The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-02
AS BIG AS A MANS
 THUMB NAIL
By CADE EVANS


 <Srong, well-cared-for hands. In the $ircle Of lamplight, near him, lay a slack case such as physicians carry On and on went the pen. making 1he only sound in the house, fol Bull" Beckendeck, standing behind < the long drapery of a window at the farther end of the chamber, was sc still that even his breathing would have been inaudible a foot away.
 Suddenly, on some far off stairs. a low-toned clock struck one The physician laid down his pen to look at his watch. As he did SO, a buzzer on his table sounded. With start he rose, crossed the room, and went out into the upper hall. There was the snap of a light switch. BuIi Beckendeck felt for the gat in his pocket, but remained otherwise mo- tionless.
 Presently he heard returning foot steps, and a woman's voice. As she came into the study beyond the open door she was saying:
 T saw your light as l was going home from the theatre. I knew you were up. Hal, you must give me something; just little. My nerves are ragged"
 The woman and the physician sat down beside the table, gazing at each other in queer, understanding si- lence Bulls" curious eyes saw that she was beautiful. She expressed the tragedy of aging beauty. The lamp light seemed to simmer on her white flesh, and to glint on her heavy, reddish hair. But what gltnted more and caught every color was gorge ous pearshaped diamond that hung in the hollow of her throat, as big as a mans thumb nail and shooting sparKs as her breathing rocked it.
 Bulls" eyes glued themselves up- on the jewel. It was more worth having than all the junk he might pick up in the doctors house.
 As his capable brain was turning The physician reached across the table for the instrument. The low words he spoke were not tntelliglble to Bull" but when he replaced the receiver, he said to the woman: i've got to go out, Margaret; vounr colleague of mine has diff cult maternity case-a charity case couldn't get the woman to hospital in time. He wants my aoVlce.
 The woman made a hopeless ges- ture, gathering up her wraps as sne rose. 4A. With an impulse of tenderness. the doctor drew her to him and gently kissed her forehead. "Be brave. dear. The fight Is hard, know"
 less I can't stand 1t. The doctor lifted her ace to look into her eyes.
 You don't know what you can stand, dear girl. The trouble IS you haven't stood enougn.not %a. Wna. -u want to come with me tonight and see for yourself? It might help you; and yiu might help-well' . sister. IA. thoughtful look, asked where ia it?"
 He gave her a street and number suggestive of sordidness and the sy-arming childrn that play in tne city's streets. "Bulf' Beckendeck watching eyes grew glassy as ne heard tho address. He recognized the tenement of his own abode. Annie But it was not Annie's time! He hao left Annie abruptly after supper tha' evening"; she was not feeling well an. her appearance had offended hls fastidious taste Yet ho had ms oWi kind O. tenderness for her.
 The doctor picked up his Tns woman, with a weary smile, nodded Together the two crossed the room.
 Bull" waited until he heard dooi close below the stairs. Then swlrtly by means of the fire escape behlnc him, he descended to an alley. The doctorf's house could wait for an other night. He would follow thai diamond, that big, glitterirg fortune In a wandering, noctur: Al taxi h' .trailed ne pair. He watcned iron afar as they entered familiar te..e' ment. Left to himself, to wait in tho darkness of Q side street, his thoughts were divided between the diamono and-Annie. course, there were two other women in the house. He had no fine sense of gratitude noi much imaginat, ol only slngle -ach mini for business which would have a Orp9f success had ms path lain in high finance. He mean' to possess that diamond.
 1t was nearly dawn, but still fa' vorably dark, when the doctor and his companion came out of the dooi Bull" was watching. They were fol lowed by another man carrying doctors case The three came to- wa-d the waiting thug.
 This second man was, unlocked for Bull" had not caught the full mean ing of the physicians telephone con- versation. Two men-there might be shooting. 'Bull swiftly examined hi gun. Then he listened intently for other steps. The streets were silent, deserted. "BulP' crouched be- hind his corner. lie hoped he would not have to shoot.
 At his low-voiced, brusque com mand things went wrong. The wom- an began to run. "BulP' meant tc have that diamond. He hit hard with his fist and the doctor whose house he had meant to rob went down striking is head against the brick corner. At the same moment, tho other physician, a young man. swung on Bull" The gun in the lstter's hand spoke once. After one glance Bull" turned and ran swiftly after the fleeing woman.
 She crouched some distance away too frightened to scream. As "Bull' Hr%& first sound, thin wall, and crumpled upon the pavement.
 Instantly his fingers found hei throat, encircling 1t; there was nc necklace there.
 Perhaps she had concealed 1t; per haps dropped 1t in flight. He must be quick, for there had been a shot He thrust one hand into her breast turned out the silk bag she carried searched madly wherever he thought the diamond might be, to no avail Then, crouching as he ran, he swung his flashlight back over the side walk between her body and the cor ner. Suddenly the shrilling of a whistle cut the silence. No more time for searching; the alarm was out The thing ha turned out more seriously than he had expected Bull" sped to his home.
 As he ran up the three flights ot stairs, he tore orr ms coat ana collar He would go to bed. If they searched his place-as they would-they would find him apparently sleeping and they could find nothing to con- meet him with the crime.
 But as he flung open his own door upon a dimly lit attic chamber the odor of drugs smote his nostrils Annie's face, strangely pale and love ly against the pillow, turned toward him. Beside her lay roll, blanket about tiny form.
 He went toward the bed, suddenly