The Washington times., 1915-12-13

.
J. "call me horscthief or men,
tai error or even dove OF
peace. But, unless you want to start
trouble, don't call me a detective. I'm
not a detective. I am a crime specialist.
If YOU don't believe me, look at my
card: Max Lamar. Crime Specialist I
didn't go to the expense of getting that
engraved just for a joke
"A stage detective goes in for dis
guises and flashlights. a rcal-life de-
tectiVe goes in FOR square toes and stool
pigeons. ] don't use any Of those frills.
m a specialist AS much of a spc-
clallSt as the doctor who thumps your
chest at s15 "A thump"
But Max Lamar himself was the only
person who did not call Max Lamar a
detective; YES, and one of the very clev-
crest detectives the city had known. He
mad a positive genius for the man hunt
HIS was the alertly probing brain Of the
scientist; coupled with the bulldog
streak Of the ideal policeman.
lie had served for years on the city's
crack central office detective squad.
Then. while he was still under thirt, -.
ne had laid down enough money and
laid up enough reputation to leave the
torce and go into business for himself
his hrst move, as free agent, had
been to drop the abhorred name Of do
tective' and to substitute the less OBJ
Jectionaplc term of "crimc specialist"
which now adorned his cards and the
glass door of his airy little office.
In this office sat Lamar, one sprinr
morning. trying to coax a sulky cigar
into good behavior, and, between puffs
debating Il letter to Edith HAYES. his
stenogra pher
1t was n lazy morning. and I.amar's
Wohted Stecl-trap activity had taken
on trace of Incidence in keeping with
the weather and the uncxactinc dsv
that seemed TO lie ahead of him The
nome team was playing al the ball
grounds today. and he planned to take
the afternoon off to witness his first
game of the season.
Thereforc," he went on with his die
tatlon. Il will take up the matter with
you tomorrow, II you can call at my
Office. at ll:N a. nj regret that a
pressing business engagement for this
afternoon will prevent"
A clerk hurried in from the ante
room. laid a special delivery letter on
his chiefs desk and vanished again into
his own domain. At sight of the enve-
lope's handwriting some OF the unusual
lazincss left Iamar's face and manner
At glance down the single official
sheet of paper as he ripped it from the
.h'e'ope' 'he very last trace or lndo-
lence was gone.
Miss Hayes" hc said. "thc ball
game today will lack its most ardent
fan. And never mind finishing that
letter. I'll have to get out of here in
looking at his watch--"in Just twenty
minutes. I've got to 80 to prison"
MIR. Lamar" stammered the girl
still too new in her employers service
to know when he was in earnest
ITS true" he answered. Listen to
this"
He picked up the note and read
aloud:
MI; Max Lamar. Crime specialist
goes free again at noon today. Since
you entered private practice ! have no
one familiar with the methods of this
master crook. Please keep an eye on
him. RANDOLPH ALLEN.
Chief of Police"
II don't understand said the
stenogrTaphcr. III you're in business for
yourself. why should the chief of po-
lice be giving you orders?"
'He isn't. He's giving mo chance.
A chance he knows I'd be willing to nay
for with couple of my teeth. That's
whv he wrote to me. Old Circle Jim IS
nv quarry. I've landed him three times
for the chief. and it looks as were
going to make II a foursomc. Jim can't
keep out of iail. Because he cant keep
out of crime And he can't keep out OF
crime on account OF the Itcd NlrCie.
"The Red Circle" she echoed. "A
circle of anarchists"
mo. A circle of Jim Bordens. A
circle on the back of his right hand.
4 circle he gets his nickname from.
red birthmark. like n hoop or ring.
in the flesh Of the hand. Sometimes
II hardly shows. sometimes 1t blazcs
an angry crimson. lie"
But what has brthmark got to
do with his being criminal" asked
the puzzled girl. 81 don't sec"
Neither do I. But it's true. I've
heard some sort of rigmarole about
this birthmark running through his
family ever so far back. and that when
ever it appears it's a sign of crimi-
nal All nonsense, perhaps. don't
know. But I do know that old Circle
Jim Borden Is one OF the craftiest.
most inveterate criminals in this State
And If he's out of prison it means
trouble to the whole community. The
chief didn't overplav when he called
lin master crook Finish up those
letters and then take the rest of the
dav. The weathers too fine to work
in. ! wont be back. I'm going to be
on hand when Circle Jim is turned
loose: and ! NAV follow him afteTward ,
to get a line on him. and find where |
he's going TO live. There was yarn |
a. headnuartors that tho old fox has
q hiding place somewhere in town that |
no outsider was evcr ahlo to find. 1t !
may he worth hunting for. lie has a |
son. too. knocking around tho city.
A cheap tough. of the ciGarette-eatinG
,yna hos IN rnnat