele-
phone Name of Bradford
Bradford Mrs harrington started
from the couch TIN coming. Did YOU
answer the call, Jane
mo, MN Hodson.
Edith could hear the sound of voices
from the dining room as she slipped
through the hall Thank goodness there
was no fear of interruption. for the next
twenty minutes the family were safe at
the luncheon table
She went into the steward $ room. where
the telephone was. and drew the door be
hind her. the latch was defective, and
the little noise II made as she tried to
close it drowned the sound of the open
Ing of another door at the other side of
he hall Her hand shook as she took
up the receiver, and her voice was un-
steady a s she made her call She dreaded
the smooth -tongued. shifty-looking solicit
Tor more than she dreaded the man in
prison She had not forgotten a look she
had surprised in his eyes the day he had
net her al the police court when she
visited Levasseur. Levasseur she knew,
or thought she did-his worst and his bet t.
ter side But this man was an enigma
she dreaded the potential backmailer in
1, bo L. Il ,la1 To 4 her
self of belief that he knew something
of that mysterious hush money that lay
still locked away in her jewel case up
stairs gloated over 1T, hungered for it,
Amazing News,
"Hauoa. Is that Mrs Darlington?
Even over the wires the smooth voice
was unmistska bile Bradford speaking
James Bradford
Il am Mrs harrington.
"Ahl With reference to our client, Mrs
Darlington Have YOU heard are YOU
WARE of what has occurred
NO To what do YOU allude@'
"Well"-the fsr-otf. tinklinu voice hest
.sted-"Mr, LeVasseur it appears, has
made his escape from prison"
"Escaped!" The receiver almost dropped
rom Edith 8arrnqton's hand A vision
anne to her of LeVasseur, like a wild
beast in ambush waiting to spring,
yes We thought it possible he might
nave communicated with you?' The
statement was a question
why should he communicate with me 4!
! know nothing Of his escape nothing
do you understand? nothing"
"Ah thanks! l am sorry to have trou-
bled YOU in the matter. then. Good by.
They had rung off in Lincoln's Inn
Fields but for a second or two Edith
harrington stood with the receiver in her
hand-a woman incapable of movement
Then when presently, with slow, me
chanical actions like those Of an automa
ton. she did hang up the receiver and
turn. she recoiled with a guilty start.
Tony
Darlington. who was standing in the
doorway. came forward Once again. as
she looked at his smiling face, Edith had
hat disturbing impression as of man
whose smiles were worn now as a mask
i've been looking for YOU all over the
place Edith" he said. II brought your
luncheon tray in myself but you vanished
into Space.
"I-I-" Her trembling lips refused 10
frame any lei. any excuse Nor did Bar
rington wait for one. He turned and pre-
eeded her out of the room.