The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-02
OUTSIDE THE LAW
BY STUART RIVERS
Co-authOr o AFT Mrs of a Lonely Woman

! girl for a woman who was friend OF
mat crook of the railway COACH
Jane Balm was anything but a type of
the underworld. Highbred, high-strung,
sne showed in every movement her claim
TO the best blood in the country In
very strong, forceful sort of way she
was strikingly handsome, with a heavy
mass of black hair worn in a, braid low
over her white forehead. Her lips were
somewhat full, but the eyes overshad-
owed this possible defect, for they
sleamed a full luminous brown, sympa-
thetic, wonderful eyes that fascinated an
observer with their beauty.
Charmed" she murmured, smiling at
Frances in friendly comradeship, and
holding her fingers for an instant in her
own Frances could find no hint in the
others attitude which questioned her po-
sltlon, nor did Jane even so much as
glance at Frances costume, dusty and
rather disheveled by the train trip. You
don't mind if join you7s' she asked,
turning to Balm, who was still standing
/ beside his chair. II just came in for a
bite. We're going to have a meeting at
the Holland house a little later
Always a meeting, isn't it, SIS" Bal
lin returned he drew out a chair for
her. Don't you ever get tired of it?'
Jane smiled at Frances as she sank
into the chair. Hes forever poking fun
at my CLUBS, sne Sdlu. are you inter-
ested in womens clubs?"
NO" Frances returned. I'm afraid
I'm not. You see' she added with just
shade of defiance, 81 have to work for
living, and when one has to do that
they haven't much time for anything
slseA"
II imakine not" Jane answered with
a quick laugh. But I'm sure you would
like it,
A little pause followed. Frances found
, another opportunity to study that face,
but the other girl apparently was UNI
aware of the scrutiny, for her eyes idly
roamed the restaurant not with the open
purpose of finding anyone, but seeming
to discover vague interest in ferret
eyed man who had taken the table in an
fopposite corner.
This last person was having trouble
with his order, and his voice, as he
spoke to the waiter was neediessly loud.
Jane frowned little as she watched him
and at last her brother also turned MS
attention from the card and looked
across the room at the stranger.
Henry" his sister said quickly. You
haven't told me why you are back in
town. I thought you were to be gone
until the middle of the week"
Yes he answered, bringing his eyes
back to his sisters face. Il was, but
there was a robbery up at Mrs. Van
Roden's."
"A robbery?7 Jane repeated.
Yes Do you know her pearl neck
lace? Well it was lifted, and | came
back to New York to see about getting
some detectives to work on the case,
but on the way-n the day coach l
mean, as l couldn't get a chair car-the
blamed thing showed up in my pocket
and it was only through Miss fuckers
presence of mind that 1 wasn't yanked
off to the Jug as the thief
"Reallyssv Jane exclaimed How do
you means
"She saw the real thief poke the string
of pearls in my pocket" BALM explained,
and showed him up, and there was
detective there that nabbed him.
Really" Jane asked again, and as
Frances watched her face she had
sudden, unaccountabe feeling that Miss
Balm was not altogether pleased at the
news.
Copyright, 1919 Thompson Feature
Service)
Cro be continued tuesday,