Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-26

she could stand the suspense no lon
ger and was on the point Of yielding
TO Gray's entreaties TO start a bus
iness-like hunt for the captive, she
discovered the simple cryptogram.
What a little fool I've been" she
cried. She had, of course, noticed
that Gordon had begun every line
Of bis letters with a capital letter
but the reason for it had entirely
escaped her Now. of course. it was
as plan as day and she almost cried
at her own stupidity in not solving
the riddle long ago. She had saved
every letter and was reading them
over for the several hundredth time
when she made the discovery. She
procured pencil and paper and wrote
down the Instructions
Five miles northwest my home, 3"
the first letter said, reading down
the lines of capital letters. Three
miles due west road meets creek"
read the second letter. Sharp rise
hundred yards then down." said third
Cabin midst copse few trees: four
captors," said the fourth, There were
two more letters continuing further
hints.
Mildred called Elmer and told him
to bring the runabout, and together
they went to the mansion to find
Gray. They were told that he had
gone to Atlanta on business, but
would return next day. On the way
home Elmer said:
Lets not wait for Mr.. Gray. Let's
find Gordon and rescue him our
selves"
You foolish boy" replied Mildred.
They would capture us, too, and then
what a fine pickle we would be in. We
must wait for Mr.. Gray and he will
take plenty of men with him"
Elmer Would Fight.
ooh shucks, Mildred" exclaimed the
lad. Gee whiz. I could take your
rifle and you could take your revolver
and we could sneak up and catch
them off their guard and rescue the
prisoner. Come on, Mildred; let's do
it,"
I'm afraid your spirit is better
than your judgment Elmer" said
Mildred with a sigh. Goodness
knows / hate TO wait until Mr.. Gray
gets back, but l don't see what else
we can do"
Elmer kept teasing all the way
home and when they arrived he
brought forth his fathers maps of
the region and they spent a long time
pouring over them trying to figure
out the exact spot where they thought
Gordon was held a captive.
BE game Mildred" said Elmer re-
turning to the attack. "Only four men
are there. We can get the drop on
them easy"
stop talking nonsense, child, or
you'll make me cross with you cried
Mildred. If your father was here l
would willingly let him get a force
at the mansion and start out without
waiting for Mr.. Gray" Sheppard was
in Chattanooga and would not return
for two days. Run away now, FL
mer and leave me alone. want to
think this all out by myself" added
Mildred
1t was only Gordon's cheerful let
ters that had prevented Mildred from
going distracted. The situation had
been a most peculiar one. In every
one Of the letters Gordon had told
her not to begin a search for him
and she had been afraid to ignore
his request. Gray had insisted more
than once on taking the matter in
his own hands, but Mildred had fatty
move
He is writing these letters to me,
Mr.. Gray, and they clearly say not to
seek him" she told him the last time
they had talked the matter over.
THAT is because he was forced to
write it, otherwise they wouldn't have
delivered the letters" replied the su
perintendent. IF he doesn't turn up
soon, Miss Deery, I'm going to take
matters on my own hands"
ITO Be His Wife"
please don't MIR. Gray" she plead
ed. II am sure something dreadful
would happen if you failed, and we
would never see him again"
That's all right, Miss Deery. But in
a way l am responsible for his safe
ty With you it is different"
Yes, 1t is different, Mr. Gray"
she replied quietly. Il have promised
to be his wife"
Gray's eyes opened wide at this
piece of Information, and Mildred ad-
ded: please say nothing about it. !
only tell you so that you can under
stand how vitality interested l am in
his welfare"
Sitting alone on the porch the day
she discovered the hidden meaning in
Gordon's letters, Mildred went over
the whole situation IN her mind Gray
was absent. Sheppard was absent.
lon ha1 1,V,