Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-04
THE CRIMSON
STAIN MYSTERY

pool ct"
wait till you're sure the coast is
clear" ordered La Rue entering the
cab, followed by the masked man,
"theh follow us indoors
Tho cab door shut. The chauffeur
made a short turn of his machine
and it started toward the mouth OF
the court Robert Clayton as II sped
bv him dartod out Of the wall em-
brasarc, caught the edge of the cabs
top and with one toe gained loot
hold on the rear axle.
Forgotten was the peril of his situa-
ton. Forgotten even was his pro-
posed visit to Nanya Tosca. Every |
thing was forgotten except the fierce
Nhrill of the mar hunt.
<Yes, now that Clayton had found
la Rue. he would stick to him. in the
hope of solving the mystery or of get
ting the arch scoundrel in his power.
Wherefore, flattening himself upon
the roof of the taXicab, Robert lay
there thense with eagerness and sus-
porse.
After long twenty minutes the
taXicab slowed up to a snail pace.
Clayton had kept a general idea of his
surroundings, And now he knew at
a glance where he was.
Clayton had known that house all
: his life It was Harold Stanley's
home. And again the thrill of the
man hunt possessed the young artist.
The taxi halted. la Rue and the
masked man stepped out. The latter
crcpt toward the house Pierre turned
to the chauffeur.
"In five minutes join us" he said.
'"You know which window. Keep
watct here till then, to make certain
we weren't followed"
He vanished into the darkness, in
the wake of the masked man. The
chauffeur sat alert and watchful on
his high scat.
I;cnert Clayton counted slowly up
to fifty. Then, knowing the others
mus. by now be out of earshot, he
gathered his body into a compact
mass and launched himself upon the
unsugpccting chauffeur.
In less than three minutes Robert
CLAYTON had dvested the senseless
man of his coat and cap and puttees
and had clothed himself in them.
Feeling in the inner pocket of the
chauffeur's coat he drew out the
folded mask and adjusted it to his
own face.
Then, lightly he ran toward the
house and began slowly to circle IT,
Presently he found the newly opened
window he sought. 1t led into the
Stanley library
CLAYTON crawled over the sill and
into the room. One shaded electric
licht was turned on. BY its glow he
saw La Rue ana the masked man
kneeling in front of the library safe
Robert was not adept in the gentle
art Of house breaking. As he scram-
bicd into the room one of his cropping
feet struck against "A chair upsetting
it,
At the noise La Rue turned and
sworc fiercely. Then he bent once
more to his task of boring a large
enough hole in the safe to hold the
nitroglycerin with which he intended
to open it.
".,l ready" he heard La Rue say.
Stand back. II will, explode in thirty
seconds now. Come over here, out OF
the vav."
He drew the two others into the
farthest extremity of the long room.
As he did so the library door opened
again Harold Stanley sauntered in.
Coming home unexpectedly early,
Stanley had stopped AT the library on
his way upstairs for some letters he
wart4d to read again before going to
bed
At once he noted the upturned light
and the appearance of the safe. Strid-
ing across to the safe he beut over II.
Clayton took an impulsive step for
ward But he was too late.
Tho safe door clashed to the soft
rug Harold Stanley was sent sprawl
ing and senseless by the concusso on
He law in an inert heap on the floor,
close beside the library table.
with \ laugh that drowned Robert
ClaVtcn's h1rrified gasp. Pierre La
Rue ran forward. At the same in
slant the telephone on the table be
gan to ring.
Instinctivcly Robert Clayton picked
up tho instrument. Steadying his
shal<y tones as best he could, he said
Hello"
Hello" came the reply in Florence
Montrose's clear voice. rs that you,
Harold" l called up to ask you if
YOU"
"Tut that thing down. you fool"
snarlcd Pierre LA Rue.
clayton oDe1iontlv lowered the in
strurncnt to the table.
Unohtrusively he shifted the posi-
ton of a big book on the table so
that the m9uthpiece of the telephone
\ receiver rested on it, without bending
'dowr the hook and shutting off the
connection.
TO outward appearance the instru-
ment was out of use. Actually IT
was connected, and any sounds near
its transmittcr would be perfectly
audible at the far end of the wire.
Thus Florence Montrose, in her own
home could plainly hear whatever
mint be said within three feet of the
table And, a. Robert knew, she was
listening for the supposed Harold's
reply to her greeting.
Pierre La Rue looked down in grim
contentment at the face OF his sense
less enemy.
Have you found the Clayton neck
lace, Tanner"
The masked man, who had been
fumhlnr in the dismaptled safe, now
, drew out his hand, triumphantly.
"Herc she is, chief" he announced.
"a Rue snatched the glittering cir
clet of diamonds from him and thrust
II carclessly into the side pocket of
his cost Thcn he bent again over
Stanley.
His wandering eye fell on the trunk
he lad hauled from the closet.
"Cpcn that" he said 10 Tanner.
"lf it's full dump out the contents
and help me pitch him into it. We
can carry it out 90 the taxi and take
1t whore il will.'be safe to open It
and finish him Look lively. there"
- He motioned Tanner to lift the body
by the shoulders, while he himself
bent to raise the legs and feet. AS
Pierre leaned forward TO lift the
wecht> Clayton saw the CLEAN of