The Washington herald., 1915-11-07
THE METHODS OF morris KLAW [E=zzsss!zj
By SAX ROHMER,
Auther Of THE YELLOW CLAW" ETC.

have stood some six feet three inches.
He had timely chiseled features. was
clean shaver. and wore q pince-nez-
Klaw said a thing that had sur
prising effect
"whatr he rumbled. HAS Nina
The other glared with a sudden saw
agery coming into his eyes. fell back
a step. and cienched his great fists.
Enough. Jean Colette!' said Morris
Klaw. You do not know me. but I
know you. Attempt no trichs. or II Is
the police and not a meddlesome. HARM
less old fool who viii come. Enter.
Jean! We follow
For a moment longer the big man
hesitated. and I saw the shadows OF
alternate resolves passing across his fine
features Then clearly he saw that sur
render was inevitable. shrugged his
shoulders. and stared hard at Klaw.
Enter: messieurs." he said, with a
marked French accent
ne said no more. but led the way into
long. bare room at the rear Of the
house.
CHANGING rapidly around him. Morris
Where Is it?-'
Inc mans face was q study a. he
5000 before us looking from one to
the other. Then a smile. indescribably
winning. played around his Iips
you are very clever, and know when
1 am beaten" he remarked. .sbut had
you come four hours later IL would have
been one hour too late
ne strooe up the room to WHARF q
tai screen stood. and. Selling Il BY the
top. hurled 1t to the ground.
Behind. on a models dais, recltned
the statue OF Ntcris in a low chaIrI
fou have already removed the girdle
and one Of the anklets" rIlmbled KIav
This was true. Indeed, It now became
evident that the man had been in
terrupted In his task by our arrival.
Opening leather case that stood upon
the floor by the dais. he produced III.
missing ornaments
What action is to be taken, mon
sieur?'' he asked quietly.
No action. JEAN" replied Morris Rlaw.
It Is impossible. you see. But why did
you delay so long?'
The others reply was unexpected.
1t Is a task demanding much time
and care II the statue is not to be
otherwise I should have perform
ed II in Mr.. Paxton's studio instead of
going to the trouble Of removing the
figure And-Nina's condition has caus-
ed me grave anxiety throughout the
night"
He stared hard at Morris Klaw. We
could hear the sound OF coughing from
some room hard by.
who are you. MONSIEUR he asked
pointedly.
AN old fool who knew Nina when
she posed at Julien's. JEAN" was the
reply; and who knew you, also, in
Paris"
Corar. myself. and Morris Klav sat
In Paxton's studio, and all of US gazed
refectively at the recovered statue
1T was so evident" explained Klaw.
that since you were absent from here
but thirty seconds. for anyone to have
the statue during that time was
out OF the question"
But some one did
Not during that time" runbled
Morris Klaw. ''Nicrfs was removed
while you all made merry within the
house"
But. my dear Mr. Klaw, SearIes.
Coram. and I saw the statue long
after that-some time about one
o'clock"
Wrong. my friend, You saw the
what. Nina
Mime. Colette. whom you knew in
Paris as Nina-yesi Listen: About
when your party is amiable
together, comes one Jean Colette, a
clever scamp from that metropolis OF
such perverted genius-Paris- Into DR..
Blossoms he goes, supporting madame
your model. This is seen by Con-
stable Freeman.
climb over the fence into the lane
and over the wall into your garden.
Nina has a cast of the studio key.
How easy for her to get it,
Jean, a clever rogue with his hands.
and a man who promised to be. once.
A great artist, detaches the figure
from the throne and arrays II as
madame's outer garb. Be
meath her cloak madame is Nicris-
with copies of the Jewels and all COM
oIete.
He Is clever. this Jean He is..too.
4 man OF vast strength a modern
-rotonian Milo. Not only does he
larry that great piece OF ivory from
The studio: he lifts it over the wall
lid madame assist?-and into DR.. Glee-
sons drive.
He bears II to the gate. wrapped
N Nina's furs He calls a policeman.
All. genius is here, He gives the
wrong address. He Is as cool as an
orange.
DO they escape now? Not so. He
sees that you, finding Nicris missing.
will apply to the post policeman and
get hold upon a thread He says: I
will make il appear that the robbery
ook place at later time. ] will thus
gain hours, Another policeman will
be on duty when the discovery is
made: he will know nothing. He
leaves Nina TO pretend to be Sicris!
"Ah. she has courage. but her fears are
MANY Most OF all she breads that YOU
viii touch her. You do not. And Jean.
he ivory statue safe at Clapham. re-
urns for Nina He comes into the doc
or's drive by the farther gate-where
he post policeman cannot see him. He
wears rubber shoes. He mounts to the
,tudio roof He lies fat upon the ledge
lbove the door. His voice Is falsetto. He
.alls 'Nicris''
Presently YOU come out You peep
,ver the wall All. out. also. is madame,
The stretches up her white srms-so like
he real ivory-he stretches down his
teeI hands. He raises her beside him,
Why to the roof and not over the
vail? The path is OF gravel and her feet
re bare. On the roof. to prove me COR
ect, upon the CRIME are marks OF small.
hoes; arc half way along. marks Of
mailer rubber shoes-vhich he had
for Nina He has forethought
hey retire by the farther gate of your
eishbors drive.
No doubt he brings her furs as we'll
10 doubt. But she contracts a chill, 10
Wonder! All. he L. ~ool; he Is daring; he
a great man -"
A maid entered the studio.