The Holbrook news., 1922-08-11

That's when 1 met her. She's one bred. She has fought against heavy odds all her life to keep good and hon. est. And she's done it."
 "She has that" agreed Mrs. Mul- doon, heartily. Annie is a good girl. I always liked her"
 I'd bet my last chip on Annie. So last night I went straight to her. She wouldn't throw down Slim Jim, but she gave me an address. I went there and met Durand."
 With his gang?" asked Tim.
 "No; waited till they had gone. I locked myself in a room alone with him. He took eight shots at me in the dark and then we mixed.r
 "You bate him! l can see in in your eye" cried Muldoon. pounding the table so that the dishes jumped.
 You'll have to ask him about that" Clay passed to more important facts. "When 1 reached home Kitty was there. They had dropped her in the park to make safe getaway"
 That's good"
 But Tim-when Annie Millikan gave me the address where Jerry Du- rand was, the driver of my taxi saw her. The man was Slim Jim."
 Muldoon sat up, serious look on his face. Man, yuh split the beans that time. How'd you ever come to do it? They'll take it out on Annie, the dogs" The eyes of the policeman blazed
 Unless we stand by her. First we've got to get her away from there to some decent place where she'll be safe"
 Mrs. Muldoon spoke up. And that's easy. She'll just take our spare bedroom and welcome. Sure the girl needs a mother and a home. An I don't doubt that she'll pay her way"
 "Then that's settled. Will you see Annie, Tim? Or shall IF"
 "We'll both see her. But there's another thing. Will she be safe hereW
 "I'm goin' to have a talk with Slim Jim and try to throw scare into him. I'll report to you what he says"
 They took a trolley to the lodging house where Annie lived.
 The girl looked pale and tired. Clay guessed she had slept little. The mem- ory of "Slim" Jim's snarling face had stood out in the darkness at the foot of her bed.
 ''Is this a pinch?" she asked Tim, with a pert little tilt to her chin.
 "Yuh can call it that, Annie. Moth CT wants yuh to come and stay with us. You're not safe here. That gang will make yuh pay somehow for what yuh did"
 And if your mother took me in they'd make her pay. You'd maybe lose your job"
 "Td find another. I'm thinkin' of Quittin', anyhow"
 'I don't think they'd get Tim," put III Sidys I III gym tO SCC SOiilhS anu have a talk with him."
 You can't salve Jim with soft soap"
 Did I mention soft soap?"
 T heard some one most killed Jerry Durand last night" said Annie abrupt ly, staring at Lindsay's bruised face. "Was it you?"
 'Yes," said the Arizonan simply.
 Did you get the girl?"
 'They dropped her to save them selves. My friend found her with a man and took her from him."
 q hope you did up Jerry right P cried Annie, a vindictive flash in her dark eyes.
 q haven't called him up this mo'n- in to see how he's feelin'," said Clay whimsically. Miss Annie, we're wor- ried some about you. Mrs. Muldoon is right anxious for us to get you to come and stay awhile with her. She's honin' to have li1' girl to mother. Don't you reckon you can go?"
 TT wish yuh'd come, Annie" :" blurted out Tim, looking down his nose.
 I'm an alley cat you're offerin' to take in and feed. Tim Muldoon," she charged suspiciously.
 "Yuh're the girl-my mother loves." He choked on the impulsive avowal he had almost made and finished the sen- tence aWkwardly.
 The girls face softened Inside, she was a river of tenderness flowing toward the Irishman. I'll go to your mother. Tim, if she really wants me-" she said almost in murmur.
 You're shOutin' now, Miss Annie," said Clay, smiling. "She sures wants you. I'll hit the trail to have that talk with Jim Collins"
 He found "Slim" Jim at his stand. That flashily dressed young crook eyed