Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-07-11
The De efrkzSsfar1 4
" IN ROBERT " CHAMBERS IN w,

her shoulder, Gould I have given
HE took only half a cup and a
swallow of water No
II can't get his hand free"
wait! / try!' He pulled big,
horn-handled cIasp-knife from his
pocket. and deliberately opened the
eight-irch blade.
@What are You doing?" she whis-
pered. Selling his wrist. Don't do
NJ The man with the golden beard
hesitated, then shrugged, pocketed
his knife, and seized NeelandS rigid
ly clenched hand.
"You are right. 1t makes too much
muss!" tugging savagely at the
reminton! What for death-grip is
this kerls? If l cut his hand off so
iss there blood and gossip right
away already. No-too much muss,
Wait! L try another way"
I Neeland groaned.
| ooh, DON'T. Don't" faltered the
girl. you're breaking his wrist
"Ugh!" grunted her companion; i
try; 1 can it not accomplish. See
once If the box opens
1T is locked"
Search this pig-dog for the key
She began a hurried search OF
Neeland's clothing; presently discoV-
cred her own handkerchief; thrust IT
| into her apron pocket, and continued
rummaging while the bearded man
| turned his attention to the automa tic
| pistol. This he finally succeeded IN
| disengaging, and he laid it on the
| wash basin.
Here are his keys" whispered
the nurse feverishly, holding them
up against the dim circle of evening
sky framed by the open, port. You
had better light the. stateroom; l
| can't see. Hurry! think he Is pe-
| ginning to recover"
When the bearded man had switch
| ed on the electric light he returned
| to knee once more beside the inert
| body on the floor, and began to pull
| tempt to insert the key in the lock.
But the stiffened clutch of the drug
| ged man made it impossible either
to release the box or get at the key
| hole.
"Ach, was! Ver1uchtete' schwein-
hum" He seized the rigid hand
and eXerting all the strength of a
brutally inflamed fury. fairly ripped
loose the fingers.
Also!" he painted, selling the stiff
| fened body from the floor and lift
| ing it. Hold you him by the long and
Yankee legs once. und push him
"Out of the port?"
"Gewiss Otherwise he RECEIVERS
to raise some hell!'
"It is not necessary. How shall
| this man fnoW?"
you left your handkerchief He
| ISIS no fool He makes a noise No.
| It ISIS safer we push him overheard"
."Ill take the papers to Karl, and
then can remain III my state
No! Lift his legs, 1 tell you! You
want l hold him in my arms all day
while you talk, talk talk! You take
his legs right away quick"
He staggered a few PAGES forward
with his unwieldy, burden and, set,
ting. one knee on the sofa, attempted
| to force Neeland's head and Shout
ders through the open port. At, the
| same moment a rapid knocking
sounded, outside the stateroom door.
Quick" breathed the nurse,
Throw him on his bed!'
The blue-eyed, golden-bearded man
hesitated, then as the knocking
! sounded again. imperative, persistent,
| he staggered to the bed with his
burden, laid it on the pillows, seized
his crutches. rested on them, breath
ing heavily, and listening to the loud
and rapid knocking outside the door.
We've got to open" she whisper
ed. Don't forget that we found
him UNCONSCIOUS. in the corridor"
And she slid the bolt noiselessly.
opened the stateroom door, and step
ned outside the curtain into the COR
ridor.
The cockney steward stood there
with a messenger.
Wireless for Mr.. Neeland--" ne
! began. 32t his speech failed anc his
jaw fell at sight. of the nurse in
her cap and uniform. And when,
emerged from behind the curtain. the
stewards eyes fairly protruded.
The young gentleman is ILL.," ex-
planned the nurse coolly Mr.. Hawks
heard him fall in the corridor and
came out on his crutches to see what
had happened. L CHANGED to be pass
ing through the main corridor. for
tunately. 1 am doing what I can for
the young gentleman
"Ow," said the steward, staring
! over her shoulder at the bearded man
on crutches.
There is no need of calling the
ships doctor" said the man on
crutches. This young woman ISIS
hospital nurse und she ISIS so polite
and obliging to volunteer her service
| Tor the poor young gentleman"
Hes. she said carelessly. ct can
remain here for an hour or two with
him. He requires only few simple
sedative, and he is sleeping very
nicely"
'Yess, yess; it ISIS not grave.
TOO ICON n, IL is 5o n9ttimg: He slip and
Niio-N ms Hedu' MAYBE 100 much
champagne. He sleep, and by and
by he feel better. 1t iss not advisa-
BILE to make a fuss. So! We are
not longer needed. steward. I re-
| turn to my ROOM
! And. noddinG pleasantly. The beard
| ed man hobbled cut on his crutches
! and entered his own stateroon1,
! across the passage
steward" said the n;lcae pleas
antly, you may leave the wireless
| telegram with me. When Mr.. Nee
| land wakes I'll read it to him.
Give that. telegram to mel" burst
| out ghostly voice from the cur
| tanned room behind her.
| Every atom of color left her face,
| and she stood there as though stiff
stared at Ter. Still staring he pass
| ed gingerly in front of her and en-
! tered the curtained room
| Neeland was lying on his bed as
white as death; but his eyes fluttered
| open in a dazed way:
| Steward" he whispered
Yes, sir, ar. Neeland.'
."My-box;", His eyes closed.
| BOX, sir?"
| "Whcre-Is-it?"
here on the r?"-lifting the olive
| wood box in it's case The key was
! in the lock; the other keys hung
from it, dangling on a steel ring
| The nurse stepped calmly into the
| room
| Steward" she said in her low.
| pleasant voice, "the sedA i've 7 gave
him has probably confused his mind
| little
Put that box-under-.my head :"
interrupted Mechanics voice like
| groan.
Il tell you" whispered the nurse
he doesn't know what he is say
ing"
Il got to obey him. ma'am-"
81 forbid yoll-'
Steward" gasped Netland.
"Sir?"
My box. want it."
Certainly, sir-''
Here, beside my-pillow."
Yes, sir" He laid the box be
| side the sick man.