Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-07-04


in his veins. he stood staring wick
cdly into her d2Zed eyes, the auto
matte pistol hanging from his right
fist.
But after a few moments some
thing in her naive aStOniShment-her
amazement to see him alive ana
standing there before her-appealed
to him as intensely ludicrous; he
dropped on the edge of the bed and
burst into laughter uncontrolled.
'Scheherazade! oh. Scheherazade."
he said, weak with laughter, IF you
could only see your face! If you
could only see it, my dear child! It's
too funny to be true! It's too funny
to be a real face. Oh, dear, I'll die
! if 1 laugh any more. You'll assas-
sinate me with your face"
She seated herself on the lounge
opposite. still gazing blankly at him
in his uncomfortable mirth.
After a while he put back the au-
tomato into his breast pocket,
| took off coat and waistcoat, with
out paying the slightest heed to her
or to convention; opened his own
suitcase, selected a fresh shirt, tie
| and collar, and, taking with him his
coat and the olive-wood box, went
into the little Mushroom.
He scarcely expected to find her
there when he emerged, cooled and
| refreshed; but she was still there.
seated as He Hdu 1elI hel OH IHe
lounge.
in a low voice, did YOU xiii them? p
Not at all, Scheherazade," he re-
they beat up their friends; that's all,
Fist and blackthorn, my pretty lass,
but nix for the knife and gun"
''How-did you do it?"
well, L got tired of having a
Manifested Dutchman paving me and
| closing my mouth with his big splay
| fingers. SO l asked him to slide
| overheard and showed his friend after
him."
Did you shoot them"
mo, l tell you" he said disgust
blood, and [ couldn't do it in cold
No, Scheherazade, 1 didn't shoot. /
pulled gun for dramatic effect,
After a silence she asked him in
a low voice what he intended to
DO? Nothing! Chat affably with
you until we reach town, if you
don't mind. Nothing more violent
than that, Scheherazade"
The girl, sitting sideways on the
sofa, leaned her head against the
velvet corner as though very tired
Her small hands lay in her lap list
lessly, palms upturned.
| Yes, a little"
He took the two pillows from his
BED dv and placed them on the sofa.
| Scheherazade."
..,,Won't you need them?"
Sunburst of my soul, if T pillow
my head on anything while YOU are
IN IN the Vicinity. it will be on that
|
| trace of a smile touched her Inns
She turned settled the pillows TO-
| her liking, and stretched out her
| supple hgure on the sofa with
slight sigh.
Shall I talk to you, Scheherazade
or let you snuggle into the chastc
| Il can't sleep"
is it a talk-fest, them"
81 am listening"
! Then, were the two recent gem
! men who so rudelY bounced upon
- the same gentlemen who so
erfully chased me in an auto
! "",ile when you made red fre?"
."Nes"
! L was betting on it. Nice-look-
n" man--the one with the classical
! nap and the golden Frick"
She said nothing.
| "Scheherazade," he continued with
smiling malice, do you realize that
| you are both ornamental and young?
| Why so young and murderous, fair
| houri? Why delight IN mansIaugh-
ter in any degree? Why cultivate
assault and battery? Why swipe the
| property of others?
She closed her eyes on the pillow,
| but, as he remained silent, presently
| opened them again.
81 asked them not to hurt you,"
| she said iTreleVantly.
who? Oh, your strenuous friends
with the footpad technique? Well,
| they obeyed you unwillingly."
Did they hurt you?"
"Oh, no. But the car wheels might
''The car wheeIs?"
Eyes. They were all for dumping
me. down the steps of the, .vestibule,
| But I've got a nasty disposition,
| Scheherazade and 1 kick and oite and
screamed so Justify that [ disguised
them and they simply left the train
and concluded to cut my acQuaint-
ance."
1t was evident that his good-hu-
mored mockery perplexed her. Once
or twelve the shadow of a smile pass
ed over her dark eyes, but they re-
NAMED uncertain and watchful.
You really were astonished to see
me alive again, weren't you?" he
II was surprised to see you, Of
course"
"Alive?"
Il told you that I asked them
| not to really hurt you"
do you suppose 1 believe that,
after your pistol practice on n ~
"It is true" she replied, her eyes
resting on him.
You wished to reserve me for
| more pistol pract1ce?"'
y have REORGANIZATION you"
| ooh, sScheherazade" he protested
laughingly.
You are wrong, Mr.. Neeland.'
After all I did to you?"
To his surprise a bright ush
spread over her face where it lay
| framed by the pillows; she turned
| her head abruptly and lay without
| speaking.
He sat. thinking a few minutes,
| then leaning forward from where he
sat on the beds edge:
after a mans been shot at I'D
| further inundated with a large, I'M
| pleasantly rusty Kurdish dagger, he
IS likely. to proceed without cere-
| had to humiliate you, ScheheraZade."
She lay silent. unstirring.
"a girl would never forgive that
for short shift from you if your
| opportunity ever comes"
| The girl appeared to be asleep. He
| stood up and looked down at her.
The color had faded from the one
cheek visible. For a while he isten>
ed to her quiet breathing, then, the
| imp of perversity Selling him, and
he bent over her, touched her cheek
| with his lips, put on his hat, took
| box and suit case, and went out
| to spend the remaining hour or two
N the. smoking room, leaving her to
| sleep in peace.
But no sooner had he closed the
door on her than the girl sat straight
| upon the sofa. her face surging in
color, and her eyes brilliant with
| starting tears.
When the train arrived at the
Grand Central station, in the gray
| Of July morning, Neeland, finding
the stateroom empty, fingered to
watch for her among the departing