The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-20

and his plan understood, the In
spector gave way to disquieting
nervousness. He stood up and
stepped around the desk. putting his
hand on Garth's shoulder.
Watch out for yourself" he fall
tered. II don't want another Kridel
case on my conscience"
The name dampened Garth's en-
thusiasm. He had never known Joe
Kridel who, year ago, had been the
ascending star Of the bureau. But
the manner of the young mans death
was depressingly familiar to him
found stabbed through the heart in a
private house whose dweilers had
heard no alarm. The key to that
puzzle had never been discovered.
Even the inspector had harbored the
nature of Kridel's assignment that
night of his murder.
Before making his arrangements
Garth called at the inspectors fiat
This was. in fact. preparation.
Without seeing Nora he felt he would
not be armed to enter these unfair
lists with death.
He found her by thHwindow In the
sitting room. She looked, he thought,
more Latin than usual, although the
black clothes she habitually wore &C
centuated her dark hair and flashing
eyes, the olive complexion and regu-
lar features she had inherited from
her italian mother.
She smiled up at Garth and. as al
ways in face OF that smile, he recalled
the unexplored neutral ground where
their minds had never really met.
This impression had unquestionably
retarded the development of their re-
lations. 1t had until now held their
emotions In the leash of friendship.
Garth had no idea of swapping that
cord at his entrance, but Nora's
proximity and the suddenness gof an
unexpected gesture distilled logic and
fairness for the moments irresistible
intoxication.
Their hands, reaching for the book
she had dropped, met. The quick
contact was galvanic to Garth. But
after a moment he became aware of
the impassivity of her fingers within
his violent grasp. He saw grave
trouble and an unanswerable doubt
extinguish the excitement in her eyes.
A premonition reached him.
Don't look at me like that, Nora.
You're going to marry me-"
She shook her head. All at once
there were tears in her eyes. Her
hand lightly brushed her black skirt.
"Jim, you've often asked me why
I wear these dark clothes. Now you
make me tell you. can trust you?
Because no one knows unless my
father guesses. For the man l was
going to marry, Jim. You see he
he died"
Garth arose and turned to the win
dow. He leaned there. staring at the
busy street, listening to its Earring
discords.
"Try to understand, Jim. I think
I scarcely do myself. only know
It hurts to see you unhappy. Six
months ago. when you first came. I
never dreamed man could make
even that much difference to me
again"
She sat down, hiding her face.
''Later-I don't know. How can
tellf How can anybody7".
She arose. She spoke wlstfully.
Then good-by. Jim. And you'll
try to understand? Maybe you'll
come to see me Just the same When
you get back?"
When I get back" he said.
Garth waited at the end Of the
bridge above Garrison. 1t was dark.
At O short distance two men smoked
and chatted. They had withdrawn
themselves in response to Garth's
moodiness. He fancied they discussed
him rs one already dead.
A whistle shrieked. The hills
rumbled. Flinging their cigars in the
water, the men rejoined Garth. He
slipped the mask from his pocket,
and secreted his features behind its
gray protection.
The train dashed across the bridge,
sparks grinding from its wheels.
When It stopped, painting sullenly
the two men sprang aboard.
Garth watched them reappear, lead
ing q third who wore grey mask
above a plain brown suit He heard
a croaking. unnatural voice issue
from behind the mask.
Didn't look for you so soon,
friends"
Excitement drove the melancholy
from Garth's brain. The undertake
ing had begun reassuringly. Sim
mons had no suspicion that he was
in the hands OF the police. Garth
noticed also as the train went on that
the passengers were not aware of the
substitution.
At last the train paused for the
change from locomotive to electric
car. Although he knew that nor
mally no passengers would board 1t
at this place, he gaZed anxiously
from the window. A man stood close
to the track with the evident inten-
ton of entering the train. Garth
saw him elude a brakeman. saw him
grasp the railing and swing himself
out Of sight. A moment later the
man walked into the car. stopped
dead, and turned sharp. inQuisitive
eyes on the gray mask.
you must be star gambler.
Judging from your face"
He continued to stare as though
expectant of an answer. Perhaps
some countersign was demanded.
Garth concentrated his thoughts with
dificulty. One word had strayed
circuitously. from the gang to him.
He used It at random. trying to ap-
proximate the voice he had heard at
the bridge.