Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1916-12-15

ried Eagan to the hospital and who
had remained to get a report on the
disabled prisoners condition.
Sam feebly beckoned to the nurse.
She came toward him. He muttered
disjointedly:
IL want to-see the chief Of police
Tell him-important. Red Circle!"
He slumped' back on the cot again
groggy with headache.
Chief Allen had had a busy morn
ing. Charles Gordon, the fugitive at
torney. had voluntarily given himself
up to Justice. The chief had at once
sent word to Farwell. who had come
in haste to police headquarters. to con-
front the captive.
Gordon had been searched in Far
wells presence. But no trace of the
discriminating receipt could be found
on him. And, perforce, he had been
released for lack Of evidence to hold
him.
The chief and Farwell were still
sitting in the formers Office at head
quarters discussing the case when the
telephone buzzed.
This is queer" remarked Allen as
he put back the receiver on the hook.
"'Smiling Sam Eagan was captured
by Lamar today at the Travis house.
Knocked out. He was taken to the
hospital. And now he sends word he
wants to see me. Says it's something
important about the Red Circle case.
I'll step over there and"
RED Circle!" exclaimed Farwell.
THAT concerns me as much as anyone
in town. I'm going to the hospital
with you, IL you don't mind"
They found Smiling Sam" Eagan
propped up among heap of pillows in
his hospital cot.
What did you want to see me
about?" asked the chief.
What did I want?" echoed Eagan.
"Oh, nothin' much. Only to tell you
who the Red Circle woman is. That's
ALL"
"If it's a joke" began Allen.
"A joker" Sam caught him up
viciously. "Oh, it's a joke, all right
And it's on her. On June Travis"
June Travis!" repeated Allen. In.
credulous.
June Travis" cried Farwell, in the
same breath, II knew 1t! I was sure
of it. But Lamar kept insisting She"
June Travis" declared Sam, speak
ing slowly, venomously. June Travis
Is the Red Circle woman"
81 don't believe you" said the chief
June Travis is the Red Circle wom-
want me to tell you about 1t or don't
you"
Go ahead" assented Allen after q
quick glance at the excited Farwell.
II was hiding out down at Surfton,"
began Sam. I'm a cave on the edge Of
the beach. She was standing right
near the cave the other day and I saw
the circle on her hand. l."
Your eyes fooled you" scoffed the
chief. "In the glare Of sunlight the"
my eyes didn't fool me-" reiterated
Sam. Il saw it, tell you. The same
shaped mark that used to be on Circle
Jim Borden's hand. I'm givin' you
straight goods. Go and see the circle
on her hand II you don't believe me.
Yes, and as / was watchin 1t that day
/ heard her nurse say the girl was Cir
Gle Jim's' daughter"
The chief still partly unconvinced,
turned again to Farwell.
1.-The mans telling the truth" ejacu-
lated Farwell 1T all fits in. She's
the Red Circle woman, tell you.
knew 1t all along. I'd have sworn to
1t. But Lamar kept putting me off and
putting NE off, Chief, I'm going to the
Travis house. I'm going to have a
look at June Travis hand for myself.
He stamped out of the ward. The
chief reluctantly followed.
He paused only to order the waiting
policeman to remain on guard over
Eagan. Then he hurried on, catching
up with Farwell en- the sidewalk in
front of the hospital.
Eagan, his work Of vengeance done,
leaned back on the pillows with
placid smile. His bright little eyes
roved dreamily around the ward where
he CHANGED to be the only patient. His
glance took in the figure of the guard
ian policeman and then moved on to
the shut door Of clothes closet. He
noted key in the doors lock.
Say, old playmate" he addressed
the policeman, II wish you'd stake me
to another pillow II you can get hold
Of one. My backs half-broken. Don't
bother to call the nurse. l sure do
hate to have women-folks PAWN
around me when I'm sick. There's lot
of pillows in that closet. I saw her
take some from there. Toss me one,
just for luck"
Goodnaturedly, the policeman
crossed the room to obey the request.
He unlocked and opened the closet
door.
why" he began, there's no pillows
In here, man. The"
He got no further. A mighty shove
In the small of the back sent him head.
long into the closet Before he could
turn, Sam had slammed the closet
door shut and locked it.