Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-25

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stealthily he slipped into the private
room.
Tanner behind the two others,
chanced to turn and look back as he
reached the halls exit He saw tho
doctor enter the room. Turning, he
hurried back thru the fast-filllng hall
DR.. Montrose, entering the room,
drew his pistol and peered around
him.
a telephone on the table and II
push button in the adjoining wall wero
the only items of interest A second
door led out into dark hall beyond.
Or. Montrose crossed to this door
and opened IL.
As he did so blow on the base OF
the skull stretched him sensc'ess HIS
pistol clattered unnOticcd To tho floor.
Tanner, with deft fingers, set To
work over the fallen man. within
thirty seconds he stepped back with
n grunt OF satisfaction and surveyed
his work.
when Montrosc gradually came to
himself he was strapped. hand and
foot, In chair and gag was In his
mouth. Above him bent Tanner.
Evening, Doc" said the tough
cordially Sorry to treat you so
rough. but you'd ought to a kept out
of what didn't concern you. And
now" he went ON, pulling roll Of
black cloth from under his ovcrcoat,
"as were expecting visitor, and as
she is apt to be shy II she sees
strangers, I'm going to take the lib
erty of drapin' you"
As he spoke he unrolled the cloth,
disclosing thin black domino and
hood.
In "A moment he had envcloped the
helpless doctor in his garment. ad'
iustiug the masks eye-slits over the
prisoners agonzcd eyes
Now, then," went on Tanner
we're all tidy and comfortable. |
guess I'll celebrate by joining myself
in a littlc sip of The stuff That Killed
Father"
He lifted one of the two glasses
from the table. Montrose's dazed
eyes cleaned in murderous hope.
Then hastily Tanner set down the
glass ,as the sound of tramping feet
sounded along the dark passage
- The rear door opened. Pierre La
Rue entered. In his arms he bore the
struggling body of Florence Mont
rose.
at worked out beautifully" he
Clayton came laundering into the
courtyard. and he was saying how
queer IL was that a hospital should
be III such place. Just then kiel
tapped him over the head and |
caught up the young lady. Who have
/ you got here" he broke off sharply
/ as his eye fell on Montrosc.
Tanner in two whispered sentences
! explained. Florence cried out IN hor-
ror, and renewed her useless struggle.
La Rue laughed aloud. But before
/ he could speak, kiel burst into the
room from the dance hall.
Look out. chief he painted. Its
all up! Clayton got on his feet again.
looked back and saw him. kid
newsboy was passing and told him
! you had lugged the girl in here. Clay
ton blows n police whistle. and three
cops come up, a-running. They're
searching the dance han outside.
. They'll be here any minute. Beat it,"
| Florence fought madly as she heard
the tough's scared message. But she
i could not wrench free from Pierre's
/ grasp. Dr. Montrose, bound,
| gagged and masked-strugGled madly
and in vain, as hope seemed to glim-
! mer for him aaign.
La Rue glanced uqickly from one
prisoner to the other. Then, loosing
his hold on Florence he made FOR tho
door that led to the dance hail, whence
! now came a confused babel of shouts
! and screams.
Ia Rue sprang thru the doorway
into the clamorous dance hall TO verify
his hcnchman's words. Kiei and Tan
/ ner followed at his heels.
Florence, released, cast single
| look of terror at the masked figure in
the chair. Then she chanced to catch
sight of the pistol her father had
/ dropped. IL still lay on the floor in Il
| corner.
As the door flew open again she
snatchcd up the weapon and fired.
Robert Clayton pushing his way
past La Rue, rushed into the room.
| Florcnce's wild shot stretched him
dead at her feet
She reeled back, faint with dread
at what she had done.
La Rue, running in, caught her as
| she swayed. He picked up one of
the whisky glasses and forced its con-
tents thru her painting lips.
! She shuddered and fell across the
table.
La Rue after an instant of indecis-
/ ion. slid out thru the rear door. ieav-
] ing DR.. Montrose staring down in
dumb anguish at the two bodies at his
| feet.
Then from the dane han surged in
the police. They saw the lifeless
! forms on the floor and turned in
swift suspicion toward the sinister
masked figure in the chair.
Montrose, with gurgling gasp of
stark torment, staggered from where
he sat. He reeled TO his feet and
stared wildly about him.
Two people, laughing, chatting, were
| entering the room.
They were Florence Montrose and
Robert Clayton. And the room itself
was the doctor own library
I'VE had such jolly drive. daddy"
| Florence hailed her father. "The new
car is n darling"
you're alive?" croaked Montrosc
! hoarsely.
Then staggering back in a daze of
! reaction, he babbled incoherently:
Tit was a dream. All fright
| full dream Butt was morel II
was n warning. a warning / dare not
! diSobey."
Read the story hcrc-thcn see the
picture NJ the Empress,