The Washington herald., 1916-11-02

ment was out OF use. Actually Il
was connected, and any sounds near
Its transmitter would be perfectly au-
dible at the far end Of the wire.
Thus Florence Montrose, In her own
home, could plainly hear whatever
| might be said within three feet of the
table. And, as Robert knew, she was
listening for the supposed Harold's
reply TO her greeting.
Pierre La Rue looked down In grim
contentment at the face of his sense
less enemy
'Have you found the Clayton neck
lace, TannerT
The masked man, who had been
fumbling in the dismantIed safe, now
drew out his hand, triumphantly.
Here she is, chief" he announced.
La Rue snatched the gfittering cir
clet Of diamonds from him and thrust
1t carelessly into the side pocket Of
his coat Then he bent again over
Stanley.
His wandering eye fell on the trunk
he had hauled from the closet
Open that" he said to Tanner.
III It's full dump out the contents
and help me pitch him into it We
can carry It out to the taxi and take
It where 1t will be safe to open II
and finish him Look lively, there"
He mottoned 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 the CLEAN of
Jewels shining from a 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 n
into his own.
Trunks empty, chief" reported
Tanner.
Good!" replied La Rue. In b.
soesI Lock it"
Florence Montrose. at the otbsr s-S
OF the wire, slammed the reoeives ON
the hook, breaking the Connection
Then she called up the nearest po,icn
station and at once afterward rang
1or her chauffeur. Five minutes Later
tne Montrose automobile, containing
F1orence and four excited policemen
set forth at top speed for the STANLEY
house.
meantime, sending Clayton ahead
70 start the tad's engine, La Rue ana
1anner showed the trunk out through
tne VIDE library window and with
much EFFORT lowered It to the ground
Ihsnce between them they carried Il
TO the chuggng tancab and propp4d
1t endwtse besids the drivers scat
Where now?-' questioned Tame
'Homer"
NO" said La Rue, .Nout into n.
open country somewhere. What.
wrong7' he broke OF as the tari sod
oenIy ceased whirring and Clayton
Jumped down TO crank It.
Stalled my engine" muttsred
clayton, his voice mufded, as be
heaved at the crank.
There was but one hope, and Bob
Clayton knew it. II Florence Mont
rose had heard and understood she
undoubtedly would notify the police
For this reason he had purposelv
stalled the engine. For this reason
he was now taking all the time hs
could in crankng.
But the ruse gained for him nttls
or ~" time he desired, for altar q
..-o.hent or two Of fuming impatiencs
La Rue thrust him roughly asdde. ex-
claiming:
You've lost your nerve, man! You
ought to be playing pingponE or
learning to sew. Tanner, get busy
here. Start her and then take the
wheel. This idiot has gone all to
pieces"
When the taIicab was at last under
way. with Tanner at the wheel and
clayton and La Rue inside, Tanner
put on all possible speed. The taxi
whizzed out into the street on two
wheels. AS it settled into Its pace
a shout behind caused La Rue to
glare back through the window.
An automobile that seemed fairly
to hustle with policemen was in hot
and close pursuit La Rue beloved
TO Tanner for more speed
Out into the open country the race
continued. Three miles beyond q
river flashed into view in the star
light.
Stop when we get to the bank, and
heave the trunk over!" yelled La Rue.
They're gaining ON Us"
Tanner came to a seconds halt.
Over went the trunk with a splash
into the deep stream. Clayton sought
to spring out after it. But La Rue
seized him. The taxi dashed on,
Clayton still struggling to escape.
In the tussle his mask fell of.
La Rue started back in amaze at
sight Of his face. Clayton took ad-
vantage Of the momentary respite to
dive out into a clump Of waysids
bushes.
Florence Montrose, leaning far out
Of the pursuing car, saw the trunk
hurled into the river. At her shrieked
command her chauffeur slowed up for
an instant just as he reached the
bridge, while she and the policeman
sprang to the ground.
Florence, running to the bridge
rail ahead Of the policeman, saw the
almost submerged trunk. AS the air
In 1t was nearly expelled by inrush-
ing wates, the trunk steadily sunk.
Without a moments hesitation
Florence dfved from the bridge, struck
out toward the sinking trunk and,
seiZing 1t, held It partly above the
surface until Clayton and the po-
hceman could reach out to draw II
up on the bank.
They burst open the lid and lifted
out the gasping, half-drowned, Stan
ley.
''Florence!" painted Stanley, feehly.
His lips could say no more. But
his eyes spoke volumes.
They got clean away" reported
the chauffeur Of the returning car.