Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1916-01-10
CONTINUED from Saturday,

Continued from Saturday,
The cloth was stout and Max
Lamar's grasp unshakable. But the
tug caused two of the coats upper
buttons to fly half way across the
garage. One of Mary's lean shoulders
slipped out of the garment. That gave
the captive woman her inspiration.
In trembling haste she unfastened
the remaining buttons. Freeing her
self, she left the imprisoned coat to
fall to the greasy floor of the garage
Max Lamar still gripping its corner,
on the doors far side, with futile
energy.
The garage was small, stuffy, i'll lit
by single grimed window pane me
place reeked of gasoline, of oil, OF
grease rags. A big car filled more
than half of it.
Across the greasy floor, through
the gloom, Mary CROPPED her way
now slipping in a gasoline puddle,
now caroming against the solled
mudguard of the machine.
She found the opposite wall and
l6ll dlOliS It's N'iisNN'i A'NA-
At the farthest corner her numbed
fingers touched what they sought
the Intel of door.
It was the garages little back
door giving on the alley, behind the
grounds For one suicidal moment
she thought this back door was
locked. But it was only stuck from
lon, disuse. She threw her whole
fragile weight against the dirt
crusted portal. A shower of dust 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 a whining of hinges and
clatter of falling debris, and the
rush of her onset drove her halfway
across the alley outside
Darling back to close the door
behind her the old woman cast
fearful look up and down the alley
The coast was clear. lncontinently
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 squawking 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 muf-
fled noises from within. But they
were so faint and the door was SO
thick, that he could not classify them.
Nor, indeed, had he time to. For,
presently, June reappeared around the
corner of the big house. With her
were a hatless and rather annoyed
looking woman in a morning gown
and a highly interested butler.
I'm still holding on, Miss Travis,
Lamar hailed June; for the first time
aware of the somewhat ridiculous
figure he must be cutting.
And he continued, addressing the
other woman:
MADAM, I am very sorry to dis
turb you like this. But we have
chased thief into your garage, as
Miss Travis has probably explained
to YOU. I have hold of this corner of
the fugitive's coat, as you see. WIN
YOU let me break the lock of your
garage door and get in? OF course,
I'll pay
"If I may suggest" said the woman
in frigid politeness, 'it might be bet
ter to go into the garage by the back
door, before breaking my locks. Had
that occurred to you, Mr.. DetectiYe?'
"Crime specialist" hastily corrected
Lamar; then, mo, 1t hadn't occurred
to me. I'm notfamiliar with garages
of this type Practically none of them
have back doors. So Il
I'VE had one cut in," said the
woman. "If you'll come around to
the back of the garage with me
Yes" quickly agreed Lamar. Yes,
of course. But-but-"
He looked down at the coat corner
he held.
Anything we say out here he
went on, Certainly can be heard on
the other side of this panel. The thief
knows by now that there's q rear
door--even if she didn't know it be-
forehand. If I let go of this coat
Miss Travis will you hold the coat
corner for me while | go around to
| investigate? Please.
"Why. yes" quaveringly assented
June, taking hold of the cloth, along
side Lamars own grip. III do my
best. I'm pretty strong.
"If she tugs, hang on her for all
you're worth" Max Lamar eXhorted
her; it'll be for only second or two,
I'll go in by the other door and we'll
have her caught as neatly as rat
in n drain"
The final words were spoken as he
| had already started around the garage
| in the wake of the woman of the
house As he disappeared June
pressed her face close against the
door.
"Mary!' she whispered eagerly;
and MARY, Mary!
No answer. Then in moment the
sound of a key in the lock. The door
swung open. The woman of the house
stood in the garage threshold June
found herself holding the corner of
the empty coat
her temples pulsing and buzzing with
swift relief.
YES" snapped the woman, "she
got out of the coat and then out of
! the back door. Your detective friend
is exploring the alley for her. I'm
going to watch him pick up clues. 1t
is quite amusing. Almost as amusing
as field day at lunatic asylum"
She was gone; leaving June alone.
The girl checked her impulse to fol-
low her involuntary hostess. She
knew that Mary must be out of sight
before this time; and she trusted to
the old woman's keen wits and spry
! feet to carry her safe home without
/ being seen again by Lamar.
A new terror beset June: the coat
| that she still held, was menace. She