The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-03-08
CONTINUED from Yesterday

sweetheart, ne WtHt Oh' Noiiy
me and well fight this curse
together. Side by side. with our
love to help us, well win the victory
, Max" she cried. a world OF graft
Jude and longing In her sob-shaken
voice. Max! You want me to be your
wife, after-after-r'
ply. viii you marry me?''
But" she faltered. "can you ever
forgive me for-?"
,, rEOrgiy Ssvo yO So;,,. he echoed why
She swayed toward him, her toar-
stained face glorifed by the love that
shone from 1t. But before his arms
could close around her. she started
back. pulling her hand away from him.
No, dear" she said. No, 1t can't
You don't love me?"
Love your she breathed. why.
Max. i didn't think there was anything
on earth so strong as this love OF mine
for you. l do love you. You know
do. l love you too much to be your
wife. can't marry you with this
black faint on my life-with this vile
Req Ru Circle sra burning hn r on my hand"
fight 1t together. We"
Il must fight 1t alone" she answered
with sad hrmness. AN alone. Max.
share the burden. But / won't let it
crush you-as 1t is crushing me. I
won't marry you. Not because don't
care enough, but because care a mil
lion times too much"
You caro-" he cried. THAT is the
only thing that matters. For the sake
OF your love. I'd gladly saddle myself
with far more terrible curse than the
Red Circle. Marry me. and"
NO. dear" she whispered. ut must
be no. Now and always. / understand
that now. For moment l didn't. But
that was because / didn't realize how
much / loved you. And now / want you
TO go. please; while l am still strong
enough to help you save yourself. Go
NO" he denied, doSgedly.
Best go. Mr.. Lamar" advised Mary,
gliding forward into the room and
slipping her arm around Junes heaving
She knows. And. anyway youll gain
think"
Max looked from one woman to the
other in puzzled irresolution. Then
II Will go" he said. briefly. but I'm
coming back. And I'm going to keep
on coming back until get the answer
want" =.
Smiling Sam" Eagan opened one eye
Then, very cautiously. he opened the
other. Nothing happened. He had had
him. lie lay blinking up at a white
ceiling--a ceiling much cleaner than
that Of any other room he could re-
member.
this was not an easy feat. For tie
blow with which Lamar had knocked
him senseless had so completely dead
ened his brain that Sam had not come
to himself until nearly an hour after
he had been carried to the nearest nos.
pital and had been dumped down on a
cot there.
Now. with much difficulty. he began
to collect his scattered wits.
He remembered hiding in the attic
OF the Travis house He remembered
hearing Lamar's voice In the hallway
below talking with June. He remem-
bered creeping down the attic stairs.
knife in hand. lie remembered sprinG.
ing a. Lamars uack and that June had
thrust the crime specialist aside out OF
the way of the descending blade. Then
there had been scrinmage OF some
sort.
But at that point memory halted.
And Imagination had to piece out the
How had Lamar happened TO be in
the Travis house and on his way to
the attic? Eagan answered the question
for himself in his own crook fashion:
The girl had evidently "squealed hal
told Lamar OF Sans presence in the
house.
was an easy way for MIN to pay off
Straightway Eagan's hatred for the
crime specialist included fierce hate
for June Travis as well She had pc
trayed him to the police? Well, there
that score.
aching head from the pillow and glared
around the ward In the doorway stood
a nurse. Chatting with her was one
of the policemen who had carried Eagan
TO the hospital and who had remained
to get a report on the disabled pris-
oner's condition.
Sam feebly beckoned to the nurse She
came toward him. He muttered dis
II want to-see the chief of police.
Tell him-important. Red Circle!'
lie slumped back on the cot again
glossy with headache.
The nurse conferred in low tones with
the policeman. Then she went to a
corridor desk whore stood a telephone.
Chief Allen had had busy morning.
Charles Gordon. the fugitive i,e0, attorney,
Justice. The chief had at once sent
word to Farwell who had come in haste
to police headquarters. to confront the
Gordon had been searched in Farwelrs
presence But no trace of the incrimi-
mating receipt could be found on him.
And, perforce, he had been released for
lack Of evidence to hold him.
The chief and Farwell were still sit
ting in the formers office at headquar-
ters discussing the case when the tele-
phone buzzed.
put back the receiver on the hook.
Smiling sam Eagan was captured by
Lamar toay at the Travis house.
knocked out. He was taken to the
wants to see me. Says it's something
important about the Red Circle case.
I'll step over there and"
Red Circle!" exclaimed Farwel,
THAT concerns me AS much as any one
In town. I'm going to the hospital
with you, II you don't mind"
IAN right" said Allen. Come along.
ltll do no harm. And most likely
Eagan's taking. l know the old crook
too we'll to put any faith in his mes
sage"
They found Smiling Sam" Eagan
propped up among a heap of pillows In
his hospital cot.
AS Allen and Farwell entered the ward
Eagan's broad face broke into one of
the expansive smiles that Won for
him his nickname. He held out his
huge hand to the chief as II TO well
come guest
Thanks for calling so promptly on an
old pal" he hailed his visitor right