The Washington herald., 1916-11-05

ooS Che scaFF ne WnlspSEoo-
He glanced up quickly, to see Fe-
hx's curious face peering at him
through the curtains Of the reception
room doorway.
What Is the rnatterr" asked Flor
ence. turning. an instant too lata TO
see the face disappear.
Wait" said Clayton, ve1ed. ',and
I'll show you what Is the matter"
He strode across to the reception
room doorway and flung the curtains
apart. On the threshold, facing him,
stood-Lemuel Parrish!
What In blue blazes are you doing
here?" shouted Bob, In stark amaze-
ment.
You needn't holler at ms IKE that"
grumbled the detective 'T decided
to come in, after all, for talk with
DR.. Montrose."
Here is DIR. Montross now inter
posed Florence as the doctors step
sounded In the hall. 'T will tell him
you are waiting TO see him"
Clayton, bew1ldered, looked stupIdly
from the cigaret case to the giumly
staring detective
y
Promptly at half past : that evening
Bob Clayton's car drew up at the
Montrcse home Florence, bewitch-
ingiy pretty in q himsy white evening
dress, was waiting In the hallway for
her escort.
Il showed Stanley those finger
prints we photographed" Clayton
was saying as he and Florence de-
scended the veranda steps toward
the car. They are to be reproduced
in tomorrow's Examiner. / showed
him the thurnb-print on the cigaret
case. too. And he thinks, Just as I
do, that they're Just the same"
lis Harold coming 70 the dinnerf-
asked Florence, "or wasn't he IN
vited?"
Mother invited him" replied Clay
ton. But he can't come. He says
he has q nights work laid out Tor
him"
Clayton pressed the self starter.
The car whirred forth into the night.
AS it left the Montrose grounds q
dark figure noiselessly sprang from
the shadow Of the porch vines, darted
AA SA4O "oAC Va lA6 CEAIs anu AIncly
jumped up on the turn-back at the
rear Of the automobile.
He was a strange person In appear
ance, this ride stealer-as the dim
light from the electric street lamps
half revealed his outlines. Bearded,
shabbily dressed, q slouch hat pulled
low over his eyes, he had the bent
shoulders and curved spine Of a
hunchback. He was not q pleasant
sight to look upon.
The Crest Country Club lies sew
eral miles beyond Riyerdale, and is
connected with that pretty suburb by
an excellent state road. But at the
time OF Mrs Clayton's dinner the
road was undergoing repairs-atter
the manner OF 50 many state roads.
At a certain point q barrier was
Stretched across the highway, to
which were aff1xed two red lanters
and a white cardboard sign bearing
IN large black letters the word De
tour" with a black arrow under
meath.
The by-road led through woods and
6slds, with one or two deserted
shacks here and there where tramps
were wont to sleep.
At sharp curve In the road q man
stepped out from the waySide bushes
that lined both sides Of the way and
waved lighted lantern.
"Hello! growled Bob, "a break
down ahead. I suppose that means
delay. And we're late as Il is. What's
wrong. my friend?" he asked as the
man with the lantern came along
side the suddenly halted car.
His question changed into an exI
clamation Of dismay as the man with
the lantern whipped his other hand
from behind his back and leveled an
automatic pistol at Clayton and the
girl. At the same instant two moro
men stepped from behind the screen
OF bushes with drawn revolvers.
One Of them wore q black MASK
the other Clayton recognized In the
gloom as Tanner.
"Hand!" curtly ordered the man
with the lantern, Hands up, both Of
you! Way up!"
Hands up!" commanded the man
with the lantern.
With three pistols pointed at him
Bob Clayton had no option but to
obey the fiercely barked order. Re-
luctantly he lifted his hands above
his head.
Now" went on the lantern-bearer,
get out Of the car, both Of you"
Florence, trembling, stepped to tho
ground. The lantern carrier ironically
started forward as if to assist her.
In doing so he lowered his revolver.
And Clayton, with q furions spring,
launched himself upon him.
Down crashed the two men among
the wayside brambles, the lantern
going out as they fell.
Clayton was uppermost. Swingina
free his right hand as he and his
fallen foe battled there In the ditch,
he brought down his fist with terrific
force upon his opponents jaw point
The smitten man loosed his frantic
grip on Clayton. as the impact Of the
blow paralyzed him. Again Bob's
right fist smote with full force on his
enemy's jaw.
The other collapsed, senseless. Bob
staggered to his feet and stared about
him. The two other men and Flor
ence were nowhere to be seen.
Fifty yards ahead, In the faint star
light, loomed up one Of the several
deserted huts that dotted the expanse
Of the detour road. It was on a little
hillock, dimly outlined against the
sky line
As Clayton looked he saw, mo-
r,ap%o rfIx, s{Ib bo,,a+@n1 . ...&--s ~.