The Washington times., 1916-01-12
Continued from Yesterday

''Sure | remember IL, SIT. VIM
wouldn't?" answered Sam. adding:
Let me take that bum old shoe you're
playing with, Mr.. Lamar. 1t'll get you
all dirty"
Thinking sam was trying to change
the subject in order to avoid talking
of the Red Circle. Lamar paid not heed
to his request; but kept on swinging
the shoe idly to and fro, as he asked:
That Red Circle. Now-you remem-
ber what Jim Borden used to say about
That it cropped out only in every
generation of his family?' supplement-
ed Eagan, and that the person who
had it was always u criminal? Funny
was gospel truth That ,shoe'll get
Il have reason to believe it was
gospel truth, Eagan." said Lamar.
The Red Circle on the back OF the
hand has always been the sign-manuai
of a crook. in the Borden family.
And
Not always" corrected Sam. There
was that son Of his-young Ted Borden-
for instance. He was a cheap crook.
right down to the ground. that young
ster was. But there wasn't any Red
Circle on his hand. That shoe. now
he continued anxiously; but Max inter-
rupted.
saw Ted Borden had no Red Circle on
his hand? And Ted died when his faith
er died. But how about Jim Bordens
other children"
Sam, In a wonder that was palpably
genuine. His other children? Why.
man alive. Jim Borden never had an
other child but Ted. l was at his we'd
ding. He had lots Of faults. did jim.
but he never in his life looked at any
woman but his own wife. He just
fairly worshiped her. When she died
she was shot in road agent raid on
the camp. almost right after Ted was
born-it Just about killed Jim. He took
their baby away into the mountains
and he never showed up again for six
months. And from that time on. he
never would even speak civil WORD
to any woman. No. no, Mr.. Lamar
Jim Borden hadn't but one child. I'll
take a couple of thousand oaths on
that"
winding the shoestring around his rore-
finger until the shoe itself was iylns
loose in his palm. "and yet-by the
way. had Jim any brothers or sisters:
Once in a generation the Red Circle APP
peared. he used to say. He may nave
been the one In his own generation
and the birthmark may have been IN
hcrited from one OF his parents by one
Of Jim's nephews or nieces'
"Nephews or nieces?' echoed Sam
his eye on the shoe around whose sole
Lamar's fingers were carelessiy opening
and closing. "Nephews or nieces; NOT
him. Jim was the only son of his par
ents. He's told ME SO. Besides | knew
his mother-a widow woman she was
And he used to say again and again
that she wished she'd had other cnil'
dren besides jim. to care for her wner
she was old. He was the only cnlcF
or child she had Nope, Jim hadn't any
nephews or nieces, Mr.. Lamar. ANA
by the way, il you don't mind. I'll JUS
go on working while we chat. If youl
hand me that shoe"
I'm tell YOU why | ask said Lamar
impressively. leaning forward and EN-
phasizing his words by tapping the sno'
to know that no less than two people
in this very city today have the Ket
Circle on the backs of their rgh
hands"
What" cried Sam in amazement. al
most forgetting the shoe in his aston,sn
ment.
Two people" reiterated Lamar. "Tw,
people. A man and a woman. Tw,
clever crooks that the police can't seen
10 corner Each has the Red Circle, an,
each seems to be crook as dangerou
as Jim Borden himself That's why
came here TO ask you If"
He broke off and looked down will
sudden curiosity at the shoe he wa
holding. As he had been abstractedl!
shaking it to and fro he had all at ono
noticed tHdl rant TAllllnS SDuni
came from somewhere within the shoe
He had turned it upside down as h
talked. expecting a pebble TO roll out
But the shoe was empty. He shook
again. This time he could hear tn
rafting sound quite plainly. He lifte
the shoe to his ear and shook it ono
more.
'"There's something loose in tn
heel of this snoe," ,he said. "somethin
.v.t ratties like a loose bit of metal"
Saea did not answer. Surrepttious
w the cobbler had reached behind hir
and had picked up the heavy, short
handled hammer with which he ha
been working.
Holding the hammer coverty in hi
hand, he balanced its weight and. a
his arm-muscles tensed, he measure
with his eye the exact distance I
lamars left temple, One blow woul
do II: but 1t must be quick blow,
strong blow a sure blow.
Murder was not one OF Smiling Sal
Fagan's accomplishments. Yet
Lamar should chance 10 stumble on tn
Secret OF the hollow heel and the brooc
hidden therein II must At once becoT
question OF Max's death or the col
hers dearly priced lIhrrty, and,
EaGans m'"d. that question was 4
question at all.
WhercForc hc nrensrcd t. strike.
would he easy enough IN dtspose of III