The Washington herald., 1916-09-17

to confront the doctor IN this mood,
darted back across the threshold,
drawing shut the door behind him.
Montrose, still swept by the fame
OF anger, snatched up a huge brazen
jafdiniere from bedside table and
hurled 1t with all his might after the
escaping La Rue
The heavy missile whizzed through
the air toward its mark. But La Rue
had been an instant too quick for his
clumsy assailant. The tardIniere
crashed loudly against the newly
closed door, shattering one Of the
thick panels and caroming noisily to
the floor.
The shock did for Florence what
all the medical skill on earth could
not have done. La Rue's presence
had partly aroused her. La Rue's
sudden panicky flight had shaken the
hypnotist's mind for a moment loose
from its hold on the girl. The fearful
racket Of the jardiniere's impact
against the door had completed the
work Of breaking the spell.
Florence came to herself, with a
little start OF amazement, and stared
around In wonder to find herself in
bed. The last thing she remembered
was looking into Pierre La Rue's eyes
at the studio the day before. As in
the case Of most persons freed from
hypnotic sleep, she felt none the
worse for her experience. She was,
apparently, In her usual perfect
health again.
Harold Stanley reaching the house,
had been ushered into a reception
room by Felix. As the servant was
about to take his card up to DR.. Mont
rose, a crash resounded from an upper
floor. Harold. his nerves taut and
tngling, bounded up the wide stair
case in the direction Of the sound; Just
as Pierre La Rue glided, unseen, down
the servants staircase at the rear.
Thus 1t was that DR.. Montrose,
striding toward the door Of the bed
room, saw, through the smashed panel,
Stanley hurrytng down the hallway
toward him. Instantly, he realized
that his secret was in danger. And
anger gave way to pitiful craftIness.
Opening the broken door and greet
ing the newcomer, he said. hastily:
Sometimes a shock will arouse a
hypnotized sleeper. I threw a jardi-
Mere at the wall, hoping to wake
Florence that way. Ny aim was bad
and it struck the door. L"
Dad" called a perplexed young
voice behind him, what in the world
is the matter-and what am I doing
up here? I went TO Roberts studio
to"
A cry Of dumfounded Joy from
both Of them interrupted her. She
had sprung out Of bed and had
wrapped lace negligee about her.
Thus clad, she was advancing toward
them.
You are awake again" cried Har-
old in delight. You are awakeI"
why, Of course, I'm awake, you
silly boy" she answered, laughing.
why shouldn't be awake, in broad
daylight? But how I happened to be
You have been Ill, dear" evaded
her father.
ILL.," she repeated. why, feel
perfectly well. What nonsense! /"
NO" quietly contradicted Harold.
ignoring the look Of appeal that the
doctor flashed at him. You have
been hypnotized. You were just now
awakened by"
You are right" she broke in, a
Hood Of memory returning to her.
Yes, that was II. remember. It
must have been hypnotism. 1 remem-
Der 1t all. And I've read about such
things, too. But never believed
them. was hypnotlzed. He looked
deep down through my eyes into my
very soul. And then I seemed to be
going to sleep. He"
Her echoed Harold. "who?"
II don't know. had seen him
only once before. A red glow, Just
like a ball Of fire, famed up into his
eyes. and"
The Crimson stainl" cried Har-
old. THE Crimson Stain! Tell us
about himl You must try to renem.
Der! You mustl"
Il couldn't forget a single detail of
It If tried" she answered, shudder-
ing. L went to Bob Clayton's studio
for my first sitting. Bob wasn't
there. But this man was. 1 cried
out, but he caught me by the shoul-
ders and looked down into my eyes.
The next thing knew you were com
ing down the hall toward this room.
Just now"
You say you'd seen him once be-
fore" Harold reminded her. ''When
and whereP"
She hesitated second; then, to her