Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-04-04

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eXpressionless, at the door, held out his
hat Max took it and tilted it at just
the proper angle-then he and June left
the house. chatting merrily.
Upstairs at the window of the girls
sitting room, Mary stood behind the
draperies, motionless. and watched them
go. Fear had dulled her thinking pow
ers But suddenly the tempest burst in
her brain. Falling on her knees, she
raised aloft her wrinkled hands and
prayed aloud.
God, he suspects her! There is dan
ger for my little girl. God. tell me what
to do! God-hear me in my trouble
tell me what to do!'
From far down the street the echo of
June's merry laugh came back to her
as she prayed in agony.
You will remember precisely where
she passed you?" Lamar was saying,
suavely. You see. ordinarily, it is
enough to remember just about where
a thing happened. But when you're
tracking criminals it must be exactly
where"
IF YOU become any more professional
and technical / shall get so mixed up
| won't remember anything" June warn
ed him. jokingly. I'm all shivering
right now! I'm thinking it great fun
to be a sleuth."
Really" observed Lamar cycling her
keenly. II trust you will continue to
find it great fun Miss Travis"
Here cried June mock-dramatical-
ly. right on this spot is where l should
say passed the yelled woman in black
that is, where she passed me, i mean"
She was pointing a tragic forefinger
at small spot in the tagging. AS her
eyes met Lamars coldly skeptical gaze
she broke into a mischievous little tit
ter. But almost Immediately the laugh
died on her lips; her face faded to an
ashen gray, her eyes closed convulsive-
ly. and when they opened again there
was terror in their depths.
Lamar threw his arm about her, as
she swayed toward him. Then sud
denly a startled cry burst from her and
she raised her arm limply-and pointed
Turning, the detective saw a woman
in black-a long coat hid her figure, a
thick veil shrouded her features. She
stood motionless on the walk, in front
of a huge tree.
lncredulous, Max looked from the
sable-draped figure to the half-fainting
girl beside him-then back again. The
woman hadn't moved. She seemed UNI
conscious of their presence.
rs that the one?" he muttered
hoarsely. is that the woman who
passed your
j
nodded her head. Immediately Lamar
left her side and started to stroll aim
lessly toward the woman in black. A
fearsome weight was lifted from his
heart. His faith in woman-in June
was restored. A glow of happiness
tingled through him.
The sound of his steps on the pave
ment reused the yelled woman from
her lethargy. She turned her head with
a quick, startled movement and walked
rapidly away.
Lamar quickened his pace June,
fearful of what she had done, started
after him. Suddenly the woman in
black, cut across a lawn, breaking into
run. The folds of her black cloak bal
looned out behind her, the long veil
snapped sharply. They saw her lift a
corner of the veil as she ran.
Mr.. Lamar! Mr.. Lamar" June
called, weakly; then remembered that
she had nothing to tell him, even if
he answered.
They had crossed the lawn and reach
ed tile driveway that ran around a large
house. The sharp-edged gravel cut into
the thin soles of Junes shoes. She
stumbled on. A small fragment of stone
ground up by Lamars flying heels
struck her smartly in the chin.
The figure in black vanished around
the corner of the house. Lamar madoI
a desperate effort to catch a corner Of
the flying cloak. His foot caught on one
OF the small, whitewashed rocks with
which the driveway was bordered
He stumbled, muttered a vivid epithet
caught his balance and darted on: Just
as June reached his side Around the
corner of the house there was nothing
TO be seen. The prey had eluded them.
June saw the crime specialist clench
his fist fiercely. His quarry had given
him the slip. The girl found a wonder
full civilization i'm the fact If Lamar
had seen the smile of triumph that
lowered about her lips, his original
suspicious would have been renewed
in spite of visual evidence.
As she watched him his chin sudden
~ shot forward-his eyes strained from
their sockets, and a smile, cruel vet
suave. dawned around his mouth.
At the rear of the house stood a gar
age. Across its freshly painted, light
gray door sprawled a blotch of inkyI
black, plastered there by the wind.
The breeze died. The black patch
fluttered and fell, hanging in limp folds.
With three bounds Lamar had reached
the garage door and was pulling at the
soft cloth. He strained at the door,
thinking it would give under the pres.
in black. had darted into the garage and
had locked the door behind her But
in her haste she had also caught a cor.
ner Of the blac: coat in the closed door
When Lamar turned to June great
beads Of sweat stood on his forehead
and rolled from his temples
AT last" he said eXultantly, II have
the yelled woman this time. and perhaps
the mystery of the Red CIrcle!"
June stared at the edge of the black
cloak that ha gripped so tightly. She
recognized il. 1t washer own! She
was living a INSTRUMENTATION
didn't last forever-it would end soon
it must end soon!
Inside the garage, flat against the
Goor imprisoned by the cloak edge she
could not tear free) the woman in black
pushed the veil back from her gray
white face and prayed.
God keep my lamb from harm"
Continued in Next Issue.)