Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-02
0CCiEReeE1EE
delights Of

before setting down to the Delights OF
his stolen banquet. .....s ~. q
Ahead of him was hiilock made up
of broken powders in whose inches a
man could elude a whole Gordon of
police. And toward this hillock Eagan
ran. --
His way took him along a rocky bit
of beach, where he most needs jump
from stone TO stone. The tide was in.
The water swirled thirstily among the
rocks as he rushed onward. 80
He came TO a place where he could
not stride from bowlder to bowlder to
bowlder. but must jump from one TO the
next He gathered himself for the leap
and he made il in safety. But the rock
on which his 240 pounds landed was
Shiny with wet sea moss.
Sans feet slipped. Instinctly, he
threw out both arms TO steady himself.
The basket of food slipped from his out
flung arms, struck the rock and carom-
ed off into three feet of water, where
a mischievous wave promptly washed it
out of sight.
Droop-jawed. googled-eyed. Sam watch
ed his treasure vanish. For a moment
ne was dumb. Then came a rush of
words. Up and down on the slippery
rock. Sam Eagan danced. He threw his
firsts aloft. He cursed in a way that
would have been a liberal education to
an audience OF lOngshoremen and lum-
berjacks and canal boat men.
At last, his vocabulary and his voice
failed him. And he tried to remember
whether or not there had been more
than one basket of food in that picnic
lunch. On careful-and ravenous-re-
Elections. he rather thought there had
been a second basket. And he turned
hungrily back toward the spot he had
so nimbly quilted a few minutes ear
lier.
Nama, meantime, had at last freed
himself OF his tablecloth winding sheet:
clearing away the last folds of il from
his head and face, Just as the three
women returned. Loudly and dramatical-
", he told them what had befallen him.
And, at discovery that the food basket
was gone, his voluble Indignation re-
doubled.
Some one has played a silly practical
joke on YOU" decided Mrs. Travis. ct
an going to the coastguard station be-
low here TO ask if any one there did.
H. Nama. she continued, go back TO
the car an6 ask if Gavroche saw any
body run in that direction with the
basket"
Left alone, June and Mary stared at
each other i'm dumb establishment Then.
al at once, the funny side of the mis-
hap struck June. she threw back her
head and laughed
The daring cleverness of the thief an
called to the newly awakened criminal
ity in her nature. And, as she laughed.
the Red Circle began to throb and glow
ola the back of her hand
sam Eagan, having crawled as near
as ne dared, to the spot where he still
hoped 10 find food. caught sight of
June and heard her gay laughter. He
paused. hesitant. behind a rock. de-
hating whether or not it would be safe
TO come out and throw himself upon her
mercy.
He had haIf-coined a whining speech
OF DeRitence for her benefit. when. of
a sudden, the girl cIapped her right
band across her mouth to stop her hys-
terical laugh
Clear as MONDAY sun could make il
the scarlet sign on her t1and-back flashed
forth.
"The-Red Circle gurgled Eazan.
ir stark amaze. 'The-the Red Circle!
June Travis
A CLEAN of wolfish cunning BEGAN TO
replace -he blank wonder on his face.
The crumpled lunch cloth, bereft Of
the heavy basket that had so mysteri-
ously disappeared. 7uttered defiant cor
Leaning against a rock, near the cave
entrance, Smiling Sam" rubbed a big.
knotted hand over the bristly stubble
on his chin. II was all coming too fast
for him. He was not as young, not as
agile. as In the old days. when quick
thinking and quick moving came easy.
a Red Circle on June Travis hand!"
he muttered over and over. How in
blazes can that be? what"
He crept from the protection of the
cavern-mouth and peered around the
ecSe Of the jutting rock, nearer to Mary
and June. Their excited conversation
was carried on in high-pitched tones
that easily reached the hidden listeners
ears
of all the queer things that keep
happening Mary was saying impatient-
~. Il do declare it gets on a body's
nerves"
IF you let it get on your nerves"
laughed June. its rather fun-anything
mysterious is fun
II don't call it mysterious" combated
Mary, when ] spend two hours in the
kitchen making the very kind of cakes
ycur mother loves. and that awful mix
ture of salad that you say you're Just
crazy about; and then go and have them
whisked from under my nose UP into
the sky for all J know
Heavenly food to the heavenly
throng." chanted June. mischievously.
That's not nice pious talk
Mary's sudden lapse into righteous
ness made June laugh merrily.
Il do believe you're starving hungry
That's the reason you're being such an
old crank" she gibed. my goodness!
We've got more food in the house. and If
we haven't there are shops in Surfton
Can't you look at the funny side OF it?"
There isn't any funny side" Mary
persisted. II had my mouth set for
cold, deyiled crab that was left from