The Washington herald., 1916-11-05
!hc(RIMSON STAINMYSIEM
N NorelIze brA
NoveIized hyAIBERr PAYSON TERHuNE
from the Consolidated Motion Picture triumph

NE
Lmph
ence lifted her over the crazy door
sill into the shack's one room A she
rsdoubled her struggling Tanner dsft-
ly passed . nwhide cord around her
wrists and ankles. strapptns her b .
broken-down chair.
The rear door Of ths shack swung
open and Pierre La Rus stepped into
the room As he glanced a. Florence
the Crimson Stain nared Iuridly IN his
eyes
She shrtel1ed again. Al n IN reply
10 her scream the front door 1sw cpen
and Bob Clayton burst into the room.
He strode forward 70 whore Flor
ence wrtthed at her honda Before hs
could reach her Tanner and the
mAAked man hurried themselvss upon
him from behind. bearing him % TIA
ground under sheer weiEht ana o.
Herior strength.
Pierre La RuA, On Claysou,s eu-
trance. stepped swiftly back throurh
the doorway by which he had entered
and disappeared into the outer dark-
ness.
A Tanner. with Q '.fuil.NSsun-
held Clayton powerieas the masksd
man drew . long -bladsd knife Flor
encs screamed naadly for help ana
closed her eyes TO the butehery shs
had not the courage 70 witness
Let him up!" commanded . voies
from the rear door.
Florence turned, expecting % -
Pierre La Rue standing there m
stead the doorway framed the body of
a Observation-Disclosures, raEred, SIN
lister. He was Ieveiing Q pistol az ths
battling tho on the door.
Let him upI" snaried ths hunch-
back again
Scramb,ing. they eot % thslr fssk
holding their hands above their hsads
and gaping dasedly 1t the Devcomer.
Clayton, released. sprAng up. An
three stared dumbly At the strsnfer.
The hunchback, motioninS 10 Clay
ton with his free hand. pointed 30 The
fettersd girl.
Cut her Ioose.- he said. and Fst
away from here. I can hold thsss
carrion till yoa'rs gone"
Marveling. Clayton obeyed. whils
the others stood crtnSinS before the
N@Ao " - NAAe NOoESA1F 10 cut Aou0M CIV
rawhide bonds and helped the fr1Et1t-
ened girl 70 her feet
I'VE owe you our lives, SIR he
began. addressing the hunchbsck-
We
Get her TO your car and taks her
home!" interrupted his rescuer.
Yes" breathed Florence a. Cay
ton, with one arm about her, half
carried her to the car. Take ms
home. Bob. You can Telephone your
mother that I'm too unnerved 20 90
10 the dinner. Take me home"
The hunchbeck waited without
moving. the two gangstsrs stin held
helpless by this menactng pistol, until
he heard the throb Of the departing
car.
Then, with q movement unbeliev-
ably swift for one 50 crippled, he
slipped out Of the rear doorway and
into the darkness.
Recovering their COURAGE, Tanner
and the Black Mask sprsnE after
him But he was nowhere 20 Be
found
The car made slow progress over
the deep-rutted byway, On It's return
trip TO the state road 30 many jars
and bumps shook its occupants that
neither OF them noticed an extra i'm
pact as the hunchback overlook them
and clambered up TO his former place
on the trunk rack.
Neither Clayton nor thu tremblinf
girl saw him But some one else
did. For the last half-mile q motor
cycle had followed close behind the
car. Now. Layton Parrish, dis
mounting from the motorcycle
leaped into the vine shadows ana
dragged forth the wriggitng hunch-
back
Clayton and Florence halted tn
amaze at the top OF the versnda
steps
Parrish, in triumph. drasred his
captive up the steps and into the
full glare Of the front halls lights.
I've got him!" cried the detective.
fe-ociously shaking the prisoner, VINO
had by this time ceased to resast-
The hunchback made no reply, but
remained moveless and inert.
Why!" exclaimed Florence. 'sThts
man saved our lives!"
Il ought to know what I'm talking
Ner SAoAAS AcLAs 1nkkluI 1lM
captive again. 81 tell you this n a
member Of the Crimson Stain gang.
Perhaps the leader"
Roughly, he tore on the prisoners
false hair and beard. As he did 50
the bent shoulders lost their stoop
and the hump disappeared from the
curved back
In the grasp OF the astonisned de-
tective stood-Felix!
Parrish was the FIRST Of the party
70 recover from the shock.
"So?" he drawled, malevolently.
The Crimson Stain 10 In your own
household, doctor!"
Mr.. Clayton Is right, Parrish" Z"
said DR.. Montrose. You've made q
blunder In arresting this man. IT'S
all nonsense for you to pretend he 10
mixed up with the Crimson Stain He
is my servant IN vouch for him.
Let him CO."
Parrish giowered at the doctor ana
seemed about TO refuse But-or 10
the watching Clayton imagined-
sudden glesm crept into Montrose's
compelling gianca Parrish hesatated,
Then with a grunt he released hi.
grip on the servant
Clayton, suddenly layfnF q hand On
florence's arm and on the doctor's.
interrupted her by nodding toward
the library door curtains
hgure was vaguely Outlined