The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-29

"Why--er-why, the yelled woman in black dropped that note she hurried by me-
 Lamar walked up close to her and looked steadily itno her wavering eyes. Miss Travis" he said gravely ''are i you quite sure of that?" Sure? Of course I'm sure she was 1 trying desperately to laugh. 'Why are I you making all this fuss over a, little bit | of burned paper? You make me feel all l spooky and criminal myself, with your solemn face and your horrid cross-exam- | ming"
 l She smiled brightly into his hard-set l face-and put an impatient hand on his arm.
 Do change the subject. I'm tired of ! playing witness. Come-lets talk about 1 books, music, or" she reached out to l take the note as she talked to him. l Deftly he substituted his other hand
 and grasped her suddenly chilled fingers: | at the same time he slipped the shred of paper into his side pocket 1 we'll have plenty of time to talk about books and music-some other time. Miss | Travis. Just now I'm intensely interested 1 in yelled women in black, who drop
 charred pieces of brokers notes as they 1 hurry along the street. I know you
 would enjoy being of use in fathoming
 this mysterious case. Would you mind
 showing me just where you saw this l woman in black?"
 {! June laughed easily l Why, of course, I won't mind, Mr.
 Lamar. You're making this trifing inci-
 dent such frightfully serious affair
 that 1t rather amuses me- Do detectives 1 Il beg your pardon-do crime specialists I always have to fasten on such silly
 things to track their criminals?" l Lamar ignored the sarcasm l You Will come?' he repeated. l I'll be ready to go out with you in two minutes she promised, running | lightly up the stairs l black figure moved quickly across the porch and entered at small side door,
 Lamar darted to the window too late
 to see more than it's shadow. With the
 note still in his hand, he walked a few l feet toward the stairs and stood looking up, his brows contracted, his eyes nar- rowed.
 l Upstairs, in the boudoir, June dragged 1 a hat from it's box and stood before the
 mirror swinging it on her hand. There
 was curious buzzing sound in her ears and things didn't look sharp and clear cut to her eyes, Even her own image in
 the mirror had foggy outlines
 Automatically she placed her hat upon
 her head and fastened the pins securely;
 then reached for her furs and gloves She was striving with all her young
 strength to down the hysteria that was
 rising in her breast and to loosen the l pamcky tlghtness in her throat 1 AS she turned to leave the room, Mary, breathless and shaking with terror. hur-
 ried through the door and threw her arms about her.
 You shan't go!' she declared passion l ately. My precious, my lamb-you
 shan't be led to the slaughter. He sus- pected you. He has from the first ,He came to spy, not to visit you. Don't go deare-don't go.'
 i T have brought it on myself" June
 answered duly. I've got to go. With his suspicion aroused, don't you see it's
 the only thing left to do?"
 1 She leaned wearily against the old
 woman, gripping her arm for support i I'll be able to turn his suspicion aside IT don't know how-but I'll do it. Oh. l I'm so tired"
 1 Just for moment she weakened and placed her head on, Marys shoulder. She 1 had always felt secure that way--as far back as her memory went. Even now, a woman grown, she found strange sense l of solace resting there.
 l stifieG exclamation from the nurse broke into her dream of rest Startled l she raised her head. Mary's eyes were 1 looking down at something. Stark fear was written in them, June followed her l line of vision
 She saw black sleeve, tightly gripped l by white hand in which vivid circle of blazing red had suddenly been reborn. 1 Mortified, she traced the flaming mark with a trembling forefnger. | Then the tension snapped and she sank to the floor. wimperingly helpless girl, with both hands pressed to her lips to muffle her frightened sobbing.
 Continued in Tomorrows Age-Herald.)