Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-20
By Louis joseph Vance
Author of 1.-The Brass BowL "
"No Mans Land, . Etc.

her defense a complete confession of the
manner by which she had become ac-
4 ouainted with Crittenden and Rhode.
Madame Savaran attending to the recital
with the comforting expression OF a
hanging Judge At its conclusion she
preened herself, elevated her brows,
pursued her lips and shifted disapprov-
ingly.
you're a Very unwise young woman"
she announced severely. THAT I'd prob
ably have done precisely as you did,
under the circumstances. has nothing to
do with the case. Young women, partic-
ularly those as attractive as you, ought
to have more sense. I've a great mind
TO read YOU a lecture. but inasmuch as
your silly impudence brought you to me.
haven't got the nerve to do it. Which
proves I'm a sentimental old fool. But
don't tell anybody; they'd never believe
you. Now run along and shut
your door: positively cannot sleep with
all this hair on my head and I'm not
sure enough of your affection to let you
Sc me without my wig. There,
now you know all; I've put myself in
your power completely; you've but to
breathe a word of that hideous secret
to humble my poor silly, old vanity
to the dust Besides, you'll have found
It out. soon or late. So what's the
odds?
Late in the afternoon she disturbed
Cynthia, who had dropped off into a semi
waking in her berth. by ringing for ST.
DOME. The girl rose and redressed at
leisure, with perhaps a little extra care
prompted by thoughts she refused to
recognize. When at length presentable
she knocked at the communicating door
and was by madame's voice hidden to
enter.
The retired dressmaker. in negligee,
was undergoing assiduous primping at
the hands of her maid.
Don't wait for me, child" she ad-
vised. ct shall be hours getting ready
to appear in public; there's no fool. you
know. like-like a woman of so. who's
animal has done her bungling best for
me. 1 shall put in my routine hour
writing my memoirs"
Cynthia said Memoirs with the
normal ascending infection.
Merely another of my foibles. my
dear; il amuses me to set down in writ
| ing something of what I've learned in
the world. You've no idea what an
amazing amount of scandal percolates
through a fashionable dressmaking
establishment like Blessington's."
Z a
eye as she tapped the leather-bound
writing case on the nearby stand IF
that were ever to be put into print"
She rolled her fine eyes in eloquent hor-
ror after that-the Deluge!'
"Then you don't mean to publish"
What! Submit my spelling and
punctuation to the public~eye? l guess
mott! She shook her old head viva
ciously. Never while I live, child.
Simply for my own diversion, to recall
the time when 1 was a real power in the
land. But remember-not a word Of
this to that red-headed rascal of SON.
in-law of mine If he suspected-he'd
sell his soul Off he has one) for a sight
of the manuscript. He has real talent
for blackmail, that one.
There was a look in Sidonie's small
close-set eyes that Cynthia did not
like; a little hare-up of avaricious
malicious fire. swiftly and prudently ex-
tinguished.
you should be very careful" Cynthia
began slowly.
But Madam Savaran's quickness of
perception was inimitable. Don't think
for an instant 1 trust this creature, !"
she interrupted instantly. Under lock
and key-thats my motto where she's
concerned. Oh, we know one another
but 1 know Sidonie better than she
dreams"
The lightning-quick flash of hateful
fire from the maids eye signalized the
entry of another mark to the debit of
Cynthia in Sidonies black-books.
Disturbed, the girl withdrew pursued
by animated compliment and admoni-
ton.
BE careful you don't let that oaf
of a captain see you in that captivating
get-up. my dear. You're far too fas-
cinating to be permitted at large, and
I'm too old to be running after you
continually.
Flushed and smiling, Cynthia fed
from fiattery only to encounter it on
deck in another guise, perhaps less full
some, but certainly no less persistent
Perez was there when she emerged
from the companion door. A single
movement of his hand, apparently, was
enough to take the cigarette from be-
tween his lips, flick it over the rail and
remove his cap, as he caught sight OF
and FASTENED toward her.
Since luncheon, when he had appeared
| in q sober-colored business suit, the
Brazilian had changed to a costume of
white hannels, white shirt of silk, and
! white leather shoes, in which his we'll
/ prOpOrt1OneO ana Well-pOlSeO DOuy ONi6u
a SUGGESTION of distinction even more
marked than had been noticeable at first
In view Of his weight, his 1.-the ease Of
action was peculiar and striking. And
neither the regularity of his features
nor the rich dusk of his complexion lost
any effectiveness through the change OF
costume.
His manner was open, friendly, and
frank, tinged with just the right eff
/ feet of pleasure in their meeting. And
yet. seeing him, Cynthia hesitated i'm
percepitbly, wishing either Perez or her
/ self elsewhere. She was certain he had
pot on his best for her, Of demeanor as
we'll as of clothing, as we'll as that he
/ had been waiting for her there; indeed
/ his attitude, while deferential enough,
| made no denial of these facts And the
! consciousness of them affected the girl
unpleasantly, though she could hardly
have declared in what way or why. 1t
wasn't that she felt active aversion for
/ the man; she didn't know him well
/ eonugh to have formed a real dislike
/ for him, nor had she been greatly in
/ huenced by Madame Savaran's shrewd
/ appraisal But an illogical, unreason-
able. inexplicable quality of submerged
I feminine judgment sounded to her its
\ warning, deep beneath the surface of
/ her senses, as unmistakable as the
! monitions of the submarine bell-saiyng,
/ Here is one to be wary of.
Then, too, she was influenced by dis