The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-01-27
OUTSIDE THE LAW
By STUART RIVERS
co-authOr of .fLOve Afr air. of Lonely wos..n"

of values returned and in that brief moment she mentally reviewed her chances of escape.
 It was a man who had interrupted her slrmher. He stood, bending over her and with gasp of eonsternation Frances glanced up into his face.
 ''oh." she breathed, a great sense of relief coming to her as she caught sight of Baliir's face. Its you?"
 "s-h,, he whispered. Don't let any enc hear you.''
 Night had closed down upon the out side world. but in the dim light of a shaded electric globe, Frances saw that the man was wrought up to a high pitch of nervous excitement
 Silently the girl rose to her feet in obedience to the others gesture and fel- lowed him, on tip-toe out into the hail. once there he took his way up curving flight of stairs to the third story and turned to Frances as they reached the top.
 Someone's in the house." he whis- pered, his lips close to her ear. And l don't want them to find you "Who is it?" she asked in the same guarded tone.
 Don't know" he returned. T just saw the light of their flash-lamp down. stairs, then I went back into the study to think about a hiding place and found you behind the chair. We're going into the attic by that ladder. Do you think you can do it?'
 In surprise the girl peered about her ii. the semi-darkness and discovered a step-ladder that led upwards into square of h xxybirI, a tFifla OpnSer than the surrounding ceiling. "Yes,'' she answered. and without further words set her feet on the rungs of the. ladder and mounted Ballin fol lowed her to the top, then stopped ovei the hole and drew the ladder up after them, depositing it carefully on the fiooi of the narrow attic. Look out, m going to close ehls door" he whispered.
 Frances moved carefully to one side and a moment later she saw the square of dim light go out and found herself in total darkness.
 where are your" she whispered witt a little catch in her voice. Its awfull5 da rk."
 In answer to her appeal light broke out in the blackness, coming from 2 small flash that Ballin held in his hand | I've been very unhappy, dear girl,
  l been having four fits a minute to thinF of you being mixed up in this thing. ant separated from me so I was powerles. | to protect you Has anything hap pened? Are you perfectly safe?'
 "Everything has happened" sh' | laughed lightly, the gloom, the terror the restless fear of Susie all vanishing 1 like curl of smoke as she felt hi trong arm about her shoulders And ,o+ fa in a least RIIf ft 6OPSn matter now.'
 "I want to know what has happened?' he said. "Do you feel able to tell me?' | Able" she said in surprise. T was only wondering if you weren' too sleepy? You must be worn out.
 Not now, she laughed But I d. think that nap in the corner really saVe' my life The last thing I remember wa when your sister ran down the stairs She just told you that someone wa waiting to see you"
 You don't mean you have been ther all that time?" Ballin asked in surprise Why, it's nearly F o'clock now
 "No wonder I feel so rested France laughed. Though I was so stiff an cramped from the wretched corner. Now for my adventures. Then I want to hea what you have been doing, and afte
 that we have to think of some way o escape"
 Escape from New York?'' he aske wonderingly "The Judge would never | NO" she interrupted 'I don't mea that I'll explain later. Some of tn things that have happened to me don't believe myself, so I won't blam tyou if you think I am drawing on m imagination"
 He shook his head. smiling, as he drev her to a seat on an old trunk in tn | corner of the attic.
 To Be Continued Tomorrow. Copyright, 1920, Thompson Feature I Service.)