The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-01-06
fcontlnued from YesterdayO

you dear!" she exclaimed. in fearful
gratitude. You dear! You splendid old
dear. II was wonderful Of you! Won |
dcrful! Oh. there aren't any words to |
thank you! never dreamed It was you
until ] saw that miserable coat stuck In |
the garage door Why. you might have
been arrested and all sorts Of terrible
thlnRs"'
There. there!' soothed Mary. ITS
all right! It's all right. honey! I'd do
a million times more'n that for my little
Eirl any day In the whole wear. Just
YOU forget all about what 1 did. It's
what I'm here for
FORGET it?" cried June. Never as
long as l live! Oh. Mary. you were
III you want to pay me for It," put
in Mary You can do 1t by keeping out
OF such horrid messes another time. oh.
dearie promise me you won't DO such
things any more. Promise Mary you
won't. Whenever YOU get to feelinR one
Of those fearful Red Circle fits coming
on you Just run and tell me. Ana III
lock YOU up till it's all over"
The girls eyes narrowed. The back OF
her right hand began to throb.
I'm so tired!' she murmured. ana
I'm 10 faint. with all this fright and
danger. It's given me sick headache.
I'm going to bed. Tell mother, won't
you? And say don't want any dinner
sent up to me. 1 want to 20 to sleep ana
not be disturbed till tomorrow morning.
EludinR the worried old womAn's TOT
rent of suggestions as to aromauc
spirits OF ammonia and aspirin and not
own bedroom. Turning the key in the
door, she went to the long French win
dows that opened out on a Vtpe-Wreath-
ed balcony. closed the window, drew
down the blinds, and then advanced to-
ward the chair wherein lay her pack
ages. Her face was grave and was set
in lines of calm determination that aged
and strengthened the young features;
on her hanback, blazed and throbbed
the Red Circle, lurid and pulsating
against the white flesh.
Chief Allen sat in his private office.
clearingaup some odds and ends OF the
days official routine, before going to
his club for q belated dinner. Night had
fallen, but a broad streak of moonlight
lay athwart the window sill.
His secretary came in from the outer
office.
Young fellow outside there. chief" he
announced. Wants TO see YOU. He's
Here's note he scrubbed for you.
He's from Mr.. Lamar"
The chief took the slip Of paper his
secretary rendered, and read the three
written lines IL contained:
4 am dumb Cannot talk. But l
cam hear. 1 must see the chief of po-
lice. Mr.. Lamar sent me-
"oh, all right All right" grunted
ner some time between now and Christ
mas, If have luck. Bring him in"
The secretary vanished reappearinG
in a moment with young man In
tow.
The visitor was quietly dressed and
wore on his head golf cap, which II
evidently did not occur to him to re-
move IN the august presence Of the
chief. He also carried under one arm
a crook-handled Malacca cane.
The newcomer was somewhat short OF
stature. for a full-grown man. Hts face
was round and youthful looking. HIS
delicately nodded hands were Rloved.
We'll. sir" said the chief. none too
Eraciously. what can i do for you?
What does Mr.. Lamar want?"
Unbidden. the caller seated himself
gracefully in a chair beside the chief $
desk and drew from his pocket a little
Ecratchpad and a pencil. without TAX
ing of his riRht-hand glove. he wrote a
line or two on the pad. tore on the sheet
and handed 1t to Chief Allen. The chief
my name Is Altman. ladies' tailor.
Mr.. Lamar wishes me to look at the coat
he left with YOU this afternoon.
Get IT," Allen commanded his secre-
tary TITS that black coat I told you to
take TO the detective bureau"
Presently the secretary returned
with the coat. which he handed to the
chief. The latter passed II over to the
dumb youth. who had sat duly uninter-
ested during the MESSENGERS brief abb
sence.
The caller took the coat. handling II
with the deft skill Of a born garment
worker. He looked for the label. frown-
ed slightly at noting its absence; then
fell to examining infinitely the work
Al last. looking up from his inspec,
ton. he reached for his scratchpad
CHANGING doubtfully once more at the
coat. then scrubbed:
II am almost sure this Is one of ours
but can't swear to 1t. Kindly let ms
cutter. He will know at once. and oul
books will show who bought It,"
The chief read the scrawl, his bushy
brows contracting.
Lord. mani? he broke out. II can
turn the thing over to you like that /
is going 40 be needed as evidence"
The caller got no. as though to depart
Hold on" said Allen. on secon'
thought, you can take 1t. But mus
send an officer with you to make sur
Il gets back here all right when YOU
cutter has had look at It,"
IL there was flicker of hopeless dis
appointment in the youths dark eyes.
escaped the chief. who was lust thel
pressing a buzzer on his desk.
At the summons q policeman entered
S lanF 2 sf% 70 a ss as the
ncer saluted. go along with this youn
fellow TO his shop or wherever his cut
ter happens to be. Don't let that Goa
out Of your sight. And as soon as he
4cne showing i TO p c U,it6 u prIms
in the detective bureau,
The policeman salutvd again. IN
visitor rose and bowed slightly 70 IN
shjst who nodded in return. Then IN