The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-01-06

No. 6l.
 It was on the tip of the girls tongue to ask her companion tine house Tn
 Riverdale was really where they were headed, but just in time she remembered that she was playing a part, that her name was no longer Frances Tucker, to Red Larkin, the man beside her on the cushion of the car, she was Mary sauna CTS. Frances Tucker had been murdered at least as far as Red knew to the con trary.
 So instead of speaking the words that trernbled on her very lips, she closed her mouth and settled back against the
 cushion at her side of the machine Gaining Broadway once more, they
 rushed along under the elevated tracks of the subway, until with sweep, they turned sharp to the left and raced for the hill down which Frances had taken that wild ride in Ballin's automobile. There was no doubt as to their destina- tion now. Though the road. viewed in daylight, held but little resemblance to the way she remembered it on the pre- vious visit.
 Meeting the by-road at last they travel ed this for a time, kicking Up cloud Of dust that swirled after the taxicap, until, when Frances was beginning to think they had missed the way, the gate posts came in sight and they turned into the private drive, pulling to stop be- fore a big old-fashioned house, which gave a first impression of being sadly in need of repair.
 "All right Larkin muttered souriy. This is where we get out" Frances, without waiting further in structions, stepped lightly form the mach inc and moved up the steps. Passing midway form the top she hesitated. taking this opportunity to scrutinize the man who had driven the taxicab. He was all but hidden in a heavy far collared oyercoat, but the girl. from even this meager view, gained a sudden dislike for him, His eyes-probably froVl the wiud--whefe red trimmed and cold and as he moved hih head to address short word to Red Larkin. she caught a glimpse of wide, dropping mouth, that shot his words out of one corner and closed again into something like a sheer of contempt
 Frances could not even conjecture who the man was. He held no place among | the brief inventory of Red Larkin's tools. 1 Indeed, from his attitude he seemed to hold a position SOIneWndl HiSuci ehAih the gangster. It was more as though ne was giving Red some orders. l "All right" Larkin answered impat- ientiy. You can go spout it to her if
 you want to-"
 Did I say anything like that?" the other parked in sudden anger. II said you'd better be careful about shootin' off your face to everyone you meet. i This girl--" His voice was suddenly lowered and the rest of the sentence reached Frances ears as jpmbled mon otone
 Some instinct told Frances that the
 driver would glance up at her and she
 turned away, walking the rest of the
 way up the steps with slow indifference l In a moment, Red was by her side, and
 with a key which he took from his pocket
 he unlocked the door and swung it wide
 open.
 Frances found herself, after she cross
 ed the threshold, in an atmosphere as
 cold as a tomb. A musty. unused smell
 ihung in the air that had been lacking
 when she was taken to this same place
 with Judge Crane. They had used s4iothef
 ldoor. she decided, though she could at
 tach little importance to this fact as Red
 lpaused by the staircase and turned tc
 liner.
 'Shut that door," he ordered briefly