The Washington herald., 1916-12-07

IW@l N THE back room OF ian.
IL "a ner's upper East Side apart
IN ment sat a half-dozen men
~ and a woman for whom the
entire police force of New York was
diligently and vainly searching. There
was not a member of that choice
group who did not richly merit at
least twenty years in prison, perhaps
not one would not have looked we'll
in the electric chair.
Though Pierre La Rue sat, as usual.
in the place of honor and dominated
the whole gathering by his presence,
yet 1t was Tanner just then who was
doing the talking.
Tanner was not only talking. but
he was talking with the sulky To-
quacity Of a man who has a griev-
ance he cannot keep to himself.
Yes" Tanner was saying, in an
swer to an interrupting comment from
Morrison. II know it's happened be-
fore. But always, up to now. we've
been able to make him come to terms.
Why, sometimes just the bare men
ton of the chiefs name would do
it. But not any more. He's through
with U.s."
Maybe the chief can persuade
him." suggested Morrison.
Not any MORE" insisted Tanner.
'I went to him, civil as could be, and
1 said, DR.. Montrose, I've come to
you for a treatment He growls
that none Of US will ever get another
treatment from him. tried to scare
him. But the next thing 1 knew he
had grabbed me by the scruff Of the
neck and showed me back out Of the
laboratory and slammed the secret
panel shut in my face. tell you
we'll get no more treatments from
him. And, without the drug, what
will become Of US. Hey?"
Now that Montrose has cut out
giving us the treatments" spoke up
Pierre La Rue. with a quiet vehe-
mence that stirred his followers to
sudden new hope. I'm going to give
those treatments myself"
Your" cried Vanya Tosca, In
amaze. You're joking!"
Il don't make Jokes" La Rue cold
ly reproved her, ANY more than
let people make Jokes with me. You
ought to know that by now. I say
I'm going to give the treatments
after this. To myself and to you
people. If"
How can you do it," demanded
Tanner, incredulity supplanting his
first surprise. You haven't got the
apparatus You haven't got the drug.
Most likely you'd know how to ad-
minister the treatment, all right.
You've seen 1t done often enough.
But how can you get the drug or the
apparatus?"
MY friend" said Pierre, with
weary patience, as II teaching les
son to some stupid child. ''if you got
to Broadway and Forty-second street
some evening and found you had left
your watch or your wad at home, and
that you needed a wad or a watch
just then. what would you do? Would
you sit down on the curb and cry, or
would you-?"
I'D frisk the first likely looking guy
in the crowd for what 1 wanted, of
course" retorted Tanner, piqued at
this implied slur at his professional
skill, Just as I've done fifty times
before. In that bunch anybody but
a dub can grab what he wants"
In other words" suggested La
Rue, you'd go ahead and take what
you wanted. Well, that's just what
I'm going to d."
You mean," put in Morrison, you
mean you're going to steal the appa-
ratus and the drug supply out OF
Montrose's laboratory? You sure
don't mean that! Why, chief, it can't
be done!"
Its going to be done!" retorted La
Rue, speaking with swift incisive-
ness, the Crimson Stain beginning to
smolder luridly in the depths Of his
fathomless eyes. We've truckled and
cringed and begged long enough for
our treatments. Since Montrose has
turned on us we must get rid Of him.
That's the answer. We must get rid
of him, and take the stuff for our
selves"
1T sounds good" said Tanner.
doubtfulIy, but"
But it's as good as it sounds" in
sisted La Rue.
Who's to do it?" asked Morrison.
You and Tanner and I are going
up to Riverdale," returned Pierre.
We are going there in a cara big
enough car to hold the apparatus. We
are going into the laboratory by way
of the panel. We are going to de-
mand treatment. Montrose will re-
fuse 1t. Then"
Pierre La Rue stretched out his
long, powerful fingers in a peculiarly
suggestive way
The finger bracelet" queried Tan
rer eagerly. You're going to stran-
gle him?"
Pierre nodded curtly and said:
After I've done it you and Nor
rison will lug the apparatus and the
drug TASKS through the secret pas
sage. out of the house and to the car.
It's quite simple"
Are we going up there now"
asked Morrison as Pierre got to his
feet as if in token that the confer
ence was over.
No" answered La Rue I'm two
hours. Montrose is generally making
his round of professional calls at this
time of day. Besides"
Besides what?" queried Tanner,
catching an odd infection in Pierre's
voice.
Besides" went on La Rue, after a
seconds hesitation, I'm expecting
a phone message that may have a lot
TO do with our plan. A message that
may bring us a volunteer executioner
for Montrose and may get rid of some
one else we could dispense with"