The Washington herald., 1916-12-21

are you spying at keyholes? And
why do you run away from honest
men? Speak up!"
Let me alone!" snarled Felix.
writhing In helpless fury in his cap
tors iron grip. Let me go or I'll
have you arrested for assault and
battery. You're strangling me-"
NO, I'm not" was Harold's curt
reply, as he shifted his grasp from
Felix's shoulders to his neck. But
I'm going to-"
IT am going to strangle you," went
on Harold sayagely, speaking be-
tween his teeth, "and leave your body
here as q new mystery in the Grim
son Stain cases-unlesS-"
He saw a gleam Of hope In the
Wallets panic-stricken face at the
hope Of an alternative.
Unless you answer my Questions,
and answer them truthfully," went
on Harold. will you do it?"
Felix could not speak. He could
not even breathe with that awful
pressure on his windpipe. All he
could do was to nod feebly.
-Good!" approved Stanley, relax
ing the throat hold. Now talk and
talk straight. If you lie or II you
Try to get away"
"Tn-rn tell you anything you
want to know" gurgled Felix in NOR
tai fear. only keep those steel
fingers on my throat. What do you
want to ask me? II know I'll tell"
'T want to ask you, first Of all, what
you know of the Crimson STAIN" be-
gun Harold.
threats and promptings from the
listener, Felix told his story. Stripped
Of its hesitations, its Interruptions
and scared repetitions, its substance
ran briefly as follows:
Felix had begun life as q decidedly
brilliant and promising student Of
chemistry at a college where DR..
Montrose had delivered o course Of
lectures
DR.. Montrose took pity on the pen
niless youth and offered him q we'll
paying job N his own household.
Felix was to act as the doctors body
servant, and was also to assist in
some Of Montrose's chemical expert
menta
For a time Felix was happy In his
new work The more 50 because he
had fallen in love at sight with Flor
enee. He worshiped her in silence
and kept his love secret to himself,
striving only to make himself so val
liable to his employer that the latter
might some day consent to receive
him as q son-in-law.
Then came the great experiment
whereby DR.. Montrose sought to
stimulate the human mind to fights
to genius by means OF the drug and
apparatus he had devised Felix wal
his helper In this.
The doctor first Of all had tried
the effect Of the drug upon himself.
It had greatly stimulated his mind.
He proved to his own satisfaction
that it contained no harmful quail
des
Then he sought other persons on
whom he might experiment He
picked out persons from four differ
ent walks Of life. They were Tanner.
Morrison, Vanya Tosca and Lay Par
rish.
DR.. Montrose induced these four to
consent to the use Of the drug. He
gave them treatment after treatment.
And steadily their mental conditions
improved. They became brilliant in
conversation, deep and logical think
ers; splendidly Intellectual
The doctor was overJoyed 1t the
success Of his experiments.
Felix Judged that this amount of
exultation on the part of his en-
ployer was suitable time for the
urging Of his own love suit. He
therefore told DR.. Montrose of his
love for Florence and asked leave to
propose to her.
DR.. Montrose was disguised and
amazed that a mere servant should
aspire to F1orence's hand.
DIR. Montrose's insults and this 70
hpff set Felix's love-sick brain afiams
with yearnings for revenge. I.
He planned and planned until at
last his knowledge Of chemistry gave
him the idea that he sought. Pro-
curing a virulent form of poison-a
toxic whose immediate effect was to
weaken the braip-Felix secretly
mixed this with every fresh supply
Of the drug that Montrose concocted.
But, instead. the mixture had a
new and startling effect upon the
four people who were taking the
treatments 1t did not lessen the
stimulation Of their brains, but 1t
turned that stimulation along lines of
evil. In short, it made them Grim
tnal geniuses-
Montrose meanwhile had con-
structed q secret passageway from
the side door of his house to the
panel door of the laboratory so that
his four patients could come and go
at will. to and from their treatments
without ayousing suspicion.
Or. Montrose was Mortified at the
change in his four patients" con-
tinued Felix. He did not know-he
has never known-that was the
cause Of it all. Presently It was too
late to confess"
'Why?" demanded Stanley, who
had listened with breathless interest.
why was It too later"
Because" said Felix, slowly, al
most in awe, ''because-then came
Pierre La Rue"
"Ah!" exclaimed Stanley, ct was
waiting for you to get to Pierre La
Rue. Now tell me about him-all
about him"
Il can do better than that" an
swered Felix. "I can make DR.. Mont
rose tell you all about him. You will
believe DR.. Montrose in his own
handwriting. The truth about Pierre