Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-24
CHAPTER v
AI9

Y SLOWLY DOWN Forty-nlnth
| street and Sixth avenue,
laughing at Ruth's ruse-and a bit
sore.
II suppose you feel put outp'
punned Garrick.
Dick was too puzzled to get it.
"She certainly put us through the
inner circle with. as much neatness
and dispatch as sardine goes from
tho river to the tin in the movies
Only, wonder why?"
Garrick was thinking of the threat
message. Gould it be that she took
that way Of keeping us out Of dan
ger?"
He stopped short and looked
back. A tough stranger was lurk-
ing back of them. Garrick moved
ahead and stopped again. The
stranger stopped and slouched into
a garage. Garrick walked back
quickly and as he passed him look
ed over and smiled. I'm on" he
laughed and the man dropped his
eye in sheepish sullenness.
They turned the corner and again
into Fiftieth street. AS they passed
the other door of the garage which
ran through the block Garrick hest
tated as If to walk through it and
locate the shadower. AS he did so
he saw another man stink into a
doorway.
We've discovered one; another
has moved up to take his place. An
old and very effective Device
Ha hJ1rriod 6Oua- tho until
Dick, plunged into the subway, wait
ed for train, then walked on out
the other exit. No tall could hold
down Garrick if he suspected he
was being Swallowed.
What did it mean? Still speculat-
ing, they went on to Garrick's city
apartment at Bachelors Hall and
turned in.
The next morning was rainy,
damp and depressing. Garrick and
Dick had breakfasted and were dis
cussing the events of the day before.
Garrick's mind was most active
when his physical being seemed laz-
lest. Stretching out in his chair,
raising his arms slowly above his
head, he yawned and was about to
deliver himself of some sage obser-
walton on life in general and the
case in particular when the tele-
phone rang.
Hang it, what's this? Answer it,
Dick, old man."
Dicks mind and body were both
alert. He had breakfasted with a
couple of invisible companions, love
and anxiety. "Garrick." He held
his hand now over the transmitter.
''My word It's Mrs. Walden"
"Nita Walden? Here? Tell her
there's a little reception room down
there. Well be with her right away"
Nita Walden was distractedly
winking quick and balling the hand
kerchief in her hand as she gazed
out Of the window at her car in
which Mckay was biting with bull
dog grip at his pipe as if contem-
plating something distastefuI.
Garrick closed the door as she
rushed excitedly to him and seized
his hand with fingers that clinched
unconsciously.
Guy. I am desperate. It's
Ruth again-my little girl. You must
find her for me. I can't take any
one into my confidence except you
and Dick. 1 don't know which way
to turn. She didn't come home last
night. I have walked and walked
the floor waiting for her. I haven't
even had telephone call from her
or anyone else. What shall 1 do?
She never, never did this before. My
Ruthie--my little girl. Oh, Guy, I
can't stand the worry and uncer-
tainty of it. Help me, please"
Garrick took Nita's arms and led
I. - - l..
end Of the room. Gently he ques-
toned her until he had her quieted
by concentrating on her answers.
There was knock at the door.
Garrick opened it. 1t was Mckay.
Please, sir, I was just talking to
a friend of mine, a chauffeur, who
| drives for some people out on the
south shore, who live up the street.
Miss Ruth's car was wrecked out on
the Island-ran into fence or some
thing on an approach to one Of the
bridges on the Motor Parkway-over
the embankment-near Smithtown."
WAS she hurt? Where is she?"
Mrs. Walden's acute ears had caught
even the modulated words.
mo one knows, ma'am. There
was not a trace Of anyone around
the car-just the machine, left
there"
ooh, Guy, this is terrible, terrible.
fear if don't hear something soon,"
What had happened? Garrick tried
to be reassuring, but Nita Walden
would not be treasured.
This is another mad escapade Of
Ruth and Vira, suppose {.
and who else? What can Ruth be
thinking about?"
Garrick took down the telephone
receiver and called a Bryant num-
Der. Dick glanced over quickly. 1t
was a number he had seen in the
hallway of the Inner Circle and had
made a mental note of. Evidently
Garrick had done the same.
| This is Glenn Buckeyes brother"
he prevaricated. us he there? Well,
do you know where I can call him?
You think he's at the Cecil? Thank
you"
Garrick turned, without betraying
where it was he had called They're
| some friends of his. thought per-
| haps Glenn might give us some in
AOlLIdCAOA' 0uppoSe' AN4l0' yoo nc" ' =
Mckay drive us over to the Cecil.
It's on Park avenue.
They were rounding the Grand
Central and caught in traffic when
Garrick suddenly beckoned over a
newsboy and bought couple Of eve
ming papers.
Another robbery on Long Island"
he commented, as he glanced down
from the big headline. THE Parr
estate in Shutdown"
1.-The Parrs?" commented Mrs.
Walden. "Why, they're friends Of
mine. They have a beautiful place;
verv WEALTHY Daoo1a