The Washington times., 1916-01-13
{Cnntinued from YesterdaYO

The spell was broken. The tension
was relaxed. Lamar, at sight or June
Travis let the shoe tumble to the moor
forgotten, as he sprang up TO sreel ne,.
Sam laid down the hammer with a
er,nt of reaction. AS Lamar strode
forward to meet June the cobbler thrust
the shoe into the breast Of his own shlrt
and substituted for 1t another one from
a nearby pile on the moor ,,o. o,d
Then he numbered to his 1eet ann 40
waddled forward to pay his respects 10
his lovely guest. who was chatting am,
natedly with the visibly fascinated
Lamar. ~, ,.
How are things going, Sam, asked
June. cheerily. turning from Max as
the cobbler reached her side. rs me
rheumatism any better? And 40 people
THE rheumatism is pretty bad, miss.
said Sam, with a fine show of courage.
but I can stand 1t. The doctor did IL
lot of good last month: put ne won
til I pay tho twenty-five dollars l owe
him on his last bill. So I guess ~
have to grin and bear it awhile longer:
quick sympathy. Indeed you shall not
grin and bear it. another day: Here.
taking three bills from her handbag.
pay that cranky bear of doctor this
treatment. Tcii him to send his next
hill to me. I must go now. MY mother
and Mary are waiting for me IN the car ar
outside tneTe. Hoou-ps' SAM 6O -
Mr.. Lamar" , l.,
Rut Max would not be dismissed in
this fashion. he insisted on going 70
the car with her. and. on me way ne
managed to angle successfully Tor an
invitation to call on her at the Surfton
cottage.
After which he stared at the auto
mobile until it bore her out OF sisht'
Then he wandered on down the street
planning busily-not for the solving
of the Fed Circle mystery, hut to dis
cover some way OF ARRANGING ms
work SO a to leave him an entire aft
Crnoon and evening free FOR run TO
Surft on by -thc-Sea
Sam EaEan and the mNsteriousiF
rattling shoe were quite wiped from
his mind.
Sam, meantime. his professionally
genial smile glued to his red face, was
looking down at the twenty .hve do',
lars June had so generously forcen
upon him. But, though his eyes were
fixed on the money in his hand, his
mind was not.
twenty-five dollars. Just at present
seemed to Smiling sam p1ti1uliH
or an infinitely larger amount. Nis-
ions so bright as to take away; Tor
tho moment. even the memory or MS
narrow escape from exposure In the
matter OF the hollow-heeled shoe: \
mighty inspiration was gripping Sam
i;asan: an inspiration born or MS
talk with Lamar.
After a moment Of thought he nod
ded his head. stuck the money INTO ms ms
shor. chen he Went to the secret
door among the shoe shelves ana
opened 1t. Passing into the hidden
room he crossed to where the dnS
cared old calendar hung on the wall.
Lifting this calendar, he disclosed n
cupboard behind it. RearhinE into
this, he pulled forth telephone. took
the receiver from the hook. and called
for q number.
-NtIss "a Salle's apartment" he ask :.
ed presently: then: THAT ' on, Alma
--Sam-Come around here In rush.
There's something big. Hurry up.
Fagan returned to the shon. put on
his coat and went out into the neigh
horhood to do a little shopping. II the
things he bought were not of the sort
cobbler usually huvs there was no
one TO comment on his odd sste.
Back home he came and through to
the hidden room; there depositinc his
purchase in the telephone cupboard be-
hind the calender. He had barely re-
gained the front shop when woman
From her present dress and hearing
the visitor might have been a well-clad
shopgirI. or a rather superior ladY's
maid The kind who could be pardoned
for trying to economize by patronizing
third-rate shoemaker,
Alma La Sale was perhans twenty
nNP, perhaps llllit CHt was VI
m. dunn height: wiry. dark. and incln-
ing to sallowness. NEVERTHELESS, she
was decidedly pretty. and she had the
faculty of fitting herself TO any need
fu role. from society girl to factory
hand A clever actress, clever thief
in fact. one of the best pickpockets and
crowd " orkers" in the state.
She was an Invaluable source OF
revenue to Sam. And. apart from heI
uncannv deftness at robbery. he knew
he could always count on her wit and
daring to carry out any campaign he
might devise.
Hello. kid" was his greeting. this
morning You didn't waste any time
That's right. You cot a train to catcf
and some fancy hacking to do, first
Train to catch?" she repeated eagerly
ITO Surfton- -bv-the-Sea There's a bis
ball at the Surfton Hotel toniEht. Oui
man there tipued me to II. You're go
ing to 'opcrate' at the ball
But
Its a new angle we're, going to worr
fr,m. on this" he pursued There
ought 10 be II not Of cash in it, EVel
hear Of the Red Circle ?'
OF course" she made answer WHO