Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-09-12
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w IN ROBERT " SKAMBER5 N WI
goun, plastering an oblong of hot
toast with caviar. Birds of this

goun, plastering an oblong of hot
toast with caviar. Birds of this
kind nest easily anywhere"
Neeland continued to gaze toward
the salon where play was in progress.
There did not seem to be many people
there. At a small table he recog
nized Br2ndes and Stall playing what
appeared to be bridge whist with two
men whom he had never before seen.
There were no women playing.
AS he watched the round, express
sionless face of Brandes, who was
putting long cigar screwed tightly
into the corner of his thin-lipped
mouth, it occurred to him somewhat
tardly what Rue Carew had said
concerning personal danger to him
self if any of these people believed
him capable of reconstructing from
memory any of the stolen plans.
He had not tt ought about that spe-
troubled him a little when he first
entered the Cafe des Bulgars.
However his unique eyes could dis
cover nothing of either Kestner or
Breslau; and, somehow, he did not
even think of encountering Use Du-
mont in such a place. AS for Bran
des and Stull, they did not recognize
him at all.
So, entirely treasured once more
by the absence of Ali-Baba and Gold
Ell anu Ol GoCneuOTdZdu0 WHO'LL
he had no fear of meeting, Neeland
ate his caviar with a relish and ex-
amined his surroundings.
OF course it was perfectly possible
that the stolen papers had been
brought here. There were three other
wondered what they were used for.
Sengoun's appetite for conflict
waned as he ate, and drank; and a vi
olent desire to gamble replaced it.
You poke about a bit he. said to
there and see T What y ya' cam s le aHGr
AS for me, I mean to start little
Irritation with Mademoiselle Hort1na.
Does that suit your"
If Sengoun wished to play 1t was
none of Neelands business.
do you think it an honest game?"
he asked, doubtfully.
With negligible. stakes all first
class gamblers are honest"
IF 1 were you, Sengoun, I wouldn't
drink anything more"
emptying his goblet with satisfac-
ton. And, rising to his firm and
graceful height, he strolled away to-
ward the salon where play progressed
amid the most decorous and edifying
of atmoSphereS.
then he glanced curiously at the girl
on the sofa who was still preoccupied
with her newspaper.
So he rose, sauntered about the
room examining the few pictures and
bronzes, modern but excellent. The
soft, but, as he strolled past the
girl who seemed to be so intently
reading, she looked up over her pa
per and returned his civil recogni-
ton of her presence with a slight
smile.
AS he appeared inclined to linger.
she said with pleasant self-possession
"These newspaper rumors, mon
sieur, are becoming too persistent to
amuse US much longer. War talk is
becoming vieux jeu."
why read them?" inquired Nee
land with smile.
"Why?" She made a slight gesture
"One reads what is printed, I sup
pose"
written and printed by people
who know no more about the mat
ter in question than you and l, made
moiselle," he remarked, still smil-
ing:
worth while for anyone to search
for truth in these days when every
one is paid to conceal it?"
"Oh," he said, mot everyone
, NO; some lie naturally and with
out pay" she admitted indifferently.
But there are still others. For eX-
ample, mademoiseIle, yourself"
"I?" She laughed, not troubling to
refute the suggestion of her possible
truthfulness.
He said:
'.This-club-is furnished in ex-
cellent taste.''
yes; it is quite new"
HAS it a name?"
81 believe it is called the Cercle
EXtranationale. Would monsieur also
like to know the name of the club
cat?"
They both laughed easily, but ne
could make nothing of her.
Thank you," he said; land 1 fear
have interrupted your reading"
81 have read enough lies; L am
quite ready to tell you few. Shall
I?''
you are most amiable. 1 have been
wondering what the other floors in
this building are used for"
Private apartments" she replied
smiling, looking him straight in the
eyes. Now you don't know whether
I've told you the truth or not; do
you?"
(To Be Continued)