Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-23
Initials Onl y :" = By Anna katherine Greer
A Thrilling Mystery Story Of Modern Times


breeding, might see in such a situation
much for regret, if not for active despair
ana the suicidal act. He gave no evil
dence OF this thought. however but. fol-
loWed up the one admission made by Mr..
brotherson which he and others must
naturally view as of the first Importance.
You saw Miss Challoner lift her hand
you say Which hand, and what was in
it? Anything?''
She lifted her right hand, but it would
be impossible for me to tell you whether
there was anything in it or not. | simply
saw the movement before l turned away
1t looked like one of alarm to me- l felt
that she had some reason for this. She
could not know that it was in repentance
came rather than in fulfilment of my
| threat"
A sigh from the adjoining room. Mr..
Brotherson rose, as he heard it. and in
doing so met the clear eye of Sweetwater
hxed upon his own. Its language was no
doubt, peculiar and it seemed to fasci-
nate MN for moment, for he started
as II to approach the detective but for
SOCK TINS intention almost Immediately
and addressing the coroner, gravely re-
marked:
Her death following so quickly upon
THIS abortive attempt of mine at an inter-
| view startled me by its coincidence as
much as it does you. If in the weakness
of her woman's nature, it was more than
| this-tf the scorn she had previously
shown me was a cloak she instinctively
assumed to hide what she was not ready
| to disclose, my remorse will be as great
! as any one here could wish But the
proof of all this will have to be very con-
Vlnclng before my present convictions
Will yield to it, Some other and more
poignant source will have to be found for
that instants impusive act than is sup
| piled by this story of my unfortunate at
| tachment."
Dr. Heath was convinced. but he was
willing to concede something to the secret
demand made upon him by Sweetwater,
who was bundling up his papers with
much clatter.
Looking up with a smile which had ele-
ments in it he was hardly conscious of
perhaps himself he asked in an off hand
way:
Then why did you take such pains to
wash your hands of the affair the moment
you had left the hotel?"
Il do not understand"
! You passed around the corner into
-- street did you note"
Very likely. | could go that way as
well as another.
And YOU stopped at the first lamp
post?"
"Oh, see. Someone saw that childish
action of mine"
What did you mean by it?"
Just what you have suggested | did
go through the pantomime of washing my
hands of an affair | considered definitely
| ended l had resisted IN .r~epressble
n ta1k Win icSH oil
| Toner again, and was pleased with my
| firmness. Unaware of the tragic blow
| which had just fallen, | was full of self
congratulate at my escape from the
charm which had lured me back to this
hotel again and again in spite of my bet
ter judgment, and | wished to symbolic
my relief by an act of which | was, in
another moment ashamed. Strange tina
| there should have been a witness to it.
| (Here he stole al look at SweetwaterD
Stranger still. that circumstances by the
most extraordinary of condolences, should
have given so unforeseen a point to it
You are right. Mr. Brotherson The
whole occurrence is startling and most
| strange But life is made UP of the un-
expected, as none know better than we
| physicians, whether our practice be of d
| public or private character"
As Mr.. BrOtherson left the room. the
curiousity to which he had yielded once
before. led him to cast a glance of pene-
trating inquiry behind him full at Sweet
water and if either felt embarrassment
| it was not the hunted but the hunter.
But the feeling did not last.
I've simply met the strongest man
I've ever encountered" was Sweetwater' 5
encouraging comment to himself IAN
the more glory if l can find joint in his
armour or hidden passage to his cold
secretive heart"