The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-11
OUTSIDE THE LAW
By STUART RIVERS C0.author of "IOve Afr nirs a Lonely Womnn1

fore
 The sleeper was still out of their line 1 ot vision, but as Frances followed Ballin down the few remaining steps, she caushi sight of an immense chair drawn up to an open fire. A man was stretched out between it's deep arms a young man, dressed in evening clothes. Sound asleep he was snoring lustily, his mouth partly oren as he lay back against the soft cushions
 The sleeper was hardly the type of man they had expected to ind indeed the sight of his figure came as a distinct surprise to the three men who crowded softly down. the stairs, and the judge was evidently on the point of voicing this surprise when Ballin warned him, with finger fo his lips. to remain silent.
 After taking care to swing the door back in place. which fitted so niceiy into the paneiling of the room to be quite lost. they crossed the floor, followed BallIn out Into the hall. Once there he pauseS. drawing the others close to him. m afraid this isn't going to be as easy as we thought he whispered The crooks may own this house. but I'm in- clined to think the reverse" "Why% the judge asked.
 Because I know that man in there. 7
 You know him?H Ballin nodded. Yes but only by sight. His name is Jack Morrison, a very wealthy young chap who hasn't the least object in being mixed up with anything that savers of the criminal He has ali the money he wants. position, t.t.a. everything else"
 Yes, but this may not be his house" " Judge Crane objected.
 If it isn't his house then it's the house of a friend of his. which amounts to the same thing. But we'll have a look around. If we can't find naything, we'll go outside and ring the bell and get him up that way. It wouldn't do to be caught here"
 Dr. Rice nodded ''very good he vhis- pered. Have you any idea what you ex- pext to find?''
 Not the least" Ballin returned, but if you will tell me who built that pass age I'll come pretty close to telling you who it was spirited the old housekeeper away or who is hiring James twin brother. or if there is anyone behind Red Larkin, as the judge thinks. We'll try that little room at the back first"
 Moving along the hall they came at last to the room which corresponded to Judge Cranes study. It was fitted up much in the same manner, big desk occupying the wall between the two win dows that looked out on an air shaft. litter of papers was strewn across the desk top, in the middle of which sat a telephone.
 i've just thought of something, ' Frances said as she watched Ballin run rapidly through the papers. Suppose the passage was built without the owner or this house knowing it?''
 sJmpossible' Ballin exclaimed.
 ..Nop the girl insisted. These peo- pie must go away in the summer. the place could be left in the hands Of a caretaker and he might have been in the plot"
 'eYes," the judge put in. And what is more. my house is closed for two months during the summer It would have been easy sailing.
 'It would have been so much easier Tor them to buy it." Ballin said.
 ''Then what of young Morrison out there in the library?' the judge asked with smile.
 Before Ballin could answer pr. Klce suddenly reached forward in an ineffect- nal attempt to save drawer which Bal lin was in the act of drawing ous Tne nbysician was just a fraction of sec ond too late, for the drawer came entire ly out of the desk, slipped from Balm $ hand and went crashing to the floor' splitting the silence of the house into thousand fragments.
 (To be continued tomorrowD (Copyright. 1919 Thompson Feature
 Service.)