The Washington herald., 1916-12-21
~YAPTER XVI.
"The UnnaskinR."

Gus hand traced the words:
The Crimson stain band is openly
seeking my life. The drug. together
with its apparatus has been stolen
So no longer have any hold over
its victims They win turn on me
as murderously as Wild beasts turn
on the trainer who has lost the wea-
pom with which he controls them.
II am afrsId-horrihly afraid. Not
for myself. The man who has no
hope has no fear. But am afraid
for my darling daughter, who also
may break her heart If she learns
my unhappy connection with the
Crimson Stain. May she never
gueas@
A soft rap at the outer door caused
him to look up In guilty dread from
his writing.
WHO is thers7- he called hoarsely,
at the same time thrusting the diary
back into its drawer and closing his
shaking fingers around the butt Of a
loaded pistol that lay In the same
drawer.
who Is there7'' he repeated. try
ing to steady his voice.
TITS I, daddy" came Florence's
voice. Let mo inl"
With q sigh of relief, DR.. Mon
trose loosed his grip on the revolver,
closed the drawer and went over
to unlock the door at which his
daughter was 50 imperiously rapping.
Why, daddy" she said pIayfully
as she entered the room, what makes
you lock yourself In Like that?"
II didn't know the door was
locked" he answered, lamely enough.
You're I'LL" accused Florence, not
ing the perturbation In his face and
voice. ''or else something II worry-
ing you"
No, mol" he denied In haste.
Yes, there is," she declared. "On,
tell me what it is, daddy, dear!"
Dear little GIRL" replied DR.. Mont
rose, conquering his nervousness with
a herculean effort Of will and forcing
himself to smile reassuringly down
into the wistfuI face 50 eagerly I'D
raised to mis- own-"dear little Girl,
you are mistaken. And you are max
ing yourself unnecessarily unhappy
oIer me.
Il have been through a great trial"
he continued, taking her tenderIy In
his arms But it is all over now.
Some day may be able to tell you
about it. In the meantime, just re-
member that all want IN this world
or the next is for my little daughter
to be happy"
He kissed her and led her to the
door. Reluctantly she left him
Left alone, DR.. Montrose was re-
turning to the table when his keen
ears caught the sound of q stealthy
football moving along the secret pas
sageway that led to the panel.
A wave Of fear, mingled with de-
termination. swept through the doc
tor as he recognized the mufied stem
approaching nearer and nearer the
.Esl.
The drug is gonel" he muttsred.
half-aloud. And he knows II. So
he must be coming for-for mel"
Galvanized INTO sudden activity as
the footsteps halted just on the op-
posite side OF the panel, DR.. Montrose
bounded forward. He threw his
whole weight against the panel a. Il
began to slide open.
You shall not come tni" hs
growled. like an angry dog. You
shall mott"
Three minutes later Pierre La Rus
stood in the center Of the room, pant
ing frop fierce exertion.
On the floor, half his body hidden
from view, lay a man. His head and
shoulders were visible In the passage
way beyond the panel. His legs and
lower body sprawled Imply on the
laboratory floor.
He had evidently been stricken
down at the threshold Of the secret
door. From his feeble motions as he
lay there he was slowly recovering
consciousness after a stunning blow.
Pierre La Rue looked in grim
amusement at the PROSTATE body.
Then he crossed to the table. opened
is drawer, took out the diary and
glanced at it's last entry. With q
G-nile Of genuine pleasure he noted
what DR.. Montrose had written.
Then he thrust the diary carelessly
into his coat pocket and turned again
to the weakly moving form on the
floor. Picking up the sufferer In his
own sfnewy arms he half carried,
half dragged him down the secret
passageYay, pausing only to close the
panel behind him. :
Harold Stanley, at almost the same
moment, entered the Montrose house.
II must speak at once to DR.. Mont
rose" he said to the maid servant
who admitted him.
DIR. Montrose Is busy in his labo-
ratory, 1 think" replied the maid.
He has given orders that he is not
to be interrupted while he is working
there"
I'll take the responsibility Of dis
turbing' him." said Stanley. Don't
bother to announce me. I'll go UP
there myself"
His feet made no sound on the rug
strewn floor. As he neared the labo-
ratory he saw man crouching at its
door, peer1ng through the keyhole.
The light was too dim for Stanley
to make out the details of the caves
dropper's face or figure. And, as he
came a step nearer, the man at the
keyh0le evidently heard him. For he
Strengthened from his crouching posi-
ton with lightning swtftness, insert
ing key In the lock, opened the door,
slipped into the laboratory and closed
and locked the door behind him.
It was all done in less than , Sscond,
bstore Harold, springing forward,
ooult intercept him.
Stanley REACHED the laboratory door
Just In time to sfe It slammed and
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