The Washington herald., 1916-10-26

"aro Ine door. Stanley moved back
q lew feet and stood ready to strike,
should his foe venture forth.
Inc laboratory door swung open.
Or. Montrose stood on the threshold.
He was yawning. His hair was
dlsheveled and his eyes were blink
ing sleepily.
"a burglar ran in here Just now"
cried Florence as Stanley, without
replying, forced his way past the
supplied doctor and into the Iabora-
tory.
The laboratory was empty. Harold
glowered around the shelf-lined walls
like a hunting dog thrown off the
scent.
"A burglar" repeated DR.. Mon
trose, In establishment, his eyes stray
Ing in furtive dread toward the Sc
eret panel at the far end of the room.
impossible. 1 have been in here ever
since luncheon. I'm sure I should
have heard"
That window over on the corner Is
open,' stammered the doctor. IF
anyone ran in here he undoubtedly
got out that way and dropped to the
cell roof below. He's gone too far by
now to be caught"
Harold leaned out Of the window.
No sign could he CLEAN of the masked
fugitive. When Florence and Harold
at last quilted the laboratory DR..
Montrose shut the door behind them
and stood for minute with drooping
head and furrowed brow.
An hour later Vanya Tosca, in the
living room of her apartment was
entertaining no less notable q visitor
than Pierre La Rue himself.
The Crimson Stain was glowing
turidly in Pierre's eyes.
he was In a diabolically bad humor
at the world in general, for his
henchmen's failure on the previous
night to steal the necklace. He was
the angrier-in his abnormal GRIM
lnal Vanity-that Stanley should have
Ventured to impersonate so ilIustri-
Gus parsonage as himself.
He had been giving Vanya fnstruc-
tons for her conduct during the ap-
preaching visit to Clayton's studio:
and he had interspersed these with
fierce denunciations of his followers
stupidity.
The Montrose girl knows where
Stanley has the necklace hidden" he
said at last, as he rose to go. And
she's coming to the studio this after
noon. Well find way to make ner
speak up and tell where we can find
the necklace"
With no word OF good-by, he swung
open the door and was gone.
Nanya began to make ready for her
visit to the studio. Presently a ring
ing Of the electric bell brought her
to the front door Of her fat. Robert
Clayton stepped in. Hiding her sur
prise at his visit, she welcomed him
pleasantly: and he followed her into
her living-room.
II came to ask if you would do me
a great favor" returned Clayton.
will you?"
Il don't think there are many IA
vors you could ask that 1 would not
gladly grant," she answered softly,
her hand resting in appealing pres
sure on his. What is it?"
Il want to pauch up our differ
ences," said Robert, "and have come
to ask you to pose for me again.
am so discouraged about my 'Delilah'
picture. can't possibly finish it with
any other model. Won't you do it7
1t means so much to me-"
"Why, of course, vill," she
laughed. I'D do anything for you.
I'll be at your studio at this after
noon"
Without warning, she swayed for
ward, and would have fallen, if Clay
ton had not caught her Almost in
instantly, she broke free from his
supporting arm and stood back.
I'm so sorry!" she said, smiling in
depreciation. It's silly of me to keel
over like that. Wait a minute. I'm
going to take some aromatic spirits Of
ammonia"
She left the room; presumably in
quest of the medicine she had spoken
Of Instead, she went swiftly into the
next room. and there drew out from
the flowing sleeve of her blouse-the
revolver she had so deftly abstracted
from Robert Clayton's hip pocket
during the brief instant she had
reeled against him
breaking the revolver, she ex-
tracted its six cartridges. Then, from
box she took six blanks" and put
them into the cylinders in place Of
the bullets.
Returning to the nving-room, she
chatted for a minute or two longer
with Clayton. AS he turned to go, she
exclaimed:
Hold on, Mr.. Clayton. What in
the world have you been leaning
against? There's line Of white
powder or motor dust across your
shoulders. Stand still"
Before he could guess her intent,
she caught up little silver-handled
whiskbroom and vigorously brushed
his shoulders and back.
"There!" she said, eluding his ef-
forts to prevent her from doing him
this valet service Nov it's all gone.
Good-byI"
And Robert Clayton left the fat,
blissfully unaware that his pistol had
been stolen, rendered harmless, and
put back in his pocket again by mis-
fascinating hostess.
Clayton went directly to Stanley's
home, where he found Harold await
ing him There, in pursuance of
the plan they had hit upon that
morning, Harold proceeded to make
up" the artist as nearly as possible
to resemble Pierre La Rue. He him.
self was content with such disguise as
q pair of face-hiding goggles and a
chauffeur livery afforded him.
Thence, descending to Harold's
waiting motor car, the disguised