The Washington herald., 1916-09-10
CHAPTER II.
"In the Demons Power"

The first step taken by Harold Stan
ley toward tracing the man who had
murdered his father was the quadrupling
OF the reward the New York Examiner
had offered for a solution OF the Grim
son Stain Mystery.
Taking his slain fathers place at the
head of the Examiner, Harold directed
the campaign in person, spending thou
sands of dollars weekly in search Of the
murderer. In a calmly business-like
fashion the young man was seeking to
fulfill his oath to bring to justice the
man who had killed his father
Thanks to him, there was no man or
woman or child in New York who did not
know that the killers eyes were tinged
with deep red stain and that his fin
gers were long, slender and abnormally
strong.
These were the only absolute facts
which Stanley had gained. And he made
the most OF them until 1t was actually
unsafe for any man with bloodshot eyes
to walk abroad in the streets lest he be
arrested on suspicion.
The Examiners campaign against the
Crimson Stain gang waxed hotter and
hotter every day. Instead of allowing
the case to simmer down and to go at
last into the limbo of "Unsolved Mys-
teries," Harold scourged the police and
the public into more and more activity
as time went on. Other papers followed
his lead.
Pierre La Rue at first listened with
amusement to the echoes of the hue-and-
cry, deeming himself as safe as a fox
in a den. He laughed at Parish's i'm
potent fury over the campaign. Sheer
ingly. he soothed the growing terror of
the rest Of his followers.
But as the hunt increased in fervor
even La Rue began to grow nervous. And
he sent out a call for certain OF his
chosen lieutenants to meet him one night
at the Crimson Stain den.
To the council came Vanya Tosca, Tan
ner and the Masked Demon. Pierre nod
ded carelessly in response to their half
cringing sslutations as he entered the
big bare room. Then he spoke briefly
and to the point.
When I put the finger necklace on
Jerome Stanley" he said. 'It was the first
time I had given that ornament to any
one except for money. 1 did Il to stop
the noise his paper was making about
US. But his son is twice as noisy. And
the police may blunder in on US some
day, If he keeps on. So he must 90.
That's decided"
He looked across to where Vanya Tosca
sat.
IT told you to meet Robert Clayton" he
said. because Clayton is young stan
ley's chum and goes often to the studio
Did you meet him."
Meet him. echoed Vanya with an
amused little laugh. Il most surely did
1 went to him last week to ask for work
as a model. I happened to be Just the
type he wanted for a 'Delilah' painting
he u at work on for the academy. He
engaged me the minute he saw me I
met Harold Stanley there the other day,
too"
Good" vouchsafed Pierre. Did YOU
make Clayton fall in love with YOU as l
told you to-"
That was the very easiest bit OF work
you ever assigned me to-" she laughed.
He is a susceptible boy. And before the
end of the first sitting he was staring
at me like a sick calf
Then you can bring him over?"
The confident smile faded from Van
vas too-red lips.
mo" she said in chagrin; "I can't"
"Can't?" raped Pierre, why notT'
He isn't that sort-our sort" she said.
We'll, IL we can't bring him over he'll
have to go under. Do you know when
Stanley visits him7''
II know when he is going to-" she made
ready answer He is to be there at 3
o'clock tomorrow afternoon"
Good" approved Pierre, once more
adding; You are certain?"
Yes" answered vanya 7 went to-
day to DR.. Montrose for more-orf
more
Yes, I know. wen?"
''As I came downstairs from the lab
oratory I heard Florence Montrose talk
ing on the veranda with Harold Stanley
and Clayton. She was asking Clayton to
paint her portrait as a surprise for her
fathers birthday next month She is to
have the first sitting at o'clock tornor-
row at Clayton's studio. And Harold
Stanley is coming to see the portrait
started. He said he'd surely be there
at 81
And Ill see that the Montroee chaur-
feur gets her there fifteen minutes late"
said La Rue.
Robert Clayton's studio was on the top
floor of the oldfashioned Parkedge
Studio Building. Here. early the next
afternoon. the artist was busily arrang-
ing his easel and his model chair. with
q view to the best light effects. and was
sorting some brushes and mixing sew
eral tube colors on a palette He glanced
up in expectation as the studio door
opened. But as he saw Vanya Tosca's
supple figure framed in the doorway his
look Of expectancy changed to a slight
CrOwn of annoyance,
Noting his change OF expression. Vanya
moved slowly forward into the room,
asking timidly:
Aren't you glad to see me? Am too
late, or anything?"e
TOO late?" he repeated. why you're
not due. here at all today Your sitting
is for 8 o'clock tomorrow"
OH she cried in childlike disappoint-
ment; then-"Is she prettier. than I ann"
she is-she is different" he evaded
She is small and slender, with big. dark
eyes and masses of dark hair and"
Then she is prettier than am
pouted Vanya, her rich voice breaking.
And you'd rather paint her than me"
Nonsense" Clayton treasured her
No one on earth is prettier than YOU,
Vanya. But this is a portrait I have a
commission to paint"
IF you'd rather spend this beautiful
afternoon painting Silly portrait than to
so on with our 'DeIiah' picture" she
rared Indignantly. why, 90 ahead and
do it. But after this you can get some
other girl to pose for your 'DeIiIah.' I'm
not coming back"
Accustomed as he was to the vagarIe
Of his tempermental models, Clayton was
amazed by this petulant outburst Re-