The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-01
SYNOPSIS


 red birthmark on his hand. has served his third prison term. One in each Bor- den generation, always a criminal, has borne the Red Circle mark. Jim and his son Ted are the only known living of the Bordens. Max Lamar, detec- tive is detailed to keep an eye on Jim. June Travis and her mother meet Jim as he is released. Jim and Ted are 1 killed. Next day Lamar sees the Red Circle on woman's hand outside a. curtained automobile. June, marked with the Red Circle, robs Grant a loan shark. Mary, June's nurse, discovers her theft and tells her she is Circle Jim $" daughter, though Mrs. Travis does not know Mary tricks Lamar. June, dressed as boy, recovers Mary's coat from the police. Lamar visits Smiling Sam" Jim's old crime part ner. At the seaside June steals war invention plans from Todd Drew and sinks them in the sea with her boys clothes. Sent to Surfton by Smiling Sam, Alma La Sale paints the Red Circle on her hand and robs the guests at ball. Mary sees her wash off the mark and points her out to Lamar, who follows her back to town.
 Well, Mir. Lamar" said the desk man, leaning over the edge to shake hands. what can I do for you?"
 T have just arrested this-er-this lady on suspicion, sergeant"
 'Indedp' The round faced, gray haired officer looked over his glasses. sharply. Name, please
 The woman raised her eyebrows
 Name. saidl" thundered the ser geant.
 "Oh. I don't know that I have to give it. she said contemptuously. ,7~ T "a word to the wise, you know. I ad- wise you to make as little trouble as possible. And let me relieve you Of your parcel and handbag" La Salle. Alma La Salle." she al- most spat the name at the sergeant. Lamar opened the paper parcel. dis closing 8 pair of old shoes evidently on their way to the cobblers to be soled and hee1ed. He threw them to one side disappointed. Then with a caustic May F" he opened the hand bag and dumped its contents on the sergeant's desk.
 Lamar rapidly searched the mass and found nothing of importance. Well. what're you going to do about it?" she inquired with a smile. I'm going to have you searched" said Lamar quietly. Sergeant, will you have someone search Miss La Salle, please?"
 lne sergeant pressed L0c pQZzcT du his right hand. A door in the back of the room opened almost instantly. A portly woman in a blue and white striped dress, partly covered with white apron. stood at the threshold for a second. then came swiftly into the room.
 Mrs. Murphy" said the sergeant. briefly, twill you please search this woman and make your report on whst you find2"
 "Oh, Mrs Murphy. would you mil making your report to me in tss chiefs office? I'm going in the now" Lamar called after her. Lamar entered Chief Aliens off shook hands and dropped wearily II chair beside the desk "What's up? You look beat out" ysA the chiefs greeting. "Oh, I'm not beat out" the Crst Specialist squared his shoulders nificantly. I'm not beat out by l shot, but I'm up a tree. I phoned 1 some of the preliminaries of the hed Circle chase-in fact, told you about them pretty fully over long-distance to- day We'll, there's new phase on deck and it's got me going. have the wom- an here in the matron's room being searched I arrested her on suspicion after trailing her from Surfton. have every reason on Gods earth to suspect her; and yet there's a sneaking thought at the back of my brain that I'm not going to get anything on her. l will your help"
 Count on that, all right" said AL len quickly. What happened down at Surfton, after you phoned me about the-?"
 Theft fjewels at the hotel ball? An old woman in hiding, in big chair. saw this woman rub a red circle off the back of her hand with a wet sponge"
 Heres Mrs. Murphy, now" Lamar got up and went toword the matron eagerly. Well, what did you find?" The matron shook her head.
 "I didn't find trace of the jewelry you are looking for. MT. Lamar. The woman had on a cheap gold-plated bangle and an imitation pearl bar pin. There was nothing suspicious about her clothing"
 Didn't I tell you?" Lamar rushed back to the chiefs desk under the greatest excitement "Did't tell you that had hunch that wouldn't get anything on this woman? And know she's guilty. l haven't the sligntesu doubt about it now" "Just minute" Allen pressed an electric buzzer. His secretary came in from the outer or fee.
 ''Please bring me a warrant-to-search blank, MT. 1Olt, Salu the cHleI. Wuhs to fill it out. Where did you leave the woman, Mrs. Murphy?" T locked her in the detention rooms sir"
 That's right. Now will you go bacIu and bring her into this office in five minutes? I'll be ready for her thens Whats her name?'' he asked Lamar as the matron left the room. And her ad- dress. I'll send two men over to her hCme."
 He took the blank from his secretary and tried the point of his fountain pen.
 :" Alma La Salle.'" he repeated ater Lamar, '301 Quincy street. Holt, send do good job-rush it-and beat it back here as quickly as they can.>
 There was knock on the door. few minutes later. It was opened in obed- fence to the chiefs Come in" Alma stood framed in the doorway her face still as insolently naughty as when Ia- mar had first spoken to her.
 The chief eyed her steadily. It was type he knew well. Very difficult to shake in giving testimony, very sharp tongued. The only salvation lay in get ting this woman furiously angry. He had found that rage ioosens the tongues of most women.
 'Name?' he said before she had . chance to collect herself.
 ''Oh you know nay name,' she an- swered viciously. What do you suppose I think you two have been doing in here all this time-having kaffee klatschT'
 Lamar moved forward to interveno but Allen waved him back.
 q think I can handle this younR