Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-10
The BED Cloak.

"What results? Speak up, Sweetwa-
ter"
None. Every man. woman ard boy
connected with the hotel has been uues-
toned; many of them routed out of their
beds for the purpose, but not one of them
picked up anything from the floor of
the lobby, or knows Of any one VINO did. -
There now remain the guests"
and after them-pardon me, Mr.
Gryce-the general public which rushed
in rather promiscuously last night"
II krcW it: it's a task, but it must be
carried through. Put up bulletins, pub
lish your wants in the papers-do any
thin6, only gain your end"
\ bulletin was put up
Some hours later Sweetwater re-entered
the room. and, approaching Mr. Gryce
with q smile, blurted out:
- ne bulletin is a great go. / think
of course, ! can, not be sure-that It's
going 20 DO the business. I've watched
every one who stopped to read it. Many
showed ir,erest and many emotion She
seems to have had a troop Of friends. But
cmbaTra ssment, only one showed that |
thought you would like to know"
Embarra ssment? Humph. a mani
mo, a woman; a lady, sir: one OF the
transents. [ found out in a jiffy all
they could tell me about her
~ woman. We didn't expect that.
Where is she? Stin in the lobby
no, sir. She took the elevator while
was talking with the clerk.
There's nothing in it. You mistook
her EXPIRE 'er."
Il do rk SO, J had noticed her
when sh, .-..t came into the lobby. She
was talking to her daughter. who was
with her, and looked natural and happy.
But no sooner had she seen and read that
bulletin than the blood shot up into
her face and her manner became lurtive
and hasty. There was no installing the
difference, sir. Almost before | could
point her out, she had seized her daugh-
ter by the arm and hurried her toward
the elevator. | wanted to follow her, but
you may prefer to make your own in
quiries. Her room is on the seventh floor,
number ~. and her name is Watkins.
Mrs. Horace Watkins, Of Nashville"
Mr.. Gryce nodded thoughtfu!ly, but
made no immediate effort to rise.
is that all you know about herr" he
asked
Yes. this is the first time she has
stopped AT this hotel, She came yester-
day Took a room indefinitely. Seems
all right but she did blush sir never
saw its heat in a young girl
can the desk. Say that I'm TO he told
if Mrs. Watkins, Of Nashville. rings up
during the next ten minutes. Ven give
her that long to.take some action If she
fails to make any move, I'll make my own
approaches.
But he returned almost instantly.
Mrs Watkins has just teiephoned down
that she is going TOTO leave, sir.
''"ro Ieave?"
The old man struggled to his feet. NO
~, do you say? Seven stories he
sighed But as he turned with a hobble,
he stopped. There are difficulties in the
way of this Interview" he remarked
"A blush is not much to go upon I'm
afraid we shall have to resort to the
shadow business and that is your work
not mine"
But here the door opened and boy
brought in a line which had been left
at the desk. 1t related to the very mat
ter then engaging them, and ran thus:
Il see that information is desired as
to whether any person was seen to stoop
to the lobby floor last'night at or shortly
after the critical moment of Miss Chal-
toner's fall in the half story above
can give such information. | was in the
lobby at the time, and in the height of
the confusion following this alarming in
cident, I remember seeing a lady-one
Of the new arrivals There were several
coming in at the time quickly
down and pick up something from the
floor | thought nothing of IT at the time
and so paid little attention to her APP
pearance. / can only recall the sudden
ness with which she stopped and the color
of the cloak she wore. 1t was red, and
the whole garment was voluminous. If
YOU wish further particulars-thOugh in
truth. have no more to give, you can find
me in room 1856
HENRY A. NJ ELROY."
"Humph, This should simplify our
task" was Mr.. Gryce's comment. as he
handed the note over to Sweetwater
"You can easily find out if the lady now
on the point Of departure, can be iden-
tilted with the one described by Mr. Nc
Elroy II she can, am ready to meet
her anywhere
Here goes them cried Sweetwater
and quickly left the room.
When he returned, it was not with his
most hopeful air
To be Continued in Next Issue