Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-27
@NTHElR = D.
! Z,
Continued from Last Issue.)

r ANtAR. in the midst of the sen
tence, reeled dizzily. He would
have fallen, but for June's re
straining arm. He collapsed into the
nearest chair.
Reaction had set in. He was faint
weak, spent. The walls seemed to dance
crafty around him. The figures of the
three anxious women were vague anc
blurred to his dazed vision.
Max felt himself lifted. with little
help from himself, to his feet. H,
staggered down the stairs, upheld OF
either side by Mrs. Travis and Mary
Then, as he sank into deep leather
chair in the library, he let his weary
senses slip from him. All but uncon'
scious, he let Mary battle his cut head
In a few minutes he opened his eyes
and sat up straight, still somewhat
weak and shaky, but himself again.
And then he noticed that June was
standing above him once more, look
ing down at his haggard face with al
her soul in her big eyes. The girl hac
changed from her riding suit to pretty
house gown.
The sight of her brought back to
Max the purpose of his visit to the
Travis house that day-a purpose tina
his life-and-death grapple with "Smil
ing Sam" Eagan had driven momen'
tarily from his mind.
He found it strangely hard to say tC
June what he had come to say. He
loved her-loved her more than every
thing else in all the world. And sh'
had Just saved him from death at Sam
Eagan's hands. But for her interior
ence, Eagan's knife must unquestion
ably have found his heart. She hat
risked a blow from that knife to war;
him; to swing him aside out of dan
ger.
How could ne confront her with the
cross-questionings that he had rehears
ed; the cross-questionings that woulC
prove to him whether or not she was
really the Red Circle woman-the wom'
an who had robbed Farwell, who mad
Taking hold of his faltering resolu'
ton, Max prepared to get through wltr
the cruel ordeal as quickly as possible
He looked from Mrs. Travis to Mary
then, hesitatingly, said:
"I-I should very much like to speak
with Miss Travis alone for few min
utes. if YOU don't mind. You'll pardoI
me, won't you, for asking it? It's very
important"
Mrs Travis raised her penciled eye
brows in slight surprise at so ODD re,
quest. June looked startled and seemed
and stood pale and tense as Mrs. travis
and Mary left the room.
Mrs. Travis went through to tn'
veranda. But Mary fingered just out
side the library door and crouched there
tremblingly listening.
Lamar, for an instant, gazed hair
frowningly at the girl who awaited the
ordeal. Her brave eyes were fixed OF
his. The soft lips did not tremble. Only
by the ebbing of her radiant color die
June betray the dread that made hel
sick at heart.
Max, looking at her, felt his resolve
crumble All at once he knew he could
not do what he had set out to.
Whats the use?" he blurted out, in
coherently, "you can't know anything
about the Farwell theft-or any of the
rest Of the led Circle crookedness.
know you don't. And l won't insult you
by asking you. Besides-you saved my
life June, DEAR
Still too weak to trust himself on his
feet. he reached forward impulsively and
caught her hand in his as she stood
startled, before him. AS he raised his
face to hers June saw a world of love
in his uplifted eyes. And her fear van
.shed--swept away by an emotion maj