The Washington herald., 1916-09-17

Tnen going across 10 meet harold' ne
exclaimed:
TITS awrully decent Of you to drop
down down on us like this, when
you're so busy. Have a drink"
''waiti" called Vanya, running into
the adjoining kitchenette. "1Il get
the highballs for you. Men are so
awkward"
A minute later she came back
bearing a tray containing three
glasses, a siphon and q little bowl
OF cracked ice.
Men are awkward, eh?" scofed
Clayton. How about women?
You've actually poured the Scotch
into the glasses instead Of bringing
us the bottle"
"I did It," she defended Herself.
much II left you pour 1t yourselves"
Who's getting the misses and
children's size drink" he asked,
pointing to one glass which had bare
ly a spoonful OF whisky in it.
That's mine," she announced. "I
hate the smelly. singing stuff, so I
take as little as possible. Say when"
The glasses were charged, and Clay
ton raised his to his lips. Stanley
reached for the glass Vanya had
filled for him, and lifted it abruptly.
Generations of men have wondered
why a seemingly useless trio of but
tons are sewn on each sleeve Of a
coat.
One Of them caught on the edge Of
tho table as he lifted his arm to
crink. The jerk knocked the glass
out Of his hand, and it smashed on
the floor, cascading his boots with
Scotch and carbonic.
"Rottenly careless Of mel" he
apologized. I'm sorry"
Never mind" consoled vanya,
III get you another"
mo, thanks" he said, 'I must run
on. I Just dropped in to say hello
Bob, you're looking better than ex-
pected. Good-by."
He went out; just as Robert Clay
ton slumped down into an armchair
In a drugged sleep.
A little earlier, Florence Montrose
received a note, brought to her by a
man in chauffeur's livery and whose
car waited at the port cochere She
recognized Harold Stanley's strong
handwriting and, opening the enve-
lope. she read:
Il am in terrible trouble, here at
the old Lent house, can't explain in
this note. But, for the sake Of all
our old time friendship 1 beg you to
help me by coming here at once. The
bearer of this note, can be trusted.
He will bring you to me, in his car.
H. s."
Impulsively, the girl obeyed the im-
ploring summons from her old play
fellow. Thrusting the note hurriedly
into the bosom Of her dress, she ran
upstairs for her hat and gloves. The
note fell from its resting place as she
ran. and 1t lay (unnoticed by the ex-
cited g1rl) on the doorway OF tho
lower hall.
And there, FIVE minutes later. Har-
old Stanley found 1t.
Stanley, reaching the Montrose
home, to take Florence with him to
the Lent house. stood waiting in the
hall, while servant went upstairs to
look for her. There his eye fell idly
on the twisted sheet Of raper.
The Lent house!" he shouted to
his chauffeur. Break every speed
law in the statute books, and get me
there!"
Florence meantime had made good
time in the strange car that had come
for her. Once, as they neared the
Bronx, she CHANGED to look back, and
saw In the distance a gray roadster
cafeening along in a cloud of its own
dust at break-neck pace. But she wal
too much troubled as to Harold Stan
ley's fate to give the whirling erav
car a second thought.
Presently her automobile stoned
In front Of the dilapidated Lent
mouse. She jumped out, hurried up
the weed-grown walk and entered the
howell, the chauffeur at her heels.
Just inside the door she was con-
fronted by a man she had never be-
fore seen. In his hands he held sew
eral lengths Of tough silken cord. As
her eyes fell on Tanner the chauffeur
seized her from behind and strove to
force a gag into her mouth, while
Tanner, striding forward, caught
both her hands and began to wind
one Of the cords around her wrists
The girl struggled furiously in the
grasp OF the two. A second later she
house. whirlwind fashion. And she
had glimpse Of Harold Stanley as
the latter flung himself upon Tan
ner.
The chauffeur, loosing his hold on
Florence, advanced toward the bat
tling men and put his hand to his
pistol pocket. Florence, scarce know
ing what she did, snatched up an
earthen jar from the floor beside her
and brought it down with all her
sinuous young strength upon the
chauffeur's head.
He fell like a dead man under the
blow. Tanner, beneath the impetus
OF Stanley's fist, sprawled alongside
his confederate less than a second
later.
"Come!" said Stanley. throwing a
protecting arm around Florence and
drawing her out Of the house with
him. Let's get away from this while
the getting Is still good. There
may be dozen more OF those chaps
around here"
He helped her into the car, which
sped on with them from the perilous
vicinity, not a second too soon.
Tanner, at the same time. scrar-
bling. panic-stricken. to his feet, and,
without a backward look at his un-
conscious comrade, bolted out of the
hut's back door and plunged at full
speed through the tangle Of briars
that lay behind it.
AS he ran, an exoIosion sent hin,