Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-08

/ for Truxton Lnmberts murder. went
with him when he was taken to the
station. I've come back here TO look
around. ! wanted to see if could
solve the puzzle of a note he"
hob arrestcd?' repeated the girl.
incredulons and horrincd Arrested
! for the Lambert murder? Why. he Is
Innocent! AS innocent as you are. AS
| innocent as I am"
| "of course. he is reIoined Stanley,
ana you're brick to be so loyal in
your belief OF him. But he
III isn't just belief" she corrected.
vehemcntly. its knowledge. know.
Bob didn't kin Truxton Lambert. I
know II. because know who did kill
! him
You Know echoed Stanley IN high
excitement 'f'il come up there and.
NO." she intcrposed. iii come down
there"
But It's late. and"
ilello"' she called. "Iiavc they cut
us un?''
There was no reply Again and
again she called. But the connection
was hopelessly broken y hand in
the darkness just outside Of the cur
tsins had reached out swiftly to the
telephone wires and had severed them
with pair of nippers.
u took her some little time to change
mo the clothes she selected. And it
TOOK much longer TO get hold of "a
taNicab at that time Of hight and In
so remote district. Nor was the
rue downtown a short one. Much
could have happened in the hour before
Florence reached the Clayton studio.
Indeed. much did happen.
In reply to d hurried summons six
persons awaited Pierre la Rue Oh the
iatters arrival At the big room at the
rear OF Tanners old-fashioned upper
East Side apartment. Pierre entered
the room and nodded carelessly I'm re-
sponss 10 the almost reverent saiuta
tons OF his henchmen.
Singing out two members Of the
listening group. La Ruc drew them
aside. speaking rapidly and incIsively
l" them Then he led them TO u cup
board. where he produced two shape
less black dominoes and masks
AS ne spoke his curt directions. the
crimson Stain surged luridly into his
eyes. His whole face and body seemed
the dominos and masks. folded them
carefully under their coats. and hurried
out
Harold Stanley was heartily tired of
his long and lonely vigil at Clayton's
studio.
So. Tuning a, the delay and worry.
ing at the thought OF the girls lonely
journey. he strobe over to the window
10 watch for the arrival of her taxi
cah. The glare Of the studio eiectri,
lights on the pane prevented him from
seeing plainly into the street below
SO he switched OF all but one dim.
shaded light and returned to his most
az the window. drawing shut behind
him the himsy Oriental hangings that
divided the shallow window seat from
the rest OF ihe room.
Thus. while everything In The s,udio
was plainly visible TO him. he himself
was shut OFF from the sight OF any.
body within the half-lit room
AS he stood there looking out into
the night he heard somebody try softly
to open the door leading into the suite
from the hallway outside. Harold re.
membered he had bolted Il, not wishing
10 be disturbed by any chance visitor
before Florence's arrival. He turned
To cross The room and open the door
on the chance that the newcomer was
Florence. Then he chang ed his purpose
before he had taken step.
| For. although he could not see the
ehttre sidewalk beneath him. yet he
had an uninterrupted view OF the street
tseif from curb to curb. He had been
staring down at II for several min
utes, and no taxicae had driven up.
Nor. he reflected would Florence
nave tried TO open the door without
hrst knocking. And. an ordinary vis-
itor. even failing to knock at once.
would nave done so on finding the
door fastened shut. But there was no
knock; and the sof, pressure OH the
knob was not repeated.
Harold. still hidden In the curtain
MASKED emhrasure of the window.
stood. perpleSed at this queer procedure.
al
promptu hiding place and go out in:o
the hall to investigate, when the same
muHed sound was repeated. This time
not from the door. but from the sky
light above the studio room.
Even as he looked. one OF the two
succeeded In pryins loose the skylght' =
catch. Gradually and with almost no
noise. the catch was pushes back and
the skylight itself was lifted
Then. by the light from the room
itself. Harold had clearer view of
the two intruders. He stared In dull
ed in long black domino cloaks and
both wore masks.
NoiseleSsly the two shrouded figures
lowered themselves, over the skylight
edge and dropped lightly down into
crouched as If for a spring. The other
sped through the adjoining rooms Of
the suite. presently returning to his
icompanion.
NO one here" he whispered stan
ley must have gotten tired OF waiting
and gone"
And If the Montrose sir! comes
here" asked the first
| she won't That is arranged I am
going TO wait for her downstairs. BE
listening. and when whistle, join me
down there without keeping me wait
ing II must be touch -and-go. And
the old deserted house is full hours
run from here"
I, He pushed back the bolt. elided out
Of the room and closed the door behind
! him.
! AS he did SO. Harold &janley sprang
forward from his hiding place and
launched himself bodily upon the man.
! Even as he switched off the ligh.
the man In the domino had heetinG
glimpse Of his charging assailant aud
| wheeled to meet him.
| Blindly. murderously they fought in