Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-12

Don't be angry with me-! she plold-
ed softly. Il can't help these things
do | don't want to worry you or
make you unhappy, dear; but this
ting. whatever il is, gets the best of
me. Don't be angry DEAR
Mary's heart softened at the helpless
ness of the plea. She put her arm
around the girl and led her down a side
street toward the Travis home. On the
way June regained her high spirits
When they reached the house the nurse
was laughing heartily-all fear and
dread forgotten.
Coming along the walk, toward the
house, June broke away from Mary and
ran up the steps to greet Mrs. Travis
who had just come through the doorway
to the porch.
where have you been, child?' asked
Mrs. Travis anxiously. 1--WE been I'M
easy about you. You and Mary go wan
dering off and forget to come home.
Stay with me little while, won't you:
I've, hardly seen you since we've been
at Surfton. Don't you ever get tired
rushing about so, dear?"
Yes, l do I'm tired right now, moth
er. Are we going to have lunch soon?
I'm starved"
at will be served in fifteen minutes
and we're going to have something that
you like, too
"What?'
Guess"
Ice cream and marrons."
Correct. The very first time. Well,
we'll! What is coming in here?"
Mrs. Travis looked toward the obser-
walton porch. She seemed to be both
perpiexed and amused Mary turned.
Irervously, and looked in the same di-
rection. June. knew, without looking.
Tearing down the path leading from
tile porch to the main entrance was
la squat, greasy figure carrying a hand
organ and pursued by a uniformed po-
liceman. Yama, the protesting butler
brought up the rear his excitement maxi
ing him accelerate his accustomed state
ly tread into a dog trot
The Italian stumbled up the steps,
tripping over his hand organ; so the
patrolman reached the little group of
women first.
Madam, / did not wish that the man
bcgEar to annoy your honorable SELF"
painted Yama, greatly distressed.
Now, that's all right, son-thats Just
all right for you," interrupted the po-
liceman. "All we want is a little de-
lscription from this lady and then we're
through. | had to bring Job Lots here
with me because he's the guy who lost
the monk. See? Now, lady," address,
my Mary, "if you wouldn't mind I'd
like detailed description of the woman
you saw with the monkey"
He took out an important looking
memorandum book and a pencil that
looked as though it had been sharpened
with a hairpin. Mrs. Travis, all at sea
lat this sudden intrusion, looked from one
TO the other, seeking an explanation
June alone seemed calm. Her mouth
90, ners twitched suspiciously as If she
were resisting a laugh, or rather, a mis-
chievous giggle.
Now, Miss Mary" repeated the Of
lficer, pompously, hair, eyes,"
This woman had bright, red hair"
began Mary staring fixedly at June's
brown head, land blue eyes. But L
didn't see any circle on her hand. as you
talked of down on the beach and as the
Italian seemed to think"
well, no, Of course not. That's easily
understood, the patrolman had sleuth
ambitions also. You were too far away
from her. You didn't know it was there
so you weren't looking for 1T. And
again the light may have been so that
you couldn't have seen it even If you
had looked See? All those things
might have happened" he wound up
Importantly.
"of course they might" echoed June,
coming forward your argument is
very logical officer
"Thank you, Miss" stammered the
amateur crime specialist. Good day
Good day to you, ma am.
He swung around with almost mill
tary manner and dragged the half-dead
Pietro off the porch. June watched them
go, a gayly distainful smile on ner
lips. AS they disappeared from VIEW
she swayed catching at the back OF
chair for support.
"June! Darling, you're faint! Mrs.
Travis put her arm around her III
alarm.
"Faint? Yes, faint for want of food
rho Girl declared, laughing forcedly.
MARY. will YOU come up with me and
fix my wind-mopped tresses betore
lunCh?' -
Mrs. Travis wondered at the exag-
geratedly light tone. But before she
bed a chance to question further, June
blew her a kiss and disappeared up Ine
stairs. pulling the expostulating nurse
after her. .,.
I'm in the bedroom her gayety
dropped from her suddenly. She pushed
the painting Mary into a chair and knelt
on the floor at her feet, leaning ner
elbows in the old woman's lap. her
chin in her hands, she looked out the
window over the sunlit ocean.
"I wonder what Mr.. Lamar is doing
in the city" she said dreamily. i
wonder if he has caught the Woman In
Blacky'
And leaning up against the pillar OF
the house where 1.-THE Woman in Black
lived, Lamar, blowing rings of cigarette
smoke skyward, unused:
81 wonder what June is doing. l
wonder If she is thinking of me-?
His dreams were pleasant. Knowing
that his quarry was safe in the house
and that she seemed unsuspicious OF
being trailed, Lamar did not see the use
for any extra trick work. Reclining
against a stone pillar is not such an
uncomfortable pastime if one has pleas
ant things to think about.
huge automobile truck, loaded with
iron Orders, bumped over the cobble-
stones. The harsh, ear-racking sound
shattered his dreams, rudely. Lamar
stood erect, threw his cigarette into the
middle of the street and buttoned the
lower button of his sack coat.
He was trying to make up his mind
what would be the easiest way to trap
this woman. There might be other