The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-13


tributors were set aside in & separate
group and labelled mo good" Ten
per cent. were designated as fairly
good" and the remainder as good. "
1t must not be assumed that the divi-
sion had anything to do with the Loop
mystery. Mr.. Crow was merely fig
uring out who would pay and who
would not.
1t was shortly after ten o'clock
when he started, in a roundabout
way, for the home of Eliphalet Loop.
He approached by a far, circuitous
way and arrived at the gate after
travelling something like three miles
of wood and pasture-land, stealthily
following the stake-and-rider fences
In order to screen his movements.
He was well aware that Mr.. Loop did
not own dog. ON account of the ex-
pense.
The house was dark. Mr.. Grow
leaned against the hitching-post and
mopped his brow. Then he blew his
nose. 1t was his custom when he
blew his nose. to blow Ii with ire
mendous force. A thinly pleated light
appeared in one of the front windows
of the house. narrow little streaks
one above the other, shining through
the window-slats.
The Marshal of Tfnl1letown stared
He craned his neck. A chill of ex-
element swept over him. Was he
about to witness the surreptitious de
parture of the unwelcome guest?
lad he arrived in the nick of time?
| And what in the world was he to dc
/ If the fellow had a revolver? Easel.
mated, he watched one of the blinds
slowly swing outward. He held his
breath.
Suddenly it dawned on him that
the visitor was still expected, and not
on the point of departing. In that
case It behooved him to retire to {
less exposed spot, where he could OBJ
serve the fellow without being OBJ
served.
STOPPING low, he stole across the
road and wound his way through the
scraggly hedgerow and into the
brambles beyond. Just as he wal
settling himself down for his vigil,
most astonishing thing occurred.
A hand fell heavily upon his shout
der. and something cold punched hin
in the back of the neck-and re
manned fixed in that spot.
Don't move or I'll blow you
brains out" whispered voice in hii
ear. The grip on his shoulder tight
ened
"Who-who-" he started to gasp
shut upl" Kissed the voice of tn,
invisible one. 1--WE got you dead II
rights. Get up Put your hand
upi"
IL got 'em up" gulped MI
Crow, in a strangled voice. Don
shoot. Misterl IL promise to lie
you go, swear I will. It's"
'By thunder!" fell from the lip
of the captor. 1t was an exclamation
of surprise, even dismay.
Take it away, If It's a revolver,
pleaded Anderson. II withdraw fron
the case. You en- go as fer as yor
like. Eliphalet-"
Stand still. can't take a chanc
with you. You may be trying to foo
me with this rube talk. Keep zen
lupi"
Swiftly the stranger ran a han,
over Mr.. Crows person.
You ought to have gum" he SAT-
IN puzzled voice.
II loaned it last winter to NIL
Cupples, an he"
who the devil are your"
I'm the marshal Of Tinkletown
an my name is Crow-A. Crow.
made mistake, takln' up this case
Go on in and see Mrs. Loop IL yoi
feel like it. 1 won't say word t
anybody" A
Get down on your knees, Mr.
Crow, here beside me, an"
"Oh, Lordy, Lordy! You shorel.
ain't going to shoot. Mistery't2
II don't want you to pray. / wan
you to keep still. Don't make I;
sound-do you heart"
I've got wife an children"
shut upl Looki She's put ou
the light. Keep your eyes skinned
old man! He must be near Dom
make sound. My partners In thai
rain-barrel at the corner Of the house
II we can get him between us, hi
won't have any more chance than &
SNOWFALL in Look There he is
sneaking across the yard! BY golly
we've got him at last"
What happened in the next flfteer
seconds was revelation to the mos
recent addition to the forces of the
international Society of Sleuths Ht
witnessed the quick, businesslikt
methods of two of the craftiest mer
in the craftiest organization in the
world-the United States Secret
Service.
Two words were spoken. They
came, loud and imperative. from &
point near the house.
Hands upi"
The skulking figure In the yard
stopped short, but only for fraction
| of second. Then he made a wild
spring toward the front gate.
A shot rang out.
The man at Anderson's side leaped
forward through the hedge. Mr.
Crow was dimly conscious of mis-
hap to his erstwhile captor. He heard
his curse as he went sprawling over
a treacherous vine.
| Mr.. Crow did not waste a seconds
time. He leaped to his feet and
started pellmell for home. With rare
sagacity he avoided the highway and
laid his course well inside the hedge
row. He knew where he could strike
an open BLrelcu OIL meduOWldHu, anu
he headed for 1t through the
! brambles.
He heard shouts behind him, and
the rush of feet. If he could only get
clear of the cussed busiest That was
his thought as he plunged along.
Down he went with crashi
AS the marshal tried to rise, a
huge object ploughed through the