The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-10
FIFTH INSTALLMENT


 on her hand, discovers that she is the daughter of Circle" Jim Borden, who tried to destroy his family and it's Red Circle birthmark of crime June, pity" ing the poor, robs a loan shark and is almost caught by Detective Lamar Mary, the nurse. clears June and the latter, in a mans garb, rescues an in eliminating coat from the police. Seen climbing in her boudoir window, June is in danger of having her secret sur prised by Mrs. Travis.
 Allen and Lamar are baffled by the ap- pearance of the Red Circle on the mans hand, which one of the policemen had seen on the man that took the coat.
 Smiling Sam Eagan, former pal of Jim Borden's but now reformed cob bier and jewel fence is visited by Lamar, in the hope that he might throw some light on the mystery
 Thanks" said Lamor, seating him. self on the shiny bench and taking out his cibarette 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 in Eagan, with big laugh of genuine amusement. "Why, I can remember the day when I'd run a-screechin' up a tree if you came
 in sight. Lord, but it's worth while not to be scared stiff every time detective happens round"
 I'm not detective" demurred Max, 'Im a crime specialist. Have cigar rette?"
 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 light, sir?
 "prottxy cylIp cI,artarc UoI1 haya hera commented Max, accepting the lighted match. Business good?'
 Parrish, sir. Only Parrish. Things get dull. And then after 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 paid my first months rent. Every now and then she drops in to see how I'm getting along like you've done today, strand if trades bad, she gives me little some thing toward the rent. If it wasn't for her, I'd begged down before now. But I keep at it. I keep at it. And it's bettern 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 her!'
 There was sanctimonious lit in the old blackguard's tone that. to Max La mars trained ears, rang as false as leaden half dollar He looked keenly into the benevolently smiling face, half mind ed to voice his suspicious. It vexed him that this canting ex-convict should be making free with June Travis name. Ab- ruptly Max came to th object of his visit -s
 "Eagan," he said, i've called around here this morning to see if I can get some information from you." Certainly. Mir Lamar" said Sam. unc- tuously. 'Ill be glad to tell you all about the rise of the leather prices or the neighbOrs that are good pay or bad pay, or how my rheumatism aches me in wet weather. But that's about all the infor- nation I've got in stock nowadays. If you're looking for some of the crowd used to travel with, why. I'll tell you fiat I don't know anything about 'em. One or two of 'em used to brace me on tho street when I first got out. But as soon as they found I'd turned square" Save the pious sentiments, Eagan," fn- terpOsed Lamar Sometime, on the ninth day of the week, I'll call and lis- ten to your edifying experiences as a reformed sinner. Just now I'm too busN 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 an errand The information I'm looking for from you is on a point in ancient history. I want to talk with you about Circle Jim Bor- den."
 "Old Circle Jimr" exclaimed Sam. ~Why, Jim's dead. Too dead to skin. You know that MT. Lamar. The news papers said you were there when he" "Yes I was in at the death." admitted Lamar. But it's about Circle Jim that I want to talk with you, just the same. Nothing you can say can do him any hurt, now. So you can speak freely.'
 "If it's about any of the jobs he was on" hesitated Sam.
 Tt isn't" Lamar assured him. Its l about his family history "Oh," said Eagan. relieved. You and he were pretty close friends, weren't you?'
 Me and Jim? Yes. Good friends fe- | more years than you'd know how tG Iremember." replied Sam adding muc, ingly: Poor old Jim! He was oueSw at that. and a white man in lot of ways. With all his sins" ''Yes, yes" Lamar cut short the threatened moral homiy. Quite so. But am not interested in his sins, just now"
 MaX caught SisHt oA ehe shappy ana dusty shoe lying on the bench beside him-the shoe at whose heel the cobbler had been tnkering when his visitor en- tered. Lamar picked up the shoe, ab- sent-minedly and, taking hold of the tip
 of it's laces, began to swing 1t carelessly
 to and fro, as if it had been an uncouth 1 pendulum. Sam watched him in furtive anxiety. Max went on:
 What want to ask you about is, the queer red circle on the back of Jim Bor-
 den's hand. You remember it. of course?''
 "Sure. remember it. sir. Who
 wouldn't?" answered Sam,- adding: "Le< me take that bum old shoe you're playing
 with. MT. 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: