The Washington herald., 1916-10-01

plain clothes man laid a heavy
hand on his shoulder.
Come alongP' he ordered curtly. :
But didn't-Pm Innocent" stan-
mered Clayton 7"
Hold on!" lnterposed Stanley
Many a jealous detective has faced
a false arrest charge through being
in too much Of a hurry. We can't
talk this oyer on the roof here Come
down to Mr.. Clayton's studio. Bring
him along. Not so roughly, man!
I'll answer that he won't try to es-
cape"
Reluctantly the officer assented.
And the trio climbed through the
scuttle single file, returning to the
studio.
Now. then!" proceeded Stanley, as
he switched on the electric lights.
Let's get another look at that note"
The plain clothes man drew out the
note. He did not place 1t in Harold's
outstretched fingers, but held 1t up,
tight-clenched between his own
hands, to prevent either Of the others
from snatching and destroying it
Harold was thus enabled to read,
but not to handle it. He and Clayton
both stared at the scrap Of paper.
That's not my writing. 1t is not In
the very least like mine. You know
it isn't, Harold"
'Of course l know 1t isn't" eagerly
resented Stanley, look Of genuine
rel ef on mis- face. I've seen your
handwriting a hundred times This Is
no more like it than it's like mlne.
Officer, you've made a big mistake
here" e,rs-
TT Is trap" cried Clayton
That's not my writing. Some one
is trying to throw the blame Of the
murder on me. III gladly tell you
what little I know about it. /"
Anything you say now" warned
the detective, again dropping into
police diction as he recited the legal
formula, anything you say now Is
liable TO be used against you at your
trial"
Speak up, Bob!" adjured Stanley.
Clear yourself"
Il went to Vanya Tosca's apart
nlent," began Clayton, speaking di-
reGtly to his friend, and ignoring the
impatient detective. You remember,
YOU were to meet me there. I hid in
In alcoye behind some curtains, so
as to surprise her when she came In.
L was a FOOLS way Of acting, but
TT was a lovers way Of acting,
admitted Stanley. Which amounts
70 the same thing. Go ahead.
"She came into the liying-room."
continued Clayton. There was a
man with her. A hashy overdressed
chap. I'd never seen him before. But
she called him TruKton- So knew
who he must be. was wild with
jealousy. So /"
80 you pulled a gun and shot
hlm!" ACCUSED the detective.
mol" hotly denied Clayton Il
took q step toward the curtainA But
at that very first step"
He paused, lifted his hand nerv-
ouxiy TO his neck; then went on:
AT the very first step I felt a
set Of long, Ice-oold fingers grip my
throat. tried to wheel about, to ind
who had seized me- But hard as I
struggled I couldn't shake OF that
strangling grip or see my captors
face. Then the choking must have
made me faint. For the next thing
I remember I was swaying on the
edge Of the roof Up there just now
and you were dragging me back"
Almost at the same instant Flor
ence Montrose, In crossing the hall
Of her fathers RIverdale house,
chanced to meet Parrish, as Felix
admitted him at the front door.
Ask DR.. Montrose II he can see
me for hYe minutes" she heard Par
rtsh tell the servant.
As Felix departed on his errand,
Florence stepped forward. Holding
aside the curtains OF an adjoining
room, she sa'6:
win you .rue in here, Mr.. Par
rtsh7 I want to speak to you"
Wondering at 50 odd q request from
a girl who scarcely knew him by
sight, Parrish followed her through
the curtained doorway.
Mr.. Parrish" went on Florence,