Omaha daily bee., 1916-10-01
. The Grip of Euil'
TwelHh Episode---Into the Pit
CHAPTER XXIIl.
The Hell-Cats.


When, IL ever, the biography Of
John Burton. tenth marquis of Castle
ton, Is written, his adventure with the
gang OF notorious criminals known to
the police and to newspaper reporters
as the "Heii-cats'' will probably bulk
large In that interesting and exciting
record.
In the first place, 1t was through
their instrumentality that he had met
Grace Coe, an event fraught with the
utmost Significance 10 his future life;
secondly. he contrived to get himself
marked down for the gangs signal
vengeance, with results which nearly
proved disastrous on more than one
occasion.
The affair began SO quietly that no
one could have, suspected its extraor-
dinary outcome. One morning John
was seated in his study. going through
some business papers, when his valet
announced that poor Woman wished
to SEQ him. Burt.n at once gave an
emphatic refusal. He had learned
long since that philanthropy, II 1t
would Nbe reasonably successful, must
act along business lines. and all APP
peals for his assistance we're straight
way referred to a trustworthy secre-'
tary, wno either inves tigated them
one Of The many charitable associa-
tions In the city. By this means the
young millionaire was s1ved, at least,
from downright swlndlrg.
The servant was leav ry the room
when II became eVid.nt t1at the
would-be tisit4r refused to be denied.
She had cros1cd t1e hlll and was
striving to enter The study without
further announcement.
Moreover, John had heard a soft,
well-spokcn voice slying tearfuily:
II am sure II only Mr.. Burton
would come and zee my mother he
all this large city more deserving VI
assistance
Bitter experience should have
taught Eurton that the more plausi-
BILE the story the greater chance there
was that It might be ,sed on deceit.
But he never could refuse the appeal
Of woman 80. chan ring his mind
he bade the vlei allow the applicant
to enter. Yet, scme desrce Of pru-
dence having been forced on him by
events, he no sooner saw that the
newcomer was young and good look
Ing than he made eeeret sign which
warned the servant 10 renain within
earshot.
dressed. and seemed to be in state
Of genuine misery. told him that her
name WIS Blanche Griffin.
"My mother has been broken down
by anxiety and Illness" she explained.
Father died two years ago, and my
brother Is In hospital, having been
seriously injured while at work In a
munition factory. We have really
tried hard, MIR. Burton, to keep body
\ and soul together, but my mother
absolutely refuses to have our
wretched little family troubles investi-
gated by the ladies who come around
on what they term 'slum work II
Is not our fault that we have to live
In the sluns. and It Is hard on broken
down working people that they should
be classed with .outcasts simply be-
cause poverty has overtaken them"
The plea was nothing new to John,
He had often found the direst want
among the honest and industrious
poor. and one Of the chief difficulties
organized charity has TO conquer Is
brought about by the false pride
which refuses to make known its suf-
ferines. He was somewhat attracted,
tpo, BY the girls manner and appear
ahce. WA
C;lancing at diary. he found he
that morning. The weather was fine,
and the district named by the girl was
not far distant, 30 John decided to
accompany her, and. as his car was
temporarily out of commission, they
went there together on foot
Now. the valet happened to be an
unusually observant man He was
well acquainted with his masters s
temperament, and regretted the soft
hearted impulses which seemed to
lead Mr.. Burton into so much trouble.
He. the valet had formed a somewhat
unfavorabie opinion Of Blanche Grif-
tears did not deceive him at all. He
saw that the girl was well nourished,
that her hair had been tinted, and
that her cheeks bore traces OF make
up recently applied.
Further when his master and the
young woman crossed the avenue and
turned into side street, they were
followed BY stocky, overdressed
young man who seemed to have been
awaiting their appearance.
At any rate, for some reason which
the valet himself could hardly ex.
plain. this latest escapade Of his mast.
er rendered. him uneasy Above all
else. he did not like the name of ths
locality given by the girl as her moth.
er's residence. 1t was highly improb.
able that decent working class people
would live there at all.
So. deeming II best to satisfy these
vague doubts. he took hisshat and fol.
lowed Burton and Blanche. On turn.
ing the first corner he saw them walk.
ing about two hundred yards ahead
At an intervening street corner h,
was surprised to find the fiashil,
dressed man In conversation with {
certain Billy Reilly, whom the vale
recognized as q reformed crimina
now employed In settlement work b,
o Miss Grace Coe, only daughter O.
local banker. The valet, who sym
pathiyed with rescue work, had looked
In at the settlement once or twice. ant
had scraped up sort Of acquaintanc,
with Reilly, and he had no hesitation
now In approaching him. By the tim
he drew near, Reilly had parted from
his companion and was watching tn
latter with anxious eyes as the ma,
swung jauntily down the street afte
Burton and his companion.
who Is that fellow, Bnl?' inquire'
the valet
He Is a tough known as Two-Gul
Jake" said Reilly. Hes one OF tn
worst gun-men among the Hell-cat,
and he has just told me that they hav
ripe one in tow"
The valet instantly grew very wild
awake indeed.
what does he just mean by
'ripo one?" he inquired.
Il an afraid they're putin up som
game ON that young fellow who ha
tust passed with Blanche Griffin"
do you know her. too?" said tn
valet. now thoroughly startled,
AAf ronrna d0 khefQ their deCO,