Charlevoix county herald., 1916-10-20


courage. but can stand It, The doc
tor did 1t lot OF good last month;
but he won't give me any more treat
ment, he says, till | pay the twenty
five dollars / owe him on his last bill.
So / guess I'll have to grin and bear II
awhile longer"
"You poor old thing" said June, in
quick sympathy. Indeed you shall not
grin and bear it. another day. Here"
taking three bills from her handbag,
pay that cranky bear of a doctor this
very morning and have him give you
treatment. Tell him to send his next
bill to me. must go now. My mother
and Mary are waiting for me In the
car, outside there. Good-by, Sam;
good-by, Mr.. Lamar"
But Max would not be dismissed in
this fashion. He insisted on going to
the car with her, and, on the way, he
managed to angle successfully for an
invitation to call on her at the Surfton
cottage.
After which he stared at the auto
mobile until it bore her out of sight.
Then he wandered on down the street,
planning busily-not for the solving Of
the Red Circle mystery, but to dis
cover some way of arranging his work
so as to leave him an entire after
noon and evening free for run to
Surfton-by-the-Sea.
Sam Eagan and the mysteriously
rafting shoe were quite wiped from
his mind.
Sam, meantime, his professionally
genial smile glued to his red face, was
looking down at the twenty-five dol
lars June had so generously forced
upon him. But, though his eyes were
fixed en- the money in his hand, his
mind was not.
Twenty-Five dollars, just at present,
{ seemed to Smiling Sam a pitifully
small sum. For he had sudden visions
Of an infinitely larger amount. Visions
so bright as to take away, for the mo-
ment, even the memory of his narrow
escape from exposure in the matter OF
the hollow-heeled shoe. A mighty in
SEPARATION was gripping Sam Eagan; an
inspiration born of his talk with
Lamar
After a moment of thought he nod
ded his head, stuck the money into his
pocket and locked the door of his shop.
Then he went to the secret door among
the shoe-shelves and opened it. Pass.
ing into the hidden room he crossed
to where the dog-eared old calendar
hung on the wall.
Lifting this calendar, he disclosed
cupboard behind it. Reaching into this,
he pulled forth telephone, took the
receiver from the hook and called for
number.
Miss La Sales apartment" he
asked presently; then THAT you,
Alma ?-Sam-Come around here in a
rush. There's something big Hurry
up
Eagan returned to the shop, put on
his coat and went out into the neigh
borhood to do little shopping.
Back home he came, and through to
the hidden room; there depositing his
purchases in the telephone cupboard
behind the calendar He had barely
regained the front shop when woman
entered.
Alma La Sale was perhaps twenty
five, perhaps a little older. She was
of medium height; wiry, dark and in
Ginning to sallowness.
She was an invaluable source OF
Co ~ 40
uncanny dizziness at robbery, he knew
he could always count on her wit and
daring to carry out any campaign he
might devise.
Hello, kid" was his greeting, this
morning. You didn't waste any time.
That's right. You got train to catch
and some fancy packing to do, first"
Train to catch?" she repeated Gag
erly.
ITO Surfton-by -the-Sea. There's a
big ball at the Surfton hotel tonight.
Our man there tipped me to it. You're
going to operate at the BALL"
But"
It's a new angle we're going to
work from, on this" he pursued.
There ought to be pot of cash in it.
Ever hear of the Red Circle?"
"Of course" she made answer. who
hasn't?
Give me your hand" he ordered.
THE right cne."
Wcnderingly, Alma cbeyed. Mois-
tening the brush and rubbing it on the
red-paint cake, Sam proceeded to trace
on the back of the woman's hand an
irregular Red Circle.
Watch that closely" he warned.
That's just the shape of the one Bor-
den had. Do you think you could paint
that on your own hand?"
Why, yes; but"
He dipped the sponge in the liquid
from the phial and passed 1t over the
circle. The paint quickly vanished.
There you afe!" said he. go to
the ball. Pinch everything you get
half chance at. Then sneak into
some quiet corner to paint that circle
on your hand. Manage to let the house
detective or some Of the guests get
- w,,I~ <0ef n,