The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-06

No. 35
 The three men and the girl stood silently on the steps and watched the car, with Tracy behind the wheel, draw slowly to a haltIn front of the house.
 q knew he was honest" Ballin mur- mured. as though to himself. You see, Judge" he said in an undertone, turning to the other. q was right"
 The judge bowed his head in answer. but kept his eyes fixed on the little chauffeur who climbed from behind the wheel and ran up the steps.
 Think I'd skipped?" he asked by way of greeting. Thought I'd eloped with the rig. eh? Well. I didn't Come on in the house; maype I can tell you something"
 Together they trooped into the library. Frances took her place in the big chair among the pillows, the judge walked over to the mantel and found a cigar, while Tracy stationed himself by the table and faced the others. When I went out there on the steps," he began after short pause, q got an idea. I began to think if there was anyone in the house they might get out by the roof, cross over to some of the other houses and get out that way. So I pulled the car down about halfway to the corner toward Firth avenue, because that's the way l fig- l ured they'd go, and waited. with my motor running.
 "Well. I was there for about five minutes. when the motor stopped, and couldn't start it again-
 Tt choked up," Ballin interrupted. When it does that"
 "Yes. I found out" Tracy went on. '~The gas wasn't set right, and l got out to fix it. While I had my head down under the hood car drove up l the street and stopped before one of | the houses pretty close to this. It passed me so quietly that I didn't hear and only looked up in time to see some people crossing the sidewalk and getting into the machine. l don't know which house they came from. It may have been the next one to this, I or the second one. I couldn't be sure from where I stood. and besides was | too busy getting that gas adjusted" ! What kind of people were they?' l Judge Crane asked quickly.
 | "They were our people all right Tracy nodded There were two wo- men and a man. One of the women and the man were helping the other woman across the sidewalk, almost lifting her and getting her into the car. It took about half a minute, ther they started. and I slammed down the ! hood. got back in the car. showed my I foot on, the starter and trusted to luck | She took the spark and in about g second had her around and was after them They knew it all right, but they never made any attempt to shake me l off until we got down among the traf- | fic of Fifth avenue around Forty drive a car but that woman was SC much better she made me look sick | "The woman?" Ballin echoed.
 "The woman" Tracy repeated. Jus | after they started the woman and thu chauffeur changed places. and she cer tainly made that car talk. The las | saw of them they were headed fol
 the Grand Central, going up Park ave nue about 40 miles an hour. Jus about that time I got held up by thu traffic and when finally got clear ant after them they'd gone"
 l What did the woman look HkeI l Frances asked eagerly.
 T couldn't see" the chauffeur an
 swered with a shake of his head. "Be 1 sides she had a veil on. and a big coat
 "The mannish looking woman I saw
 in the tea room Frances exclaimed
 "Pll bet it was the same one. You re
 member I told you. Judge, I saw he
 with Red Larkin?"
 l The judge nodded. s'T.et me see h asked, turning to Tracy. When di'
 that happen? Was It after. or before pr. Rice arrived?"
 1 "After." Tracy answered. 'I say
 him come out of his house and wall
 along the street. I had just starte the car and was going up the block
 I suppose it was 10 minutes after h
 came in here that I saw the womel ] crossing the sidewalk"
 "You sec" Judge Crane exclaimed
 You see what happened. After tha
 woman hit me. she lodged back int
 this room, slipped out somehow, picke iup her man and the unconscious bod l of Mrs. Darrow-because I'm prett