Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-24
TODAY S INsTALLMENT.

Betty, dear. 1 didn't bring you here"
he said gently Don't you remember? You
slipped away from my side when the light
went out and got away thank heaven-a
week ago. Betty. Do YOU realize that?"
week ago, Jack? What do you
mean?' She raised her face from her
hands and looked at him with wide eyes.
"A week.
Had he ever been mad enough to enter
tain the thought of her guilt? Looking
at her now, Rimington knew that, what
ever he had dreaded during the time Of
hideous tension in the house in Tempest
street, whatever fears had racked him
during these past black days, now, face
to face with her. the thoughts had been
blasphemy.
Yes, dear a week, he said You We
heard how fear and pain have turned
peoples hair white in night Betty and
the fear and pain of that night have
robbed you of a week of life. For a week,
ever since YOU came home that awful
night you have been like q little child
the Betty of ten years ago. Or. Hardinge
hardly dared to hope the gates would roll
back again for YOU.
"A week out of life You mean that
my memory went for week? Jack, |
'ou uluti Stdltl, L cal 1dIulN DelleNe IL.
] can remember nothing, only that the
light went out and that you we're near
me"
Nothing nothing at all, Betty" He
hardly dared to press her-she looked so
forlorn, so fragile; yet she was the Betty
he loved, must always love, come what
might, and, for ali his remorse of a mo-
ment since he dreaded lest she might slip
away from him onte again into those
strange, pale distances of the gray bor
derland where her little feet had been
straying
only vague, terrifying dream"
As gently as he could he told her all
he knew. all that Mrs Rimington had told
him Of her return. But he did not dare
to mention the Lake of Blood, nor tell of
the man who lay beneath the shadow Of
the rope-yet.
Nothing to Fear.
But can you remember nothing" he
asked her Dear heart why were YOU in
Tempest street at all? Betty. why do YOU
tremble? There's nothing to be afraid OF
- want YOU to understand that-noth-
ing
He spoke with conviction She had
nothing 10 fear. because though she was
the victim Of some terrible coincidence
though The ugly octopus of mystery had
swept its coils about her as it had about
himself, Of any participation in the lrag-
edY that had taken place in that house
Of the clocks she was as innocent as he
knew himself to be. The conviction came
TO him with as absolute certainty as
though an angel mad descended from
heaven to confirm it,
No oh am afraid Everything is
SO vague black and vague and menacing
What did happen, Jack? You were there
and that thing at my feet It didn't
seem human like a broken marionette
4 man-that old man-done to death SO
horrible and evil as he was-I had knife
in my hand-you saw. Jack?"
Her eyes met his with a pitifu eager
ness, almost as though She hoped for
contradiction
Il saw yes, he broke out, eagerly
But before darling before What hap
pened first, Betty? Try TO tell me; so
much depends upon it,
\ change came over the girls face.
"Oh, don't know don't know, she
repeated II seem to see everything
through veil a mist Only when you
Showed me the bag, | remembered the
house with its clocks. the quiet room
with the Jewels on the table, and-it"
You can't even remember why YOU
went 10 Tempest street," Rimington
cried, aghast.
Betty hesitated Then as he repeated
mis- question:
YES ] can remember that she said;
but with a sudden little gesture of