Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-08-12

little speed until the Place de la
Concorde opened out and the great
Area tiny phantom OF lavender
and pearl---spanned the vanish1ng
parallel and endless ramparts Oh
tender green.
There was a lot Of war talk on
the VOlhynia," said Neeland, put L
haven't heard any since L landed, ror
have seen a paper. l suppose me
Chancelleries have come to some
agreement"
NO" said the princess.
you don't expect trouble, do YOU?
I mean a general European 1fee-lof-
Iall-fght?"
II don't know, jim"
Haven't you" he asked blandly.
ANY means of acquiring inside infor-
mation?"
She did not even pretend to evade
the good-humored malice of his smile
and question:
YES; I have sources of private in
formation. L have learned nothing
so far"
He looked at Rue. but the smile
had faded from her face and she re-
turned his questioning gaze gravely.
There is great anxiety in Eu-
rope" she said in low voice, and
the tension is increasing. When we
arrive home we shall have chance
to converse more freely" She made
the slightest gesture with her head
toward the chauffeur-a silent re-
hinder and a caution.
The princess nodded slightly.
"One never knows" she remarked.
1--WE shall have much to say to one
another when we are safely home"
But Neeland could not take it very
two pretty women facing hip-hers
speeding up the Champs Elysees be-
tween the endless green of chestnut
trees and the exquisite silvery-gray
facades of the wealthy--with mo-
cool, Ieafy alleys thronged with
children and nurse-maids, and Mon
sieur Guignol squeaking and drum
ming in his red-curtained box!
How could young man believe, in
melodrama in which he had figured,
with such a sane and delightful set
ting, here in the familiar company of
two charming women he had known?
Besides, all Paris and her police
box stood between his knees;
smartly respectable taxi and its
driver drove them with the quiet
eclat and precision of a private en-
ploye; the Arc de Triumph already
erything that had once been familiar
and reassuring and delightful lay I'M
der his grateful eyes on every side.
And now the taxicab turned into
the rue Soleil dora new street to
Neeland, opened since his student
days, and only one square long, with
fountain in the middle and yuong
chestnut trees already thickly crowd
ed with foliage lining both sides of
the street.
But although the rue Soleil dor
was new street to him, Paris con-
struction is also rapid affair. The
street was faced by charming pri-
vate houses built of gray Caen stone;
the fountain with it's golden sundial,
with the seated fgure-a life-sizs
replica Of Manship's original in the
Metropolitan museum-serenely and
beautifully holding it's place between
the Renaissance facades and rows of
slender trees.
age or flowers; the freshness of
spring itself seemed still to reign
there.
Three blue bloused street-sweepers
with hose and broom were washing
the asphalt as their cab slowed
down, sounding it's horn to warn them
out OF the way. And, the spouting
hose still in their hands, the street.
cleaners stepped out of the gutter
6efore the pretty private hotel of
Madame la Princesse.
Already a butler was opening the
girls; already the chauffeur had
swung Neeland's steamer trunk and
suitcase to the sidewalk; already the
Princess and Rue were advancing to
the house, while Neeland fumbled in
his pocket for the fare
The butler, bowling, relieved him Of
the olive-wood box. At the same
instant the blue-bloused man with
the hose turned the powerful stream
Of. water directly into the buffers
face, knocking him fiat, on the side
walk; and his two comrades tripped
up Neeland, passed red sash over
his head. and hurled him aside,
blinded, half strangled, staggering at
random, tearing furiously at the wide
band of wooden cloth which seemed
to suffocate him.
Already the chauffeur had tossed
the olive-wood box into the cab; the
three blue-bloused men sprang in
after it; the chauffeur slipped into
his seat, threw in the clutch, and.
d drlx5ng - with +th one hand, turned a
who had reeled to his feet and was
lurching forward to seize the steer
ing wheel.
The taxicab, gathering speed, was
already turning the corner of the rue
de la Lune when Neeland managed
to free throat and eyes from the
swath of wooden.
The butler, checked by the leveled
pistol, stood dripping, still almost
blinded by the force of the water
from the hose; but he had plenty of
pluck, and he followed Neeland on a
run to the corner Of the street.
The street was absolutely empty,
except for the sparrows, and the big,
fat, slate-colored pigeons that strut
ted and coo-cooed under the shadow
of the chestnut trees.
<w~