The Washington herald., 1916-09-24

the buildings elevator shaft. Along
this corridor, at the moment Florence
hontrose's card was handed to Stan
ley, Detective Parrish was striding.
Early in the Crimson Stain cru
sade Stanley had given orders that
Parrish or any police official should
be permitted to enter his ofice by
this latter route without an instant's
delay.
Parrish was availing himself of
this permission. But, as his hand
was on the knob of the office door,
he paused; the sound of voices from
within the room reaching him with
almost perfect distinctness. He stood
there, listening TO StanIey's talk with
Florence Montrose. Presently Par
rish stole away from the door and
returned to the elevator. But-per-
haps on impulse-he was back again
in the hallway i've minutes later.
Florence was just saying good-by
to Harold as the detective arrived.
AS soon as she had gone Parrish
stamped unannounced into the priv
ate office
Look here, Mr.. Stanley" he
growled angrily and with no other
salutation, Il read that roast on me
IN this mornings Examiner. And
want to tell you right now that you're
got to stop hammering me In print.
Understand that? You've got to stop
It"
Certainly, Mr.. Parrish" was Stan
lsy's Unexpectedly meek reply. The
attacks on you shall be stopped at
once II you really wish it"
Il DOR
"On just ono condition" pursued
Harold. "On condition that you do
what the city is hiring you to do and
Crimson Stain Mystery"
Activity" fumed Parrish. "Atn't
I working day and night? /"
Yes" acceded Stanley, you are.
You are running around In circles,
making a noise like an earnest work.
er'-and you're actually doing moth
ing. I've been watching you, Mr..
Parrish, and I've been having you
watched.
Stanley was interrupted by an once
boy, who brought a card to him.
. Glancing at it, he said to the boy:
Bring Mr.. Clayton in here"
Parrish, at the sound of the new
guests name, grunted a surly good-by
and left the Office as he had come.
He slammed the door shut behind
him and stamped noisily down the
hall toward the elevator. But at the
fourth stride he halted and softly
came back to the door, STOPPING with
his ear close to the keyhole.
I'm going up to Vanya Tosca's fat
for afternoon tee," Clayton said after
shaking hands with Stanley. Il
dropped. in to see If you'd go there
with me-"
mo, thanks" was stanIey's curt
answer. 'I don't care to-"
why not?" demanded Clayton,
wondering at the others manner.
FRANKLY" replied Harold, be
cause I don't like her and don't trust
her. I've been putting two and two
together this past day or so and it
seems to me there's something f1shy
about her presence in your studio
both those times you were uncon-
scfous. She"
Nonsense" declared Clayton. 1.-THE
first time. she came there after I'd
been knocked out, and she found me
and brought me to my senses. The
second time. I just keeled over from
reaction, as a result of the brain con-
cussion I'd had. That sort of thing
often happens. She brought me to,
again. I tell you, Stanley, you're
misjudging a noble woman. And 1
tell you I don't like it I know her
better than you do. And-and I'm
not ashamed to say I'm pretty deep
in love with her"
I'm sorry, old man." answered
Harold, genuine sadness in his voice.
Because don't think she's worthy
Of you. And 1 don't think she loves
you"
why don't you think she loves
me?' queried Clayton, hotIy.
Twice, this past week, I've seen
her with Truxton Lambert Once in
his big Limousine. and once"
''TruXton Lambert? Who's he?
Il thought you knew him. He's a
man-about- town, of a peculiarly OBJ
teCtlonabIe type. Made his pile in
diamond smuggling. The Diamond
King they call him. He is enor-
mously rich. And his reputation Is
about as rotten as any mans could
be without landing him in Jail. No
decent woman can afford to be seen
with him."
I'm going to tell her, then" said
Clayton, what kind of a man he Is.
She doesn't know, I'm sure. And I'm
just as sure she isn't interested in
him. Or in any other man but me.
I'm going UP there now. I know she
can explain. And, out of common
fairness to her, want you to come
along and hear'her explanation. You
owe it to her. And to me. +"