The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1916-02-05

Am b'orRe Hadner n manager
Of this hotel, Mr.. Lamar" The man
spoke hurriedly. ~ 70 distressed.
Several guests have lost articles Of
jewelry tonight. am afraid Q pro.
fessional thief Ia at work anon them.
Can't you do something about Il, Mr..
Lamar hate TO trouble you. but"
oh, that's all rieht-that's oil
right Lamar muttcrcd iudistinctiy.
Has anyone who reported q loss TO
you said anything about o Red Circle.
Mr.. Radncr?"
No. don't think 10. Nobody has
the slightest clue. rs tho clsversst
sort Of theft I've ever known. There's
n master crook operating here. I'm
certain"
I'm see what I can do, Mr.. Radner.
Just 10 OF and minglt with the guests
as though nothing had occurred. will
you7 I'll BE- out In = minute"
Lamar came back to the bench and
sat down. his hands clenched tightly,
his lover Jaw p~rotruding In an ugly,
determined way. The Japanese silk
draperies behind him l..oved slightly
as II In obedience 10 Q gentle breeze.
June put her hand over his. sooth.
insly.
you are terribly worried over this
mystery" she said softly. Let the
help o solve II. won't you? Who
knows but that ! may develop into Q
regular detec-er-crime specialist"
Annoyed and worried as he was
Lamar threw back his head end
laughed heartily.
"All right. Miss Travis" he said
gravely. "In appoint you my first ~
sistant on this a . Perhaps you can
help me-"
June turned toward him. her face
alIght
I'm do my best" she promised.
will you let me come to see you
tomorrow morning to tell you . few
more details OF this case?' he inquired
eagerly.
IA DO delighted TO have you come
June replied heartily. I'm rather ex.
cited about the idea OF joining forces
with you and-oh!"
She broke on suddenly and put her
hand to her throat. II was bare. Her
pearl pendant was gone! She twisted
around with lightning rapidly. drag
ging Lamar around with her. The
portieres OF Japanese silk were parted
slightly. Protruding from the opening
was q white hari with slender. taper.
ing fingers. Ha rging from the over.
m%anicured iingertips was q pendant OF
pearls. Emblasonsd on the back OF
the hand was IN irregular circle OF
brilliant scarlet!
Lamar and June sat ~ 10 paralyzed.
until a scraping sound shattered the
spell.
Lamar sprang to his feet. jumped
over the bench and tore the portieres
from the heavy brass poles that sup.
ported them. He found himself In n
little oblong recess, Directly In front
Of him was q long window opening
presumably or the porch.
With q ruttercd i%mprecation ne
threw himself ut the closed window,
expecting II to give. The force OF hts
onslaught shattered several OF the
small panes. but his progress was
blocked by a wicker porch sottee that
had evidently been placed there for
that very purpose.
Unable to check his speed he tum.
bled headlong over this settee and
landed bruised against the outer rail
Of the porch. The frail settee had
cracked under his weight and the thud
Of his falling body sounded unnatural.
ly loud on the still air.
II was this sudden jarring that
awakened Mary from her nap In the
deep chair. With tho dull gaze. or
q person Just reused from sleep.
tho old woman rubbed her eyes
AID looked about. In the n room,
hut In q far distant corner. she heard
tho soft rustic OF q worlan's skirt.
Then tho clink OF glass against metal.
Sho twisted quietly in the chair un
I'll sho was c%rouching on her knees
on the scat OF Il, facing the back
Cautiously sho raised hor body until
her eyes were just above the edge
What she saw made her forget hei
Own predicameIt.
Over In n half.lit corner wal n large
square PEDESTAL holding a bronze stat
uette. Standing so that It's shadow hal
concealed her. was the daring Woman
Ia Black, her right hand lifted no thai
the feeble light from the hanging lami
fell athwart It's back. On II blazed q
Red Circle!
Mary lodged down behind the chat,
top ~ the woman slowly turned heI
head. After . few seconds the sound
Of liquid dripping into a glass made
her anxious TO look again.
Tho woman was holding q small
sponge In her left hand. She squeezed
IL dry into q glass half full Of water
Srliling enthusiastically 10 herself. she
rubbed the back OF her right hand
with the dampened sponge. The Red
Circle disappeared.
Breathlcss with excitement. MARY
strained her eyes to catch every move
She saw the Woman take up the glass
deliberately spill the liquid on ths
floor, and gather T. brush. tiny box oI
water colcr paints and the sponge
from the pedestal. Leaving the glass