East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-11-13

OBERT CLAYTON stood
aghast, still half dazed. The
~ plain clothes man laid a heavy
nand on his shoulder.
Come along!" he ordered CURLY. Z
But / didn't-I'm i~nnocentl" stam-
cred Clayton. Il"
Hold on" i~nterposed Stanley.
Many a Jealous detective has faced
false arrest charge through being
n too much Of q hurry. We can't
ak this over on the roof here. Come
Town to Mr.. Clayton's studio. Bring
i'm along. Not so roughly. man!
Il answer that he won't try to es-
lpe."
Reluctantly the officer assented.
i'd the trio climbed through the
uttle single file, returning to the
ludio.
Now. them" proceeded Stanley, as
"a switched on the electric lights
tets get another look at that note"
M main clothes man drew u the
ia He did not place it in Harolds
.+stretched fingers, but held 1t up
;ight-clenched between his own
',ands, to prevent either OF the others
rom snatching and destroying IT.
Harold was thus enabled to read,
,,,+ not 10 handle 1t. He and Clayton
nh stared at the scrap Of paper.
That's not my writing. 1t is not IN
he very least like mine lou Aio"
isn't, Harold"
OF course l know it isn't!" eagerly
essented Stanley, a look OF genuine
re-, cf on MS face. I've seen your
,andwriting a hundred times, rms is
,,c more like it than it's ike NINE
officer, you've made . big mistake
here"
ut is a trap cried Clayton
That's not my writing. Some one
is irving TO throw the blame OF the
murder on me. I'll gladly tell you
What little 1 know about 1t. /
Anything you say now,' warned
the detective, again dropping into
notice diction as ne reclted the legal
formula, anything you say now Is
liable to be used against you at your
trial"
Speak up, Bob!' adjured STANLEY
Clear yourself"
Il went to Vanya Tosca's apart
r,ent." began Clayton, speaking al
rt.tly TO his friend, and ignoring th'
ir,natient detective, You remember
Won were TO meet me there. L ma Il
- .Icove behird some curtains, 81
as 10 surprise her when h came II,
II was a FOOLS way Of acting, but
1T was a lovers way OF aclhs
admitted Stanley. (which amount
TO the same thing. Go ahead ,
'FShe came into the living-room'
continued Clayton. There was .
man with her. A lashy overdresse'
chan. I'd never seen him before. Bu'
she called him Truxton. So kneV
who he must be. l was "lia VIII
, jealousy. SO =
so you pulled a gun and sho
him!" accused the detective, u.
MOI holly denied Clayton.
took a step toward the curtains Bu
AT that very first step
He paused, lifted his hand nerV
ously to his neck; then went on:
"At the very first step l felt
set of long, ice-cold fingers grip M
throat. tried to wheel about, to INT
who had seized me. But hard as
struggled l couldn't shake OFF tina
strangling grip or see my captor'
face. Then the choking must hav
made me faint. For the next thin
7 remember ! was swaying on tn
edge Of the roof up there just nov
and you we're dragging me back.
Almost aFJthe same instant Flor
cncc Mcitt0se In crossing tho ha'
of Lnr fathers Hverdale hous'
CHANGED to mset Parrish, as Fell
admitted him at Tic front door.
ASK DR.. Montrose IL he can Sc
me for five minutes" she heard Par
IRISH tell the servant.
As Felix departed on his erranC
Florence STEPPED forward. Holdin
aside the curtains Of an adjoinin
room, she said:
"Will you come in hero, Mr.. PA
IRISH? / want TO speak to you"
Wondering at so odd q request fro'
a girl who scarcely know him b
sight, Parrish followed her throug
the curtained doorway.
MIR. Parrish" went on Florene
Tho navt installment nf 1.-THE Crim s