Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-17

! brace" OF Tanners foothold on the
floor. and with n simultaneous heave
to one side. threw the man OF his
/ balance. ,r. '-f
Forced to shift his grip In order to
/ save his equilibrium. Tanner relaxed
\ for an instant his undcrhold In that
/ moment Harold nimbly wriggled out
/ OF danger and. planting blow square
/ In the center Of Tanners face. sent
/ him spinning backward and cropping
Wildly at the sidewalks of the stair
/ way to restore his balance.
! Down the short hallway, toward the
stair head. ragged the unequal fight.
For now Harold had a definite pur-
! pose in view. and toward the further
ance OF that purpose he was driving
1 his adversary.
| In vain Tanner tried to block or
duck the whirlwind of blows. In
vain he sought to clinch or stand his
ground. He was no match for the
doughtiest. all-round athlete of Har-
! wards last four years
| The time was summer. The day was
saturday Hence. practically every
studio in the building was vacant.
Such few tenants on lower floors rs
heard the conflict fancied II a good
natured rampage on the part of some
| of the buildings gayer artists.
| But the janitor, a cranky old fell
| low. awakened from his afternoon
snooze by the racket, drowsily de-
ciaed that riot was in progress in
the upper stories. And he waddled
| forth. blinking, to find a policeman.
And now. in his merciless drive,
Harold Stanley had backed his foe to
the very summit OF the stairs. The
flight went down stecply for fifteen
steps to the landing below.
With final sledge-hammer blow in
the mouth. Stanley sent Tanner reel
| ing backward over the stair edge.
Down the flight of fifteen steps tum-
| bled the beaten man. his head strik-
ing the next lower landing with a
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 pile-driver.
But Harold did not stop to consider
this. There lay his antagonist appar-
emily lifeless the landing below
him. And the way was clear to Clay
toms studio.
With a sick dread in his heart
Harold dashed again toward the stu
do door The scream had not been
repeated.
Pierre La Rue had heard his bench
man attack Harold His superquick
wit had explained to him the whole
situation in a flash. And he laid his
plans with equal swiftness.
There was no longer chance OF
killing Harold Stanley to-day The
best that La Rue could hope for would
be 20 escape In safety and to proven,
Florence Montrose from betraying him
Accordingly. even as her lips were
parted for second Cry for help. he
iraped at her and caught her by the
shoulders, bringing his face close to
he" own.
And the look in his red-stained
eyes changed her impending shrek tc
gasp OF wordless horror.
Deep into the girls frightened eyes
he rlared is though his terrible gaze
would pierce to her very soul. All his
ahnormally powerful mind and will.
power were concentrated into that
silent stare.
Florence, in terror. sought to re-
move her glance from his. She could
not Even the serpent charms the
bird into helplcssness. so Pierre La
Eue's eyes and his uncanny willpowel
held Florence spellbound.
Her widestaring gaze became dull
Her eyes glazed. Her tense body, re-
Taxed and would have sank Imply te
the floor had La Rue not upheld it,
Crash! Harold's shoulder was a
the locked door. And the stout oal
shlvered under the impact. Vanya
came running in from the dressing
room in panic at the sound
y second thrust of the giant shoul
on it's hinges. while one OF the thick
panels split from top to bottom.
La Rue picked up Florence's uncon.
scious body in his arms and ran to-
ward the dressing groom.
There's Il door in the room beyond
that leads out into the hall" Vanyu
cried to him as he passed her.
y third crash. with the whole weight
and power of Harold SANKEY'S body
behind It, smashed the lock and sent
the studio door flying inward.
! Harold burst into the room. all but
falling on his face from the force OF
his own impetus. But Pierre had van
ished through the drcssing-room door.
| way
y single sweeping glance showed
| Harold that the studio was deserted
| lie saw the open door leading into
the dressing room. and dashed toward
On the threshold he all but collided
| with Nanya, who came strolling out
from the dressing-room. yawning as
| she came.
Why, Mr. Stanley" exclaimed
Nanya, what on earth are you doing
here" Are YOU waiting for Mr.. Clay
ton, as ] am? got tired waiting and
went into the next room for a nap.
There's couch there. and was sleepy
! SO l."
Where is shc?" demanded Harold
! recovering from his bewilderment SIS
She there"
is who in where? asked vanya
apparently puzzled by the shouted
| question. IF YOU mean in the dressing
! room. no one is there. -
heard her cry out" he insisted
TRUSTING his way past her into the
| dressing-room.
Thee room was empty. The door
leading into the hall was closed. Vanya
| followed him. laughing.
Il can explain the cry you heard,
| she volunteered. Though am
ashamed of ii. | had a bad dream and
| woke myself screaming and"
IL was not your voice!" he declared
| 1T was hers"
Whose?" she asked amusedIy.
| lie ala not answer. He was utterly
| dumfounded. He could have sworn he
had heard Florence Montrose scream
Tor help. He had burst in the door
and now-he was confronted by this
smiling, yawning model, who was very
evidently the sole occupant of the
! suite
To mask his irritation from Vanya's
fnlScnteNOuS glance he strnbc orrove