The Washington herald., 1916-09-24

had neglected to shut 1t tightly when
she admitted Tanner and Florence.
1t had swung ajar.
One of the idiotic impulses that
infest the brains OF otherwise sane
men when they are in love. now oc-
CURED to Clayton. Without ringing
the bell he slipped noiselessly into
the apartment, closing the door be-
hind him, and made his way to the
living-room. Nanya was not there.
He passed through the curtains
into an alcove beyond and drew the
curtains together behind him. Stand
ing there, he opened his mouth to
call Vanya, preparing to enjoy her
surprise at hearing his voice and not
seeing him.
His lips parted, but no word was
spoken. For at that instant the
door bell rang. Clayton heard VAN
ya's light step como along the hall
He heard her open the front door
and, with an exclamation OF delighted
welcome, led a visitor into the liv-
ing-room.
Clayton peered through a tiny gap
in the curtain. Vanya was entering
the livtng-room, talking with gay ami
nation to an overdressed, animal
faced man. who stared at her in evil
dent worship.
A throb Of hot jealousy tore
through Clayton's heart. Clenching
his fists, he took a step forward. His
hands went up to tear aside the
curtains and to reveal himself to the
woman and her admirer.
Just then a tap on the shoulder
made Clayton spin about. He had
thought himself alone in the tiny,
dim-lit alcove. But. as he turned
he saw a man who had appeared
seemingly from nowhere, and who
was peering fxedly into his eyes.
Clayton sought to speak, to demand
the reason Of the others mysterious
presence there. But for some reason
he was dumb. He tried to move, but
his body would not respond to the call
of his will.
For moment. the artists feeble
will power tried to comb at the weird
grip that the strangers eyes were
having upon him. But he felt himself
helpless, and weakly gave up the
struggle.
And now this f1aming-eyed stranger
was saying something to him. Then,
to all intents and purposes, Robert
Clayton fell asleep.
Harold Stanley mounting the steps
Of the apartment house, heard him
self addressed, civilly enough, by a
man in the street behind him. He
turned, and recognized Award, one of
Parrish's assistants-a plain-clothes
detective who had been working for
some weeks on the Crimson Stain
case.
Good afternoon, Mr.. Stanley" the
man was saying, and he added:
That was a pretty fierce slap you
handed my chief in the Examiner
this morning. He"
They both wheeled and with one
impulse dashed into the house. For
in the middle OF Awards words a
heavy -caliber revolver had been fired,
almost directly above their heads.
That's from Vanya Tosca's apart
ment! The second floor front"
thought Stanley as he raced up the
single flight of stairs at the plain
clothes mans side. The window was
open.
On the living-room floor, face up
ward, sprawIed Truxton Lambert, q
bullet wound through his head.
Senseless AMI lying asprawl on a rug,
just in front of the alcove curtains,
lay Robert Clayton. His clothing
was awry. One hand clutched a re-
volver
Stanley bent over him as Award
and the policeman knelt beside Lam
bert. Listening at Clayton's heart
Stanley found the artist was still liv-
ing. No wound was on his body.
Indeed he seemed more like a man
who was fast asleep than like the
victim of a swoon.
Presently, Award rose from Lam
bert's side and crossed over to Clay
ton. Taking the revolver from the
artists nerveless fingers, he broke
it. One cartridge alone had been
fired.
That seems to settle it." pro-
nounced Award, "he shot that other
fellow and then keeled over from
shock at what he'd done. But what
I can't understand is how he had
time to rob him, too, before we got
here. The other mans watch and
ring and studs are gone and his
pockets are inside out"
Then Clayton didn't do itI" de-
clared Harold positively. I've knewn
him all his life. He might or might
not shoot a man in anger, But he'd
never rife the body. Beside, you
yourself see he couldn't have done 1t
in the time he had. And there is no
sign of the loot anywhere about him.
No, we'll have to look further. I'll
stake my life on his innocence. And
I'll be responsible for his appearance
n court if he is wanted"