Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-21

then sharply TO the ScoWllhS NdINlce.
Where is she? What became of herr"
said she was goin for a stroll in
the park there" grunted the chauffeur
Told me to wait. First made me hit
a fifty-mile clip, an then tells me to
wait while she loafs around a measly
park Funny business l call it,
(which way did she go:' persisted
Lamar.
"Down that path to the left. Funny
business, | call it, to
Lamar had already started in the di-
rection the chauffeur pointed out; and
the chief and Grant ranged alondside
of him as he STROBE along.
Wen look down this path to the
end" suggested the chief, and then
well separate and quarter the whole
park for her If she's still in here
anywhere we ought to find her. The
place isn't much more than an acre or
so. If it wasn't for these shrubs, we
could see her in three seconds. Hur-
ry. She may have left the park at the
far end"
But tnr yelled woman in black had
not left the park. She had merely left
| the park path and had crept into the
shrubbery
She sped along like black wrath;
noiseless. furitive, uncanny. Once she
raised her right hand to part some
bushes that barred her way. The hand
was small, white, infinitely graceful in
contour But on its back throboed an
angry crimson scar; outlined like an
Irregular ring.
Through the high bushes she crept;
and into a tiny glade. hemmed IN oy
shrubbery. There she halted. Deftly
she slipped out of the shapelessly en-
veloping black coat. The coat was lined
with white satin. The woman's dress
also was snow white. With quick skill
she proceeded to fold the coat inside
out, in such way that no portion of the
black was visible Then she draped II
carelessly over her white-sleeved arm.
To all intents she might merely have
been carrying a white summer wrap that
the warmth of the day rendered need
less.
.taising both hands to her head, she
undid the thick black veil, took 1t or
rolled it into a ball and tossed it into
the bushes.
4 black-clad woman, shrouded in an
inpenetrable veil, had entered the thick
ct. Less than minute later, a girl in
white dress and white toque and carry
ing on her arm a white wrap, emerged
upon the further path, and sauntered IN
leisurely fashioned toward the park OPP
posite entrance.
Once she glanced nervously at the
back of her right hand. But at once
her frown of apprehension cleared
away. The Red Circle had again become
invisible. -.
Lamar. Fastening along the path, with
Grant and the chief, saw a beautiful
girl. all in white, coming toward him
around bend in the walk At a glance
he recognized her. And, for the instant,
his quest was wholly forgotten in the
oueer little thrill that seemed to run
through his body and to center con-
strictingly about his heart. He LETT the
others to follow as they might, and ne
pressed forward alone to greet her.
"AIiss Travis" he exclaimed, clasplhs
the white hand she. held out 10 MN.
sThis is good luck! ! didn't know TINS
,aIlr was favorite walk of yours
"Oh. but it isl" laughed June Il love
IL. It's so quiet and pretty. But
didn't expect to find a busy detective
Wondering dreamily about in 1t. l
thought detectives were always -
ACrime specialist. please, Miss ira
Wis" interrupted Lamar. That Is II
YOU don't mind. If you know how
hate that word, detective!
She. became aware of his compan-
ions, who stood a pace or two distant
tuning at the delay.
II won't detain you. Mr.. Crime Spe-
cialist," she said, gayly; adding, as she
moved away: But, don't forget, you
promised to call and tell ME about your
work" 80,
"Did Won suppose 1 could forget it?"
he made answer. "And-may l call TO-
morrow afternoon? Are you going TO
why. yes Please come then. Good
| by ...
She walked on; leaving Lamar star
ing after her with a look in his eyes
that no other woman in all his thirty
busy years had been able TO evoke.
"If you're quite through with your
pink tea" ventured the chief. suppose
we go on? 1 only hope. We haven't
spent so much time googoo-eying a girl
in white that We'll be too late to eaten
the woman in black. 49,.
IF YOU come out here to cut society
capers. Mr.. Lamar" added Grant, acid
~. as they resumed their pursuit.
"Chief Allen and could have gotten on
faster without you.
Lamar heard not word that either
of them said. His brain was awhirL
He was saying foolishly over and over
to himself:
Tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow
afternoon, I'll see her"
When June reached her own nome,
her mother and Mary Cher old nurse)
were on the veranda. She hurried past
them with scarce a word and went
straight to her own room. There, from
the front of her dress. she drew out
a sheaf of papers fastened with rub
Der band. The uppermost paper of the
package was an official form, filled in
with ink. 1t read:
June -. 1915.
Seven days from date. or. June 10, l
promise to pay George Grant ten dol
lars $50, as first installment on my
lean of one hundred dollars (S10O, plus
interest at the rate of 10 per cent a
week Total payment due $50.
(Signedl JOHN l. PETERSON.
June Travis's fingers rifled the sheaf.
Most of the papers were of much the
same nature as. was the first; and for
varying sums; at eXorbitant interest.
Each document was mute witness to a
tale Of poverty and of the greedy ad-
vantage Grant had taken of such pow
erty.
Gathering up the papers June went
into her sitting room, placed chair
| IN front of a typewriter and began to
tap away at the keys. For a full hour
| she wrote--a bare nalf-dozen lines on
each sheet-addressing an envelope for
each.
This task finished. she stacked the lit
I tie pile Of letters, ready for mailing.
Without waiting to put on her hat she
ran downstairs and out of the house by
a rear door, to a nearby mail box. In
this she posted her stack of letters. and
made her way back to her sitting room,