The Dermott news., 1916-08-17

mendous heave of body and arms he wriggled free from the policeman, AS | the latter instantly darted at him again. sam wheeled around and sprang out through the open window just be- hind him.
 The window was one hundred and thirty.two feet above the ground. And beneath it was cement pavement.
 Smiling Sam" Eagan had fought his last fight.
 He was stone dead before the first gaping attendant could reach the street and bend above him.
 Among those who gathered around 1 the shapeless heap was Max Lamar who. returning from June's home. had | decided to stop at the hospital for a word with the prisoner. The word was never spoken.
 The patrolman. recognizing Lamar | hastened to tell him the tale of the i battle emitting merely his own i'm prisonment in the closet,
 Tho chief had just been here. too, finished the officer. sam had sent for him Told him about the Red Circle woman and"
 Max waited to hear no more. Leay- ing the policeman in the middle of sentence he set off at swinging stride for the Travis home. Clearly, no time was to be lost.
 
 Mary had persuaded June to leave the library where everything spoke so eloquently of the bitter scene with La mar. The nurse had led the weeping girl out into the garden. There, seated beside her on a light rustic bench. Mary was trying vainly to com fort her
 And there Mrs Travis joined them. eager to talk over the capture of sam and to ask what Lamar had had to say to June in the library. She attributed the girls tears to excitement and re action after the fight in the hall above. Mary. as best she could, sought to save June from answering the torrent of questions and to turn the tide of Mrs. Travis conversation. Presently something occurred to make this kind ly effort no longer necessary.
 Wanna was ushering two men into the garden June recognized them as Chief Allen and Farwell. And her heart stood still
 Good day. Miss Travis" began the chief. awkwardly holding out his hand as he spoke You'll excuse Us for u- truding won't you? You see. We
 He paused June had accepted his nroffcred hand. He held her fingers in his for moment peering down at the back Of the little hand that lay Ill his own FarWel also stared wolfshly al her hand.
 But no circle rewarded their keen examination The back of Juae's hand was white and unmarked.
 What can | dc for you, ehiefe' asked June, struggling to keep her voice steady and pretending not to notice the double inspection of her hands.
 Well" stammered the chief, woe fully at ease. you see, it's this way, Miss Travis Smiling sam Eagan wanted me to sec you about about tho Red Circle"
 I'm afraid 1 can't be of very much help to you. answered the girl, Eve heard Mir Lamar speak about the Red Circle, of course and 1 read something about 1t. think in one of the papers, but that's really all know What did poor sam think I-?'
 Look" shouted Farwell, Tn savage glee look there. chief, Look.'
 When Allen had released Junes right hand the girl had allowed 1t to drop. carelessly. on the back of the bench. Farwell was pointing. excited ly, at it. The chiefs gaze followed the direction of tho stubby forchnger
 June. with a cry. thrust her hand be hind her But not before both men had seen the Red Circle begin to gleam through the soft wilderness of its flesh.
 Tho Red Circlen exclaimed Chief Allen.
 He took a step toward the girl. Her nerve going to pieces. she screamed ana Hcu lnlO lne mousse. Al the CnleI s next step he found himself confronted by Mary.
 The old woman. eyes ablaze. had snatched up the light bench and was hrandishing 1t wildly. i You lay ono finger on my precious i baby. Mir Chief" she snarled. like an angry cat. and III brain you with | this!"
 The men. unheeding. made as though to push past her toward the l house. She flung the bench straight across their path. And, in their on ward scramble. they stumbled over it
 As they gathered themselves up they saw Mary vanish into tho house in the wake of Juno. Tho chief-yellng to Farwell to watch the house from the i outside-ran ia pursuit
 June had fled upstairs, And half way up the stairway, Mary was hold. 1 ing aloft wicker chair. |