Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-24

uruay, smith, at MdSSoh
place" said the chief consta-
pie "On Monday at . o'clock report
there for special duty. Sir Albrid
Mason is one OF my personal friends
and l hope you will come through
with credit. You viii receive detailed
instructions from Sir Albrid himself"
John Smith went home in a gay
mood.
Mary, my lass" he said my
chance of promotion has come at
last" And his wife rejoiced with him
when she heard the news.
An right. my man" said Sir AL
brid when the constable presented
himself on Monday Come along and
I'll explain what you have to do"
Traversing a lengthy passage. they
entered a room on the ground floor at
the back of the house, overlooking a
lawn s.oping down to the river. which
at that point was sixty yards wide
Arranged on a long table down the
centre of the room was magnificent
collection of wedding presents, over
which a footman stood guard
Now. constable" said the baronet.
pointing to the table, your duty for
the week is to keep an eye on these
things. Market here will relieve you
when necessary, but you will have
your meals and sleep here. If you re-
quire anything, Market viii get 1t.
and II he Is not here pull this bell
rope. For exercise, you can get out
you must lock the door and not get
out of sight of the window. Is all
that clear"
Very good, sir; quite under
stand"
John Smiths first action when he
was alone was to make a careful sur
vey of the many treasures left in his
charge. Mentally he calculated what
he imagined 10 be the value OF the
collection, and the total surprised him.
THE MEALS GOOD.
The meals provided were of tho best
and there appeared to be no likeli-
hood OF anything occurring TO cloud
the horizon of his peaceful dream.
After tea. as he stood at the win
dow, a man in a brown suit emerged
from the opposite side OF the river
and walked up and down with droop-
ing head. as If in deep thought.
Presently he drew book from his
pocket, and, climbing on the trunk
OF tree which overhung the water,
settled down to a comfortable read.
Lucky man. thought the watcher
at the window. Il wonder who he
is" And ne determined to ask Mark
lot at the first opportunity
After tea the next day, the meal
being brought in precisely at half
past FIVE, Constable John Smith
walked to the window and was at
once Interested in seeing the same
brown-clad figure emerge from the
same spot under the trees and so
through the same movements, finally
settling down to the enjoyment of a
book on the convenient tree-trunk.
"I don't know him at all" said
Market. Sir Albrid and Mr.. Platts,
the owner of the land across there.
are not very friendly and little 10
known about the family. He may be
ono of the sons-I hear there are sew
eral-and comes there for bit OF
quiet"
BY Saturday the monotony OF the
duty began to pail on John Smith.
His only distractions during the
week had been the bringing In OF
fresh vaIuables to add to the impos-
ing display on the table. and tho
daily watch for the man across tho
water. who appeared so regularly
that he became a silent companion
for the man on special duty.
As q wind-up to the festivities, Sir
Albrid had arranged for sports to be
held on Saturday evening for his
tenants and house servants The
course was married. out In field
about a hundred yards from the front
Of the house, and as the time ap-
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