Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1916-12-08

thO tcot no udu plhuHeu-tut tcol
which, he believed, would prove to
him, once and for all. June's guilt or
| innocence.
With shrinking heart, but with firm
step, he approached the Travis house.
And at the same moment, Yama,
the Jap butler. was privily conveying
Smiling Sam" Eaganrs late breakfast
to the attic. For some occult reason.
Sam loved to torment and brighten the
dapper little butler. And Yama's Wis
its to the hiding place were moments
OF terror to the poor little yellow man.
| Today was no exception. He set the
| tray down in front of Sam and started
to pour out glass of wine for him.
But Yama's hand shook pitifully, from
sheer fright. A spoonful Of wine fell
| on Sans knee.
! With truly terrifying growl Eagan
snatched up the carving knife he still
carried In his belt and rushed at the
Jap.
I'm going to cut my monicker on
| your measly hearth" he snarled.
Yama did not pause to see II the
threat would be fulfilled. Dropping
everything, he fed.
Eagan returned the knife to its
| place, chuckling amusedly at the
scare he had given the butler. Then
he picked up the bottle of wine and
tried to read its LABEL
But the light was dim and his eyes
were nearsighted. He went over Ito
the window to get a better view of
the label. Close to the pane he stood
for an instant, curiously and laborious-
| ly spelling out the name.
And, in that instant, Max Lamar,
turning in at the front walk, CHANGED
| to look up-and saw him.
Lamar halted and stared upward
more keenly. But Sam had moved
| away from the. window. Max, with
| the excitement of a hound on the
scent, bounded up the veranda steps.
At the top. he collided violently with
little figure that shot out of the
front door. 1t was Yama, still in
flight from Sans imaginary pursuit.
What's up?' demanded Max.
Yama stared, speechless and gasp
ing.
Whats the matter?" repeated La
mar. did you see him, too? Were
| you going for the police?"
"Saw-saw nobody" babbled the
Jap, still remembering Sans threat
of what he would do should Yama be-
tray his hiding place. Saw nobody.
| Going for little walk. /"
Going for a little hundred-yard
dash, you mean," corrected the per-
| picked Lamar. Let me in there. I've
| just seen"
why, Mr.. Lamar" exclaimed a
voice from the foot of the steps.
Max turned, to see June, in riding
dress, crop in hand. mounting the
veranda toward him.
Miss Travis!" he said, hurriedly,
II caught glimpse of a man I'm al
most sure was Sam Eagan"
"Really?" asked June, her heart
beating fast. How interesting!
Whereabouts"
''In that topmost window of your
house. The attic window. suppose.
He was"
What nonsense!" she laughed, nerv-
ously. How could he possibly"
Il must go and look for him." insist
ed Lamar. THAT is, if you'll let me.
He probably remembered your good
ness to him in other days, and sneaked
in here to try to persuade you to help
him. Let me go in, please. He
~ TN
June, too confused TO make any pro-
test, led the way into the house. She
was sick with terror. In the library
doorway they met Mrs. Travis. She
came forward, cordially, to greet
Lamar. The crime specialist cut short
her salutations by saying, brusquely:
Mrs. Travis. have reason to think
criminal is hiding in this house.
Smiling Sam Eagan, the crook l told
you about, down at Surfton. May l
search for him."
why certainly" assented the star
tied old lady. Butch, l do hope you
are mistaken, Mr.. Lamar! l can't
believe"
Max had already started up the
stairs. June, dreading to go with him,
yet dreading far more to remain in
suspense. followed. Mary, who had
been crossing the lower hall as Lamar
entered, hurried after her.
The search of the next floor was
merely perfunctory.
He's not down here!" declared the
crime specialist at last, in growing i'm
patience. 'I'm going to try the at
tic. How do get to it?"
He was standing close to the door
way, as he spoke, the doorway lead
ing to the attic stairs. And his strong
voice carried every word to the fugi-
tive above.
At the sound, Eagan started to his
feet, knife in hand. This attic was
no place to be cornered like rat in
a trap. If he could get downstairs,
knife-thrust in Lamar's body might
leave the way free for him to escape
to the street. Yes, and that same
knife-thrust might silence Lamar for
he no nf thaI