The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-25
By ALBERT HANSON TERHUNE
SYNOPSIS

Circle Jim" Borden, named from a 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, detective, Is detailed to keep an eye on Jim. June Travis and her mother meet Jim as he is released Jim and Ted are killed. Next day Lamar sees the Red Circle on woman's hand outside a curtained automobile June, marked with the Red Circle, robs Grant, loan shark. Mary. June's nurse, discovers her theft and tells her she is Circle Jim's' daughter though Mrs. Travis does not know. Mary tricks Lamar. Lamar visits Smiling Sam,' Jims old crime partner Sent to Surfton by Smiling Sam Alma La Sale robs the guests at a ball. Mary points her out to Lamar, who follows her back to town, captures her with the jewels and goes after Smiling Sam. On the edge of a cliff pursuer and pursued en- gage in deadly combat. Gordon, fugitive, rescueS Lamar, and June in turn saves Gordon from arrest. Smiling Sam sees the Red Circle on Junes hand, tells her he knows her secret and fol- lows her to her city home. She helps Gordon to get away, after recovering for him the securities receipt which in eliminates him by tricking Farwell and Lamar.
 The girl, as she trotted homeward, heard behind her the hurrying hoofbeats of a horse hard ridden. She glanced back. And she understood.
 The pursuer was scarce a quarter block behind. In another few minutes, at most, he would overhaul her. There was also the danger that some other mounted off, cer, coming from opposite direction, might cut off her retreat.
 To her right. only block away, ran the park. If she could gain that in safety she might perhaps be able to give her pursuer the slip, somewhere in it's winding bridle path.
 As she dashed into the park she heard him close behind.
 A quarter mile farther on she could see the outstretched bay head at her knee. The bay crept farther and farther ahead.
 And now blue arm shot forth, as the policeman snatched at her bridle. June, driven on by an impulse amazingly for eign to her gentle nature, whirled about in the saddle, and with her riding crop she slashed the officer full arhwart his red face.
 Under the hot pain and surprise of the assault, he lurched in his saddle; uncon- sciously jerking his bridle-hand to one side. At the gesture, his bridlewise horse veered suddenly to the right.
 The rider, unprepared for this lightning quick shift of his mounts stride, lost his seat and was pitched headlong into the driveway, where he lay half-stunned.
 On raced June, unpursued. As sne rode, reaction set in. She realized that her 1,fa A1r To avoid injury, she rode to the stable by back way. dismounted there and left the horse with a wondering groom.
 Then, on foot, she turned her steps to- ward the Travis house-where Fate crouched waiting for her. Decidedly, this was day of shocks.
 Max Lamar had done little sleeping and much heartsick thinking, during the past A hours And now, at last, he had nerved himself to make the test he had planned the test which, he believed, would prove to him, once and for all, June's guilt or innocence.
 With shrinking heart, but with firm step,. he approached the Travis house.
 And at the same moment Yama, the Jap butler, was privily conveying "Smiling Sam Eagans late breakfast to the attic. For some occult reason. Sam loved to torment and frghten the dapper little butler. And Yama's visits to the hiding place were moments of terror to the poor little yellow man.
 Today was no exception. He set the tray down in front of Sam and started to pour out a glass of wine for him. But Yama's hand shook pitifuly, from sheer fright. A spoonful of wine fell on Sam's knee
 snatched up the carving knife he still carried in his belt and rushed at the Jap.
 I'm going to cut my monicker on your measly hearth he snarled.
 Yama did not pause to see if the threat would be fulfilled. Dropping everything, he fled.
 Eagan returned the knife to it's place chuckling amusedy at the scare he had given the butler. Then he picked up the bottle of wine and tried to read its label.
 But the light was dim and his eyes were nearsighted. He went over to tho window to get a better view of the label. Close to the pane he stood for an in- stant, curiously and laborjpusly spelling out the name.
 And, in that instant, Max Lamar, turn. ing in at the front walk. chanced to look up--and saw him.
 Lamar halted and stared upward moro keenly. But Sam had moved away from the window. Max, with the excitement of hound on the scent. bounded up the veranda steps.
 At the top. he collided violently with a little figure that shot out of the front door It was Yama. still in flight from Sam's imaginary pursuit.
 What's up?' demanded Max.
 Wanna stared speechless and gasping.
 What's the matter?' repeated Lamar. Did you see him. too? Were you going for the policeep
 "Saw--saw nobody!" babbled the Jap, still remembering Sam's threat of what he would do should Yama betray his hid- ing place. ''Sawl nobody. Going for lit. tie walk I--'
 Going for little hundred-yard dash. you mean.' corrected the perplexed La mar. 'Let me in there. I've just seen" Why MT. Lamar!" exclaimed voco from the foot of the steps. Max turned. to see June, in riding dress. crop in hand. mounting the ve- randa toward him.
 Continued in tomorrow's Age-Herald.,