The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-31
IN STRANGE ATTIRE


 Max Lamar, gripping with both hands the corner of the black coat that pro- truded from the locked garage door, drove his shoulder full against the door panel, again and again. But the wood held firm.
 "It seems to be deadlock" laughed June, forcing her merriment with a. mighty effort. "You have hold of her coat; so she can't get away. The door wont open; so you can't get in. Isn't it just a little ridiculous, MT. Lamar? Suppose we give up the chase and-?'' Give up the chaser he echoed, angrily. Give it up? Why, it's barely begun. Just on the other side of the garage door is the yelled woman who robbed Grant and then gave me the slip and holds the entire mystery of the Red Circle. Give it up? Not if I have to stand there till doomsday.''
 "But surely" began June, trembling inwardly at his fierce determination
 Miss Travis,'' broke in Lamar, twill you help me? I can't let go here. Will you hurry around to the front door of the house this garage belongs to, and ChPldiH iudltCiS hCl dSh icdNC IOi me to break the door down. I can do it if you hold the coat corner for me-
 "Sha'nt hold it now?" suggested June; an idea flashing into her fear-sick mind. "I'll hold the coat while you try to smash the lock. You can't do anything without the use of your hands. Why waste the time I'd need to go to the house?''
 'T don't like to batter down peoples property he answered, "even in the name of the law-without asking their permission
 But
 Besides" he added this Yelled Wom- an is strong. Whenever she tugs at her coat, it's all I can do to hold my corner of it. She might wrench it out of your hands,"
 "Yes,R agreed June, under her breath
 that's exactly what I mean her to do'
 But she forebore to say it aloud And after second look at Lamar's set jaw she meekly turned away toward the house.
 Mary, on the inner side of the garage door, had listened. panting to the brief dialogue. AS she heard Junes light step receding on the driveway gravel, she threw all her strength into one last wrench at the recalcitrant coat
 IHo ClOlH Was stout ana MAX Lamar s grasp unshakable. But the tug caused two of the coats upper buttons to fly half way across the garage. One of Marys lean shoulders slipped out of the ga arment That gave the captive woman her inspiration.
 In trembling haste, she unfastened the remaining buttons. Freeing herself, she left the imprisoned coat to fall to the greasy floor of the garage-Max Lamar still gripping it's corner, on the door s far side. with futile energy.
 The garage was small. stuffy, ill lit by single grimed window pane. The place reel1ed of gasoline. of oil, of grease-rags. A big car filled more than half of it.
 gloom. Mary groped her way; now slipping in gasoline puddle; now carom- ing against the soiled mudguard of the machine
 She found the opposite wall and felt along it's all-but-unseen surface. At the farthest corner, her numbed fingers touched what they sought-the lintel of a door,
 It was the garages little back. door, giving on the alley. behind the grounds. For enc suicidal moment, she thought this back door was locked. But it was only stuck from long disuse She threw her whole fragile weight against the Olft-CruSleQ pOflal "A shower or aust and spiders webs cascaded down upon her head. But the door quivered at the impact.
 She heard voices-one of them Lamar's. And again she cast herself against the door. This time it flew wide; with whining of hinges and a chatter of fall ing debris. and the rush of her onset drove her half way across the alley. out side.
 Darting back to close the door behind her the old woman cast a fearful look up and down the alley. The coast was clear. Incontinently Mary took to her heels; scuttling down the alley and around the first corner with the awkward haste of frightened hen. She had much ado, too. to keep from squawlxing like one. in the reaction from her peril.
 Max Lamar clung doggedly to the coat corner that protruded from the garages front door. He heard muffled noises from within. But they were so faint and the door was so thick. that he could rot classify them. Nor, indeed. had he time to. For, presently, June reappeared around the corner of the big house. With her were hatless and rather annoyed