The evening world., 1916-09-14

his head bussing like a beehive, Tan
ncr ran IN and clinchcd. gaining tho
terribly effective undcrhold on his op-
ponent.
Seeking TO break s~taniey's back
with this hold. no braced his fcot.
drove hts chin into the hollow be-
tween Harold's shoulder and neck and
tuggcd forward with both the hands
he had clinched In tho small Of STAN
ley's back.
As a rule this hold (when fully
gained by a strong mani results In
one OF two t~hings-either the victims
spipe snaps or wrencheA. or else the
unldcky man In tortured into surren-
der. 1t Is a grip well known to wharf
side fighters and their like.
Harold Stanley. however, had no
idea either Of s~urrendcring or of go
Ing through life with q wrenched
back. With a twist Of his feet he
broke the brace of Tanners foot
hold on tho floor. and with q stimuli
tancous heave to N side throw the
man Off his balance.
Forced TO shift his grip in order to
save hts equilibrium. Tanner relaxed
for an instant his underhold. In that
moment Harold ntmbly wriggled out
of danger and planting a blow square
In the centre of Tanners face. sent
him spinning backward and cropping
wildly at the sidewalks of the stair
way " restore his balance.
Down the short hallway. toward tho
staL head. ragged the unequal fight.
For now Harold had q definite pur-
pose In view. And toward h fur
ing his adversary.
In vain Tanner tried to block or
duck the whirlwind OF blows. In
vain 10 sought TO clinch or stand his
ground. Ho was no match for the
doughtiest. "all-around athlete Of Har-
wards last four years.
Tho time was summer. The day
was Saturday. Hence. practically
every studio In the building was va
cant. Such few tenants on lower
floors as heard the conflict fancied 1t
a good-natured rampage on the part
Of some OF the buildings gayer artists.
But the Janltor. a cranky old fell
low. awakened from his afternoon
snooze by the racket. drowstly de-
cided that a riot was In progress in
forth, blinking, to find q policeman.
And now, In his merciless drive.
Harold Stanley had backed his foo to
tho very summit OF tho stairs. The
flight went down stecply for fifteen
steps to tho landing below.
With a final slcdge- hammer blow IN
the mouth. Stanley sent Tanner reel
ing backward ovcr the stair edge.
Down the flight OF fifteen steps
tumbled tho beaten man. his head
striking ths next lower landing with
q bang that knocked his wits out of
his thick skull.
Such men as Tanner do not lie un-
conscious for more than a very few
seconds when hit by anything less
formidable than a pile driver.
But Harold did not stop,to consider
this. There lay his antagonist appar-
entity ~lifeless on tho landing below
him. And the way was clear to Clay
toms studio.
With a sick dread In his heart Har-
old dashed again toward the studio
door, The scream had not been re-
peated.
Pierre La Rue Ind heard his hench-
man attack Harold. His super-quick
wit had explained to him the whole
situation In a fash. And he laid his
plans with equal swiftness,
There was no longer n chance Of
killing Harold Stanley to-day. The
best that La Rue could hope for
would be- to escape In safety and TO
prevent Florence Montrose from be-
traying him.
Accordingly. even as her lips were
parted for a second cry for help, no
loapod At her and caught her by the
shoulders, bringing his face close 20
her own.
Deep into tho girls frightened eyes
he glared as though his terrible gaze
would pierce to her very soul. All his
abnormally powerful mind and will
power were concentrated into that
silent stare.
Florence. in terror. sought TO re-
nov her glance from his, She could
not. Even rs h serpent charms the
bird into helplessness. X Pierre La
Rue's eyes and his uncanpy will
power held Florence spellbound.
Her wide starin~ gaze became dull,
Her eyes glazed, Her tense body re-
Taxed and would have sunk Imply
tn tho floor had Lue Rue not upheld
It.
Crash. Harold's shoulder was ut
tho locked door, And the stout oak
shivered under the Impact. Nanya
came running IN from the dressing
room In panic AT the sound,