Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-04-21

.ClRGLE


4 tidy as I can. This is like old times,
seeing you again
Thanks" said Lamar. seating himself
on the shiny bench and taking out his
cigarette case Its good to see you
so nicely fixed here. Sam. And it's good
to see you aren't scared at sight Of"
That's right, sir" chimed i'm Eagan,
with a big laugh of genuine amusement.
why, / can remember the day when
I'd a run a-screechin' up tree If you
came in sight. Lord, but it's worth
while not to be scared stiff every time
detective happens 'roundg'
I'm not a detective" demurred Max,
I'm a crime specialist. Have a ciga-
retteT'
Thanks. sir, no. I don't go in for
style. I'll just take a breather with
this old pipe OF mine instead-if you
don't mind. Have a light, sir?'
Pretty snug quarters you have here
commented Max. accepting the lighted
match. Business good?"
Parrish, sir. Only fairish. Things
get dull. And then after a while they
get duller again. But I'm helped along.
Miss Travis set me up here. you know
Gawd bless her pretty face!-and she
maid nv first months rent Every now
and then she drops in to see how I'm
getting on-lile you've done today, sir
and IL trades bad, she gives me
little something toward the rent. III II
wasn't for her. I'D a begged down before
now. But / keep at it. l keep at It
And it's better'n a cell in the pen. She's
taught me that the square life's the
only life. She's an angel. that young
lady is That's what she is. An angel
Gawd bless herr
There was a sanctimonious Tilt in the
- that Max A.
mars trained ears. rang as false as
Ieaden half-dollar. He looked keenly
into the benevolently smiling face, half
minded to voice his suspicious. 1t Vex-
ed him that this canting ex-convict
should be making free with June Travis
name Abruptly Max came to the OBJ
ject of his visit.
Pagan" he said, I've called around
here this morning to see If 1 can get
some information from you"
Certainly, Mr.. Lamar" said Sam,
unctuously. "T'n be glad TO tell you all
about the rise of shoe leather prices
or the neighbors that are good pay or
bad nav or how my rheumatism aches
me in wet weather. But that's about
all the information I've got in stock
nowadays. If you're looking for some
of the crowd used to travel with-why,
I'll tell you, flat. 1 don't know anything
about EN- One or two of 'em used to
brace me on the street when L first
got out But as soon as they found I'd
turned square
Save the pious sentiments. Eagan,
interposed Lamar. "Some time, on the
ninth day of the week, I'll call and
listen to your edifying experiences as
reformed sinner. Just now I'm too busy.
/ can set your mind at rest, too. I'm
not trailing any of your friends who
haven't been so lucky as to reform. So
you won't be called on to squeal. I'm
here on another kind of errand. The
information I'm looking for from you is
on a point in ancient history. 1 want
to talk with you about Circle Jim
Borden"
"old Circle JIM exclaimed Sam.
s'Nhy. Jims dead. Too dead to skin. |
You know that, Mr.. Lamar. The news |
papers said you was there when he"
'FYes was in at the death" admit |
ted Lamar But it's about Circle Jim
just the same. Nothing you can say can
do him any hurt now. So you can
speak free.
IF it's about any OF the jobs he was
on" nesitated Sam.
''It isn't" Lamar assured him. It's
about his family history"
"Oh," said Eagan, relieved
''You and he were pretty close friends.
weren't your
NE and Jim? Yes. Good friends I
for more years than you'd know how
TO remember" replied Sam; adding mus /
ingly: poor old Jim! He was queer /
guy. But he was a good stanch pal, at
that. and a white man in a lot Of wys. |
with all his sins"
yes. yes" Lamar cut short the |
threatened moral homily. quite so. But /
/ am not interested in his sins. just
now"
Max caught sight of the shabby and
dusty shoe lying on the bench beside 4
him-the shoe at whose heel the cobbler !
had been tinkering when his visitor en-
tered. Lamar picked up the shoe, alb
and, taking hold OF the |
tip of its laces. began to swing 1t care
Iessly to and fro. as if it had been an
uncouth pendulum. Sam watched him
I'm furtive anxiety. Max went, on.
what I want to ask you about is
the queer Red Circle .on the back of
Jim Borden's hand. You remember It,
of course2"
"Sure 1 remember it, sir. Who
Wouldn't answered Sam, adding: Let
me take that bum old shoe you're play
ing with, Mr.. Lamar. It'll get you all
dirty"
Thinking Sam was trying to change
the subject in order to avoid talking OF
the Red Circle, Lamar paid no heed to |
his request; but kept on swinging the |
shoe idly to and fro. as he asked:
That Red Circle. now-you remem- |