Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-26
BY A. H. G. MITCHELL.
TO-DAY'S INSTALLMENT.
Copyright, 1918, by International News
Service

Did you git a letter fun Mr.. Bud
All mean Mr. Gordon, Mis- Mildred?
asked the eolored boy after the car
was fairly in motion.
Yes, Steve, I'll read it to you; and
I'm going back with you in order to
tell Mr.. Gray, the superintendent, and
Mrs, Ward, the housekeeper, about it
Arriving at the huge granite edifce,
Mildred learned that Gray had round
ed up every available man on the
place and had started off with them
on a systematic hunt for the missing
man. Asking Steve to tell Mrs. Ward
that she was there, Mildred was soon
Joined by the housekeeper, to whom
she impaired the news and then sat
down to breakfast with her while Steve
ran off to bring back the searching
party.
When Gray returned Mildred read
the letter she had received to him. If
she had allowed him to read it, the
level headed superintendent might
have discovered the simple crypto-
gram and headed a party that would
have rescued Gordon in Jig time but
Mildred chung to the letter as though
it was the most precious thing in the
world and would not allow 1t to go out
of her hand.
It was decided that, as Gordon had
explicitly told them not to search for
him at present, 1t might be fatal to
the captive If they disobeyed orders,
so matters were allowed to rest as
they were, pending the receipt of fur
Their news from Gordon.
Gray Is Cautious.
Somebody has kidnapped him" de-
clared Gray, and they expect to make
a fortune If that is the case we viii
be hearing from them mighty quick
anG when we do We will make our
plans accordingly"
Gray was \ big, hearty man. full OF
action but cautious when caution was
required. In the meantime, Miss
Deery," he said II would advise you
not to worry. But just as soon as
you hear from Mr.. Gordan again
please let me know at once. ! will
have the telephone line fixed right
away"
Mildred was driven back to the
bungalow by Steve. She was happy
to think he was safe and we'll yet
troubled over the Yagueness and un-
certainty of things In the course
OF few days another letter came
and she promptly Informed Gray of
it's contents. 1t was apparently writ
ten in a cheerful spirit, but again
admonished them not to search for
him
That was put in there by orders
of the men who are holding him,
was Gray's comment when Mildred
read the letter to him. i wish he
could slip in some hint of where
he Is hidden and I'd have him back
here in half a day They must be
guarding him closely, Miss Deery,
for | know him well enough to know
that he would break away If they
gave him the slightest opening"
The days went by. Mildred wrote
letter to Gordon and placed it under
stone at the doorsill but when his
next letter was delivered in the dead
of night, the messenger did not take
away Mildred's letter In time Farms
worth came to the bungalow, as has
already been told, but Mildred did
not inform him of all she knew in
connection with Gordons disappear
ance. She was afraid that the pub
licity might work some harm to the
man she loved. The newspaper men
went away and more letters were re
ceiYed. They were all written in
the same spirit. Weeks passed. Mil
dred's mother returned to Atlanta
urging Mildred to return with her
but the girl refused to leave the
mountain region. She had not yet in
formed her mother of her great Sc
cret, but her mother had half guessed
1t.
One day when Mildred felt that