Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1916-01-08
fasten on such silly things to track
| flaaf,. criminals 80

! two minutes" she promised, running
| lightly up the stairs.
! A black figure moved quickly aeros:
the porch and entered at n small side
door Lamar darted to the window
| too late to see more than it's shadow
With the note still in his hand, hC
walked a few feet toward the stairs
and stood looking up, his brows con-
tracted. his eyes narrowed.
Upstairs, in the boudoir, juno
dragged "A Rat from its box and stood
before the mirror swinging it on her
hand. There was a curious buzzing
sound in her ears and things didn't
look sharp and clear cut to her eyes.
Even her own image In the mirror
had foggy outlines.
Automatically she placed her hat
upon her head and fastened the pinr
securely; then reached for her furS
and gloves. She was striving with all
her young strength to down the hys-
terra that was rising in her breast and
to loosen the panicky tightness in her
throat.
As she turned to leave the room,
Mary, breathless and shaking with
terror, hurried through the door and
threw her arms about her.
you shan't go!" she declared pas
sionately. MY precious, my lamb
you shan't be led to the slaughter.
He suspected you. He has from the
first He came TO spy, not to visit
you. Don't go, dearie-don't goi"
"I have brought it on myself" June
answered DULY. i've got to go. With
his suspicion aroused, don't you see
it's the only thing left to do?'
She leaned wearily against the old
woman. gripping her arm for support
"Ill be able to turn his suspicion
aside--I don't know him-but I'll do
it. Oh. I'm so tired!"
Just for a moment she weakened
and placed her head on Mary's shoul-
der. She had always felt secure that
way-as far back as her memory
went. Even now, a woman grown,
she found a strange sense of solace,
resting there.
A stihed exclamation from the
nurse broke into her dream of rest
eyes were looking down at something.
Stark fear was written in them. juno
followed her line of vision.
She saw black sleeve, tightly
gripped by white hand in which a
vivid circle of blazing red had sud
denly been reborn. Horrified. she
traced the flaming mark with u
trembling foretinger.
Then the tension snapped and she
sank to the floor. n whimperingly
helpless grl, with both hands pressed
to her lips to muffle her frightened
sobbing.
Beside herself with dread and pity,
Mary knelt beside her, murmuring
soothing love words, grooming to her
in meaningless syllables, kissing her
cheek, her forehead. her hands.
"rhere, there," she whispered. "Cry
it out on old Mary's breast, precious
lamb. Shes handled most of your
troubles. | guess she can handle this
one There, there!"
Abruptly June got to her feet, and
tenderly lifted the old woman up be-
side her.
You're going to be good and do
lust as I tell you" she commanded.
"because that is the only way you
can help me. And | need help so,
dear. Fix up my eyes so that no one
will see that I've been crying and let
me go. I went to pieces, but just for
n. minute. I've got to win-and I'm
going to. Oh. my hand-I forgot. It's
come hack-the Red Circle. My glove
will hide it,
And in less than a minute she had
gone, her face wreathed i'll smiles,
waving q gay good-hy with the gloves
she was drawing on.
At the foot of the stairs Lamar was
waiting for her. His manner was now
n trifie overcourteous; tempered by
n mild strain of banter. Yama. stand
ing, expressionless. at the door. held
out his hat. Max took 1t and tilted u
at just the proper angle-then he and
.June left the house, chatting merri'y.
,;,.e at 70 window df the girl
sitting room Mary stood behind the
6raperies, motionless. and watched
them go. Fear had dulled her think
ing powers. But suddenly the tempest
burst in her brain. Falling on her
knees. she raised aloft her wrinklcd
hands and prayed aloud
God. he suspects her! There is
danger for my little girl. God. tell me
what to do. God-hear me in my
trouble-tell me what to do"
From far down the street the echo
of June's merry laugh came back TO
her as she prayed in agony.
You will remember precisely where
she passed you?" Lamar was saying.
suavely. you see, ordinarily, it is
enough to remember just about whore
thing happened. But when you're
tracking criminals it must be exactly
where"
.If you become any more profess
sional and technical I shall get so
mixed up | won't remember any
thing June warned him, jokingly.
I'm all shivery, right now! I'm think
ing 1t great fun to be sleuth."
Really" observed Lamar eyeing
her kecnly. 'I trust you will con-
tinue to find it great fun Miss
Travis"
IL. 4.
cally, fright on this spot is where I
should say passed the veiled woman
in black-that is, where she passed
me, I mean"
She was pointing a tragic forefinger
at n small spot in the tagging. AS her
eyes met Lamar's coldly skeptical
gaze she broke into n mischievous
little litter. But almost Immediately
the laugh died on her lips; her face
faded to an ashen gray, her eyes
closed convulsively, and when they
opened again there was terror in their
depths.
Lamar threw his arm about her, as
she swayed toward him. Then sud
denly n startled cry burst from her
and she raised her arm limply-and
pointed.
Turning. the detective saw
woman in black-a long coat hid her
figure, n thick veil shrouded her fea-
lures. She stood motionless on the
walk, in front of a huge tree.
Incredulous, Max looked from the
sable -draped figure to the half-faint-
ing girl beside him--then back again.
The woman hadn't moved. She
seemed unconscious of their presence.
us that the one?" he muttered
hoarsely. rs that the woman who
passed you?"
Stunned by the terror of it all.
June nodded her head. Immediately
Lamar left her side and started to
stroll aimlessly toward the woman in
black. fearsome weight was lifted
from his heart. His faith in woman