Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-07-04
ssIhe Gates of Silence =
,RY OF MYSTERY AND HATE, WITH THRILLING Po7-
rRAYAl LIFE BEHIND PRISON BARS

"Slnce must tell you my name-wf
you promise? No, do not think | need
ask you to do that. trust to your honor.
My name is Edmond Levasseur"
edmond LeVasseurp
Betty stopped short, staring at the
man with a frozen horror.
"MoVe on" he said beneath his breath.
"For heavens sake. don't stand there,
staring at me. Don't you know there's
a price on my head7"
| Mechanically she obeyed and he pilot
ed her along an unfrequented path under
the dripping trees. The distance before
] them stretched gray and desolate For
the moment for Betty Lumsden this was
not London; instead. before her stretch
ed the desoate sand flats of Whitecross.
the little Kentish village where Edith's
short lived romance with this man had
begun and ended
Face TO Face.
I'VE are free from eavesdroppers
here he said, and paused They faced
each other-a man and a maid engaged
in the eternal quest, an onlooker com
ing upon them in this secluded spot might
have labeled them "A surprise meeting
for you. Why, how you've grown, little
girl, and pretty, too-though trt1e peak
ed at present" He smiled odiously.
Betty recovered her self possession
with an effort
What do you want?" she demanded,
Indignantly, ignoring his offensive fami-
iarlty. Are you mad? To speak to me
of all people-have you no shame-no-"
The man gave short laugh
Il have nothing in the world but the
clothes in which l stand upright That,
l think, quite comprehensively answers
| va
plicit, l am here because l am home
less, hunted and penniless A humiliat-
ing thing to have to confess. my dear
Miss Betty--or Betty was it, in the old
days?"
The girl quivered You are insolent,"
she said is this a time to be insolent
when it lies in my power to give you
over to the first constable we meet?"
Levasseur made a gesture of his hands
and it occurred to the girl that they
we're curiously out of character, those
beautiful, olive skinned hands They
would have betrayed him. as not being
the park loafer he purported to be, to
any shrewd observer
Not SO fast, my dear girl; think Of
Edith, he said, and Edith apart. you
are too just, Miss Betty l feel sure, to
deliver up an innocent man falsely ac-
cused."
lnsoent Words.
IAN innocent mani"
Most innocent he repeated. with
hooking emphasis you women are so
apt to jump to conclusions, and label
a man guilty because his particular code
of ethics or the color of his hair dis
pleases you. Now the evidence against
your friend, Mr. Rimington, is, in my
opinion, conclusive-yet I'll warrant you
|
are grand, you women.
Betty flushed furiously
You VIII not find that attitude serve
you, she said. Naturally, I am very
| anxious to avoid any scandal regarding
my sister but there is limit to my pa
thence. I do not intend TO denounce
What generosity" he interrupted.
Yet is it altogether charitable to leave
me at large? on reflection. how. it would
have contributed to the gayety of nations;
the pretty and diverting story l should
disclose in the witness box. Pom my
word. l feel it's wrong, on moral grounds,
measure bic good a little pride-letting
would do your estimable brother law"
THE collector Of chair, tolls is very
near us. Betty. said quietly.
half mockingly yet. believe me, I am
not such rascal as you think. My at
frontery, as you can It. IS but the mask mask
since the day | forsook the hospitality of
His most gracious Majesty 1t is not
pleasant to feel every man your enemy
self in your dreams; to fear to eat lest
some popularity of face or movement dis
close your identity. A hundred times l
have been tempted to 60 back. After all
| what's the rope? l have had merry
| life3 IN warrant 1t would have a merry
close, short shift, and long, long sleep
His golden voice died away in cadence
HoafinuoI IT.