Charlevoix county herald., 1916-10-12


lay OF thrills. uspense-tragedy. Will
you tell me something of criminals as
you know them? I've tried to study
them just little and"
There was a smothered exclamation;
1t was in another sound that came
from the stairway. June looked up
Just in time to see a portion of a
black shirt move from the hall out on
to the porch. Then followed a low
toned order in Mary's voice-the
words broken" and vase" drifted In
through the open window. BY length
ened shadow and a reflection in the
window pane June saw that the nurse
was standing, hidden, just outside the
SILL
1t amused the girl. 1t reminded her
of a lioness standing over cub when
the hunter drew near. But this man
Lamar was so mild, so prefectly harm
less-doubtless he was a sleuth of
great reputation. but under this roof
he was merely courteous man of the
world, who called because he was In
terested in her.
"Ill raise the ante" Lamar broke
in on her musings-then caught him
self, II beg your pardon, Miss Travis.
have no reason to believe that you
are familiar with poker terms. ! meant
that I'd bid one hundred times the
orthodox amount of one cent il you'll
tell me what your thoughts were just
then. Whatever they were, they were
indulgent, cynical and amusing; be-
those moods
June managed a mock-serious shud-
der.
You appall me, Mr. Lamar" she
answered laughingly, II was thinking
just then of the number of criminals
you must have met"
"All kinds; and many of each kind"
he started gravely. And, If you really
don't mind talking of such things, I'd
like to ask you something. Before we
met yesterday in the park, Miss Travis,
did you see anything of a yelled wom-
an in black?"
Outside, on the porch, a chair
scraped along the floor. June heard
the sharp intake of Mary's breath.
II believe did pass such a woman"
she brought out the words slowly, as
if unwilling to make the statement
positive. Yes, now that think about
it, I'm sure did"
Lamar leaned forward in his chair
and half-unconsciously placed hand
upon her arm.
Think, Miss Travis-think!" he
urged.
Down the stairs came the sleek, pat
ter of Japanese feet in American shoes.
Lamar turned, impotiently, as Yama
advanced to the center of the room
balancing a dustpan and brush in one
lean, yellow palm-the other extended
with bit. of charred paper tiuttering
stifIly, from 1t.
Pardon. May this be honorable
value to Miss June?' he intoned fatty.
Lamar started, at sight OF the frag-
ment. June reached out vaguely, nod
ded, smiled as best she could and took
the paper from the buffers hand.
Thank you. Yes. You may 60"
With Lamar's eyes upon her it was an
effort to say even that.
AS Yama disappeared through the
doorway, Lamar turned upon her.
What is that?" he said sharply.
'This?" she inquired family, holding
the paper before her.
Yes. What is it?"
90 har
before she had chance to regain her
shattered composure, he took the
burned document from her hand and
examined it carefully.
Where did you get it," he asked at
length and his tone implied that con-
viction had taken place of suspicion.
why err why, the yelled woman
in black dropped that note as she hur-
ried by me-"
Lamar walked up close to her and
looked steadily into her wavering eyes.
Miss Travis" he said gravely, ARE
you quite sure of that?"
Sure? OF course I'm sure!" she was
trying desperately to laugh.
Would you mind showing me just
where you saw this woman in black?"
June laughed easily.
why, of course, / won't mind, Mr.
Lamar. You're making this trifling
incident such frightfully serious af-
fair, that it rather amuses me. Do
detectives-I beg your pardon-do
crime specialists always have to fasten
on such silly things to track their
criminals?"
Lamar ignored the sarcasm.
you will Gomez" he repeated.
'T'll be ready to 60 out with you, In
two minutes,' she promised, running
lightly up the stairs.
A black figure moved quickly across
the porch and entered at small side
door. Lamar darted to the window too
late to see more than it's shadow
Upstairs, in the boudoir, June
dragged a hat from its box and stood
before the mirror swinging ii on her
hand. There was curious buzzing
sound in her ears and things didn't
look sharp and clear cut to her eyes.
AS she turned to leave the room,