Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-10-11
Initials Only" y By ANA katherine Creme Creme
A Thrilling Mystery Story of Modern Time,


mint. with eager eyes straining into the
shadowy depths just visible over her
shoulder, he listened eagerly for the dis
Jointed words now plainly to be heard in
some nearby but unseen chamber
The second O. BIZ he inwardly de-
CARED And he's a Brotherson also. and
SICK! Miss Scott" he whisperingly en-
treated as her hand fell in manifest de-
spar from the door, don't send me away
yet. I've a question of the greatest i'm
por'ance TO put you, and one minute more
can not make any difference TO him.
Listen. those cries are the cries of de-
llrium; he can not miss you: he's not even
conscious"
He's calling out in his sleep He's
Gaining her, just as he has called for the
last two weeks. But he will wake con-
sclous-or he will not wake at all.
The anguish trembling in that latter
phrase would have attracted Sweetwa-
ter's earnest, if not pitiful, attention at
any other time, but now he had ears only
Tor the cry which al that moment came
ringing shrilly from within
Edith! Edith"
Inc living shouting for the dead! A
heart still warm sending forth its longing
to the pierced and pulseless one. hidden in
far-oh tomb, To Sweetwater. who had
seen Miss Challoner buried. this sum
mons of distracted love came with wierd
force.
Then the present regained it's sway He
heard her name again, and this time it
sounded less like a call and more like the
welcoming cry of meeting spirits Was
death to end this separation? Had he
found the true o. B.. only to behold an
NIL ie
folded mystery? In his fear of this pos
sibility, he caught at Doris hand as she
was about to bound away, and eagerly
asked
when was Mr.. Brotherson taken i'll?
Tell me, l entreat you; the exact day and,
if you can, the exact hour More de-
Ponds upon this than you can readily
realize"
She wrenched her hand from his, pant
ing with impotence and vgaue alarm
But she answered him distinctly:
"On the 25th of last month, just an
hour after he was made manager. He
fell in a faint at the Works"
The day-the very day of Miss Chal-
lOner's death
Had he heard-did YOU tell him then
or afterwards what happened in New
York on that very date?"
mo, no; we have not told him 1t
would have killed him-and may yet"
Edith. Edith came again through
the hush, hush so deep that Sweet
water received the impression that the
house was empty save for patient and
nurse.
This discovery had it's effect upon him.
Why should he subject this young and
loving girl to further pain? He had al
ready learned more than he had expected
to- The rest would come with time But
at the first intimation he gave of leaving
she lost her distracted air and turned
with absolute eagerness toward him.
lone moment" said she You are a
stranger and do not know your name or
your purpose here. But | can not let you
go without begging you not to mention to
any one in this town that Mr.. Brotherson
has any interest in the lady whose name
we must not speak Do not repeat that
delirious cry you have heard or betray
in any way our intense and fearful in
terest in this young lady's strange death.
You have shown me a letter. Do not
speak of that letter, | entreat you Help
us to retain our secret a little longer
Only the doctor and myself know what
awaits Mr.. Brotherson if he lives. l
had to tell the doctor. but a doctor reveals
nothing. Promise that you will either. at
least till this crisis is passed. 1t will
help my father and it will help me; and
we need all the help we can get"
Sweetwater allowed himself one minute
of thought, then he earnestly replied:
81 will keep your secret for today, and
longer. if possible"
THANK YOU" she cried: thank you
| thought | saw kindness in your face"
And she again prepared to close the door.
But Sweetwater had one more ques-
ton to ask. Pardon me-" said he, as he
stepped down on the walk, you say that
this is critical day with your patient
Is that why every one whom | have seen
so far wears such a look of anxiety p"
Yes, yes" she cried. giving him one
other glimpse of her lovely, agitated face
There's but one feeling in town today,
but one hope, and as ] believe, but one
prayer. That the man whom every one
loves and every one trusts may live to
run these Works"
Edith. Edith" rose in ceaseless re-
iteration from within"
But il rang but family now in the cars
of our detective. The doors had fallen to.
and Sweetwater's share in the anxieties
of that household was over
To Be Continued in Next Issue.