The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-21

herseif the question she saw his fingers oehlnd ms back, motion to her, and glid- lng into the room she snatched up the weapon dropping it down the front of her dress
 Larkin was the first to realize that she nad followed them, and wheeling with snarl he stared into her eyes.
 We'll. he asked what do you want?"
 What should I want?" Frances re- turned calmly. Didn't you tell me to come back here?"
 T did not" Larkin exclaimed Now. ,, beat 1t back in that store. and stay there, if you know what's good for you" Wait" Andy put in, turning upon the girl and holding up his hand for silence. No, bring her along"
 larkin was on the point of offering some objections to this move. which was evidently change of plan. when Willie Sims brushed aside the objection. T don't care,'' he broke out in answer to a look from Red. T don't care what safer with us than she is out there in that shop"
 Suppose you tell me what all this is about?' Ballin put in firmly, taking a s,en backward and facing the others. You seem to be doing lot or ordering. Whose affair is this, yours or miner" The man realized something of his po-
 
 on the face of things, but he had also made up his mind to save Frances if it lay within his power. You wait out side he added. turning to the girl This New York way of doing things isn't--,' 'Aw, shut up"' Larkin exclaimed roughly You
 As the man spoke, Ballin stepped for ward and struck at the others face with his clenched fist. It was a terrific blow, l P vuif aIT Ak mans body and landing with crashing force on the gangsters chin His head snapped back. a grunt escaped from lns lips and his body, willing like a bundle of old rags, slumped to the floor.
 The movement had taken the others by surprise, but their inaction was but mo- mentary. Willie Sims leaped across the few feet of space that separated him from Ballin and his powerful arms closed around the lawyers neck and chest, IE- ming his arms useless to his side. Get the girl, Andy he ordered tensely. "The girls all right, Andy returned, keeping one eye on Frances as she cow cred by the doorway. Search that guy for gun. He's got one all right" Ballin struggled frantically for mo- ment, then saw the hopelessnes sof figh>-' ing against the arms that were threaten ing to cut off his wind. It would be better, he decided, to husband his strength, and as this thought passed his head he relaxed, standing at ease and waiting for their next move. Alex paid no attention to his fallen com rade, but moving to Willes assistance he passed an expert hand over Ballin' s pockets felt inside his coat and at last sa tisfed that no weapon was concealed about the lawyers person, he stepped back drawing a big automatic from his own pocket and covered the other. | Willie released his hold and also stood back, breathing heavily from his exer- 1 tions.
 We'll Ballin asked, raising one hand | to his collar that he jerked back into place, whats the idea of all this stuffg'' l "Go on in there, Ballin,'' Alex ordered, waving his gun toward the other room. We're going to confirm those newspaper reports that you've met with an acei- dent"
 1 Gro be continued tomorrow) l (Copyright, 1920, Thompson Feature | ..t Service