Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-11

after the servile manner Of its kind about
his feet and legs: then. using his coal as
support for its claws sprang UP and
settled itself on his bent shoulder. as on a
watch-tower
A Strange Pair.
They seemed strangely in Keeping old
man and gaunt. gray-striped cat. with
this tiny shop. whose windows looked into
two Of those fast-disa ppesrng streets OF
old Westminster that survive here and
there. hidden away and dwarfed by great
modern buildings. by aaunting highways
as they stood there looking for nothing
up the street where so few feet woke the
echoes
The legend over the shop. as we'll as
several fly-blown cards in the windows
announced that it was occupied by Sam
uel Jex Goldsmith and Dealer in Anti
quities.' The various trivial articles in
the window china figures fragile. hand
less cups. divorced for all time from their
welded saucers. old fashioned iewelry
heaped together heterogeneously on, little
trays under one set price together with a
good deal OF old brass suggested that
Samuel Jax VISA dealer in a very small
way indeed
Rain was falling moi in heavy splashes
hid the vista OF the streets. The grum
bling of the thunder sounded momentarily
louder and MORE threatening following
tearing 2igzags Of lightning that lit W
the dark interior Of the shop
In the extraordinary stiffness that pre-
vailed between the thunder crashes every
sound appeared intensified The echo OF
rapid footsteps, ringing out monotonouslS
down the street. seemed almost prepos-
terously loud
Al the sound OF those approaching feet
the cat pricked up its pointed ears. and
stared out before it with round unblinl<-
ing eyes that took no heed of the light
ming shot sheets of rain. The eyes OF the
man also stared out ntently There was
something predatory in this absorbed gaze
OF man and animal.
The steps came nearer and paused out
of the solidly binding rain a man stepped
into the entrance Of the shop and greeted
Jex by name. He was umbrellaless. but
wore long white macintosh coat that
covered him from head to foot
Good heavens" he said You and
your cat-you don't appear to mind the
thunder and lightning, either of you. dc
YOU
NO. no we mind nothing OF that sort
sir. the old man said Leah Is inter
ested in the rain she has an inquirine
mind And YOU care nothing for the
vagaries of the weather neither. Mr.
SAKE"
mot
An Uncanny Moment.
The words were stilled on Saxes lips
by an almost deafening crash of thun-
der. As he followed lex into the shor
fash of lightning cut through the dark
ness OF the shop like a sword
The cat that up till now had sat un-
moved on its masters shoulder accommo-
dating itself to his every movement will
an agility born or long practice. uttered
frightened cry, and, jumping down
ran helter-sketer into the shop
Ssxe took OFF his dripping hat and shooE
IL unconcernedly on the floor
quite an operate entrance, my excel
lent Jex" he said Enter Mephis-
topheIes with thunder and Nightingale
Appropriate what? I'm expecting a
friend 10 meet me here suppose he
hasn't come yet? ] can have the room as
usual9" he added casually
Surely, sir: surely The old man
made an awkward little bow. You. OF
any friend of yours. are welcome to my
house
lie spoke with an accent Of almost
groveling servility, but there was nothing
OF servility in the glance that he cast at
SAKE. who. with his back to him, was
divesting himself of his long mackin