Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-10-03
Initials Only" By Anna katherine Creme
A Thrilling Mystery Story Of Modern Times

q Aopl anu ny BOOu rights ought TO ack
hokledge his defeat and return to head
quarters. But he had too much spirit
for that. He would rather-yes he would
rather face the pistol he had once seen
in his enemy's hand Yet it was hard
to sit here waiting. waiting
| Suddenly he started upright He would
go meet his fate-be present in the room
! itself when the discovery was made
which threatened to upset all his plans
| He was not ashamed of his calling, and
| Brotherson would think twice before at
| lacking him when once convinced that
he had the department behind him.
| Excuse me, comrade." were the words
with which he endeavored to account for
| his presence at Brothersons door. MY
! lamp smells so, and I've made such a
mess of my work today that I've Just
stepped in for a chat. If I'm not wanted,
! say so. l don't want to bother you but
| you do look pleasant here I hope the
thing I'm turning over in my head-every
man has his schemes for making a for
| tune, you know-will be a success some
day I'd like big room like this, and a
lot Of books, and-and pictures.
Craning his neck, he took a peep at
the shelves, with an air of open admira-
ton which effectually concealed his real
purpose. What he wanted was to catch
one glimpse of that empty space from
| his present standpoint. and he was both
| aStoniShed and relieved to note how mar
row and inconspicuous 1t looked. Ger
tainly, he had less to fear than he sup
| posed, and when, upon Mr. Brotherson's
invitation, he stepped into the room, it
was with dash of his former audacity,
which gave him, unfortunately, perhaps a
quick, strong and unexpected likeness to
| his old self
| But if Brotherson noticed this. nothing
| in his manner gave proof of the fact.
| Though usually averse to visitors. espe-
| cially when employed as at present on
his precious model he quite warmed to-
ward his unexpected guest and even led
the way to where it stood uncovered on
the table
you find me at work" he remarked.
Il don't suppose you understand any but
your own"
IF you mean to ask if understand
what you're trying TO do. there, I'm free
| to say that | don't [ couldn't tell now.
offhand, whether it's an air ship you're
| planning, a hydraulic machine or-or--'
He stopped, with a laugh. and turned to-
ward the book shelves. "NoW here's what
| like. These books Just take my eye
Look at them then. l like to see
man interested in books. Only. | thought
if you knew how to handle wire, / would
get you TO hold this end while ! work
with the other"
| 81 guess I know enough for that was
Sweetwater's gay rejoinder
But when he felt that communicating
wire in his hand and experienced for the
first time the full influence of the others
eye, it took all his hardwood to hide the
| 1,
smiled and chatted, he could not help
asking himself between whites, what had
killed the poor washerwoman across the
court, and what had killed Miss ChaI-
loner. Something visible or something
: invisible? Something which gave warning
of attack, or something which struck in
silence He found himself gazing long
and earnestly at this mans hand, and
wondering If death lay under it. 1t was
a strong hand delft clean cut member,
formed to respond to the slightest hint
from the powerful brain controlling it.
But was this It's whole story. Had he
said all when ne said this?
Fascinated by the question. Sweetwater
died 9 hundred deaths in his awakened
fancy, as he followed the sharp short in
structions which fell with cool precision
from the others lips \ hundred deaths,
L say, buI Win no bStIdSdl Oh MS lBllN.
The anxiety he showed was that of one
eager to please, which may explain why
ON the conclusion of his task Mr.. Broth
erscn save him one of his nfrequent
smilo,, and remarked, as he buried the
model under It's cover. You're handy and
you're quiet at your job. Who knows but
that | shall want you again. VIII you
come if l can you?"
Wont I?' was the gay retort. as the
detective thus released, stopped for the
| book still lying on the floor. "Paolo
and Francesca" he read from the back,
as ne laid it on the table. Poetry"
he queried.
Rot" scornfully returned the other,
as he moved to take down a bottle and
some glasses from a cupboard let into
another portion of the wall,
Sweetwater taking advantage of the
moment. sidled toward the shelf where
that empty space still gaped with the
tell tale hole at the back. lie could easily
have replaced the missing book before Mir
Brotherson turned. But the issue was too
doubtful He was dealing with no absent
minded fool. and it behuoved him to avoid
above ali things calling attention to the
book or TO the place on the shelf where
it belonged.
But there was one thing he could do
and did. Reaching out a finger deft as
BrothersOn's own, he pushed second
volume into the place of the one that was
gone This yelled the augur hole com
pletely; > fact which SO entirely re
lieved his mind that his old smile came
back like sunshine to his lips, and II
was only by a distinct effort that he
kept the dancing humor from his eyes
as he prepared to refuse the glass which
Brotherson now brought forward
None of that" said he. You must
not tempt me. The doctor has shut
down on all kinds of spirits for two
months more, at lease. But don't let
me hinder you. l can bear to smell the
stuff My turn will come again some
day"
But Brotherson did not drink. Setting
down the glass he carried he took up
the book lying near, weighed it in his
hand and laid it down again. with an
! air of thoughtful inquiry. Then he sud
denly pushed it toward Sweetwater.
"Do you want IT." he asked.
Sweetwater was too taken aback to
answer Immediately. This was move he
did not understand Want it, he? What