The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-23

voice answered after a little pause
1T doesn't make any difference any
way. l want to ask you if you got Mr..
BALM out all right"
"Mr. Ballin?" the Judge repeated-
What Mr.. BALM do you meang'
Before the girl could answer the
judge reached out and drawing BALM
to him, put the receiver to his ear.
at the same time holding his finger
on his lips.
You know what Mr. Balm" the
voice said a trifle impatiently. did
you get him out?'
What did she say?' Judge Crane
whispered. Quick!
she wants to know if you got me
out2'
Listen, my dear" the other said.
once more speaking into the instru-
ment and reckoning Tracy to him. II
can't answer questions over the tele-
phone unless you tell me who l am
talking to-"
Before he finished speaking he had
the receiver against Tracy's ear and
the little chauffeur heard a sudden
cry of anger from the other end of the
wire
Say" the voice exclaimed. There
amt no use in stallin' like that You
know this is the same party that called
up before. All 1 want to do is to tell
you something. Did you get him out?"
Say yes Tracy whispered, turning
with an air of excitement to the Judge.
The man turned quickly to the phone
and obeyed the order. Something about
the little chauffeurs manner gave the
judge certain amount of confidence
that they had found a valuable ally.
Thea the voice continued as Tracy
listened, his face showing his excite
ment iOu tolxo
care of him from now on because"
With sudden cry the voice stopped.
the heavier tones of a man came family
to Tracy's ear, and the girl after a
moment, again spoke into her tele-
phone. Listen, Mammie," she said, IT
can't talk any more to you now. I'll
call you up again sometime. Sure Yes.
III see you soon. Good-by." The jar
ring click of the receiver, sounded over
the wire and silence. Tracy replaced
his own receiver on the hook and
turned to the others
She hung up he exclaimed Say, do
you know who that was? 1t was the girl
was just tellin' you about. Her names
Annie Now if we can find out where she
was talkin' FROM"
That's possible" the Judge answered.
and cree more speaking into the teIe-
phone, he called for the manager
Someone mas just called this number"
he said at last ITS the last call that
has come over this wire, l want to find
out the persons phone number that called
me- This is judge Crane talking. Yes, I'll
hold the wire, but get that information If
you can, it's very important"
Not much chance" Balm put in as the
judge finished and sat back in his chair
Il doubt if they can give it to you, can
they?''
The little desk clock facing them slowly
licked away one minute after another,
Balm moved TO the chair where Frances
had taken her place and stood looking
down at the girl with curious express
sion of wonder in his eyes
You've been very brave he said after
a moment. stabbed and run away with
and saved in an automobile that threat
ened every minute to be wrecked, ana
you still look az though you had just
stepped out of a handbook"
"A handbook" the girl repeated, look
ing up at him with a smile. 1.-The band
box went through some pretty hard
knocks then she added. 'Tve lost my
hat and my hairs sight"
Il mean you," the man explained. Most
any girl | know would be half dead"
This is wonderful, she exclaimed
Excitement IL the breath of life to me-
so II seems the judge put in. turning
toward them. by George, Balm, you
should have seen her in the taxi, the way
she flopped over on that mans knees
Then ] punched him in the jaw and
knocked him cut. 1t was exciting all
right"
we haven't heard that story yet" Bal
lin reminded him. And I'm still wait
ing
The judge was again on the point of
speaking, when a sudden voice in the
telephone called his attention back to the
instrument
Yes" he exclaimed. '"This is Judge
Crane. What news?''
The wire huZZed in answer and look
OF keen disappointment passed over the
mans face. A moment later, with n lit
tie shake Of his head, he hung the re-
ceiver back in place and turned to the
others.
They've done us again. he said. THE
call came from 2 public telephone in the
station"
(To Be Continued Monday
Copyright, 1919, Thompson Feature Serv-
ice.