East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-12-11
aheR CRIMSON S1AINHIYSTERY
NoveIizeo7 hD-AIBEnr PAYSON TERHUNE
from the Consolidated Motion Picture Triumph

Clayton obsdiently lowered tha -
strument TO the table
Unobtrusivsiy he shifted the po@-
tIon OF a big book on the tAhle -
that the rnouthpiece OF the telephoae
receiver rested on It, without benatng
down the hook and shutting on ~
connection.
To outward appearance The insErn-
mept was out OF use. Actually a
was connected, and any sounds nsAF
its transmitter would be perfectly an
dible at the far end Of the wire.
Thus Florence Montrose, In her own
home. could plainly hear whAtsFeg
might be said within three feet OF NJ
table. And. as Robert knew. she -
listening for the supposed HAraAAs
reply TO her greeting.
Pierre La Rue looked down In sTan
contentment at the facO Of his sanso'-
less enemy.
Have you found the Clayton nseE-
lace, TannerT"
The masked man. who had bsaa
fumbling in the dis1nantled safe. now
drew out his hand, triumphantiy.
Here she is, chief" he announeea
La Rue snatched the giittering err
clet OF diamonds from him and thrnR
It careIessly into the side pocket -
his coat. Then he bent again ovsg
Stanley.
His wandering eye fell on the trnnk
he had hauled from the closet
open that" he said to Tanner.
IF it's full dump out the eontaufs
and help me pitch him into it. We
can carry it out to the taxi and taxa
it where it will be safe TO open Il
and finish him. Look lively. there
He motioned Tanner to lift the body
by the shoulders, while he himself
bent to raise the legs and feet. As
Pierre leaned forward to lift the
weight Clayton saw tho gleam OF
jewels shining from q bit Of the neck
lace that protruded from his pocket
With deft agility that surprised
himself Robert lifted the necklace
from La Rue's pocket and dropped it
into his own.
Trunks empty. chief" reported
Tanner.
Good" replied La Rue. I'm he
goes! LOCK 1t.
Florence Montrose, at the other end
Of the wire, slammed the receiver on
the hook, breaking the connection.
Then she called up the nearest poliea
station, and at once afterward rang
for her chauffeur. Five minutes later
the Montrose automobile, containing
Florence and four excited policemen,
set forth at top speed for the Stanley
house.
Meantime, sending Clayton ahead
to start the taxi's engine, La Rue and
Tanner showed the trunk out through
the wide library window and with
much effort lowered it to the ground.
! Thence between them they Carried il
to the chugging taxicab and propped
, 1t endwise beside the drivers sea-
Where now?" questioned Tanner.
"Home?"
No. said La Rue, s0ut into the
q open country somewhere. What's
!. wrong?" he broke of as the taxi sud
! denly ceased whirring and Clayton
jumped down to crank it.
Stalled my engine" muttered
: Clayton, his voice muf1ed, as he
I heaved at the crank.
There was but one hope, and BoI
Clayton knew it. If Florence Mont.
: rose had heard and understood ans
: undoubtedly would notify the police
For this reason he had purpeseI,
stalled the engine. For this reason
= he was now taking all the time h,
could in cranking.
) But the ruse gained for him it'll.
: Of the time he desired, for after Z
e moment or two Of fuming impatienes
La Rue thrust him roughly aside, ex.
claiming:
II You've lost your nerve, man! Yos
's ought to be playing pingpong o.
ss learning to sew. Tanner, get busy
n here. Start her and then take III,
Ne wheel. This idiot has gone an Il
le pieces"
Is When the taxicab was at last undel
way, with Tanner at the wheel anC
70 Clayton and La Rue inside, Tanner
I. put on all possible speed. The tax
a whizzed out into the street ON t1U
le wheels As it settled into its nae.
a shout behind caused la R1e Il
"a glare back through the window.
&c An automobile that seemed fairly
ie to hustle with policemen was IN hol
N and close pursuit. La Rue beloved
to Tanner for more speed
ie Out into the open country the raei
/ continued. Three miles beyond s
lg river flashed into view in the star,
lg light.
stop when we get to4he bank, ant
ID heave the trunk overt" yelled La Rue
&c They're gaining on u.s."
se Tanner came to a seconds halt
ne Over went the trunk with a splasl
ID into the deep stream. Clayton souRh
to spring out after II. But La Rni
y seized him. The taxi dashed on
ty Clayton still struggling to escape
OF In the tussle his mask fell OF.
La Rue started back in amaze q
he sight of his face. Clayton took ad
n: vantage Of the momentary respite I,
I'd dive out into a clump OF waysid
n. bushes
y Florence Montrose, leaning far on
On OF the pursuing car, saw the trunl
ne hurled into the river. At her shrieke'
10 command her chauffeur slowed up 10
an instant just as he reached n
NJ bridge, while she and the policemnl
a. sprang to the ground.
IT. Florence. running 10 tho bridB
r. rail ahead Of the policeman, saw tn
almost submerged trunk AS the al
'it in It was nearly expelled by inrush
Vi ing water, the trunk steadily sunk.
'n' without a moments hesitation
or, Florence dived from the bridge, struel
out toward the sinking trunk and
srt SELLING II. held Il partly above TN
La surface until Clayton and the 20
m llceman could reach out to draw
'e- up on the bank.
They burst open the I'D and lfte'
al ,,,4 az ,rasvi,,o, half drovyned gtau