Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-05-20

dragging the big Tapping pickerel
over the parapet by main strength.
The men scowled at her in ST.
lence, then the one addressed as Ed
die rolled his cigar grimly into the
left corner of his jaw.
Damn little skirt" he observed
briefly. "It seems to worry her
lot what she's done to US"
81 wonder does she know she
wrecked u.s. suggested the other. He
was stunted, wiry little man of
thirty-five. His head seemed slight
| ly too large; he had a pasty face
with the sloe-black eyes, button
nose. and the widely chiseIled mouth
Of a circus clown.
| The eyes of the short, thickset
man were narrow and greyish green
in a round, smoothly shaven face.
| They narrowed still more as the
thunder broke louder from the west,
Ruhannah. dragging her fish over
the grass. was coming toward them;
| and the man called Eddie stepped
| forward to bar her progress.
"Say, grille" he began, the cigar
still tightly screwed into his cheek,
sis there a juice mill anywhere near
US, d'y'know?"
WHAT" said Rue.
"a garage"
Yves, there is one at Gayfield."
How far, girlie?"
Rue flushed, but answered.
ut is half a mile to Gayfeld."
The other man, noticing the color
| in Ruhannahs face, took off his
pearl-grey hat. His language was
less grammatical than his friends.
| he S9id-hiS n.
panion sta airing ali the while at the
| girl without the slightest express
sion. us there a telephone in any
Of them houses. miss?"-glancing
around behind him at the three edi-
| fees which composed the crossroads
called Brookhollow.
| NO" said Rue.
1t Numbered again; the world
around had become very dusky and
silent and the flash veined rapidly
blackening west.
TITS going to rain buckets" said
the man called Eddie. II you live
around here, can you let us come
into your house till it's over, gir-er
miss"
yes"
I'm Mr.. Brandes-Ed Brandes, Of
New York" speaking through CT
gar-clutching teeth. This is Mr..
Ben Stull, Of the same. :. It's
| house?"
Il live there" said Rue, nodding
| across the bridge. "You may go in"
She walked ahead, dragging the
fish; Stull went to the car, took two
| suitcases from the boot; Brandes
threw both overcoats over his arm,
and followed in the wake Of Ruhan-
nah and her fish.
mo Saratoga and no races today,
Eddie" remarked Stull. But Brandes'
narrow, grey-green eyes were fol-
lowing Ruhannah.
tits a pity" continued stull,
somebody didn't learn you to drive
car before you ask your friends
| joy-ridding"
'.Aw-shut up" returned Brandes
slowly, between his teeth.
They climbed the flight Of steps
to the veranda, through rapidly
thickening gloom which was ripped
wide open at intervals by lightning.
So Brandes and his shadow, Ben
Ruhannah Carew.
Her mother, who had observed
T their approach from the window,
opened the door.
Mother" said Ruhannah, here
is the fish I caught-and two gen.
| tlemen."
With which dubious but innocent
!
the kitchen, carrying her fish.
Stull offered a brief explanation
to account for their plight and pres
ence; Brandes, listening and watch
| ing the mother out Of greenish,
sleepy eyes, made UP his mind con-
| corning her.
While the spare room was being
prepared by mother and daughter,
ne and Stull, seated in the sitting
room, their hats upon their knees,
exchanged solemn commonplaces
with the Rev. Mr.. Carew.
Brandes, always the gambler, al
ways wary and reticent by. nature,
did all the listening before he came
to conclusions that relaxed the stiff
ness of his attitude and the immo-
bility- Of his large, round face.
Then, at ease under circumstances
and conditions which he began to
! comprehend and have an amiable
contempt for, he became urbane and
conversational, and a little amused
to find navigation so simple, even
| when out Of his proper element.
From the book on the invalid
| knee, Brandes took his cue; and the
conversation developed into a mono
logue on the present condition of
foreign missions-skillfully inspired
by the respectful attention and the
brief and ingenious questions of
Brandes.
Doubtless" concluded the Rev.
Mr.. Carew, you are familiar with
the life of the Rev. Mr.. Adoniram
Judson, Mr.. Brandes."
1t turned out to be Brandes' IA
vorite book.
you will recollect, then, the
amazing conditions in India which
confronted DR.. Judson and his wife,
Brandes recollected perfectly
with slow glance at Stull
"All that is changed" said the in
valid. God be thanked. And