East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-11-20

NuIl Justly,
AS he stood, peering about him, he
heard a faint noise that seemed to
come from the otheI side OF an ap-
parently blank wall. Scared, he
crouched behind table, iust as a
panel in the wainscoted wall began
10 slip to one side, revealing an
inner room beyond the wall.
Through this opening appeared the
head and shoulders OF Tanner. AS
Felix stared bewilderedIy at him,
Tanner entered the laboratory and
turned around TO close the secret
panel
If once the panel should he closed,
Felix knew he himself had scant hope
Of finding a way to open it again.
Therefore, in the second that the
other mans back was toward him,
the servant sprang forward from be-
hind the table and buried his talon
like fingers in Tanners throat
When Mr.. Montrose, half minute
later, rushed into the laboratory, he
saw the secret panel standing open
and Tanner sprawled senseless on the
floor.
AT last Tanner opened his eyes.
Shuddering, he looked wildly about
him. The sight OF the doctor leaning
over him seemed to reassure the.
tough. To the wordless question In
Montrose's eyes, he babbled, inco-
herently:
NO, ! don't know who. l couldn't
see him. Butt felt the throat-gTip,
all right, as long as 1 could feel any,
thing. It's-it's a warning, doc!"
A spasm of terror shook DR.. Mont
rose from head to foot
\ 4 \
Florence watched at the front door
until Stanley was out Of sight. Then,
as she made as though to go back
into the house, she saw Layton Par
rish turn in from the street and start
up the walk toward the veranda.
She advanced a step to meet the
detective, and held out her hand to-
ward him, courteously, if not cordi-
ally.
Wen, Miss Montrose." was Par
rishs almost effusive greeting as he
shook hands with her, Il hear YOU
are to be congratulated on clearing
young Clayton from the charge Of
killing TruXton Lambert
I'm 50 glad he is freel" she ex-
claimed, her heart warming TO this
bearer Of good news II tried to tell
YOU about the Figure in Black you
remember. But yOu-"
q Know, Know replied Parrish.
1T was my own loss If I'd taken
your tip the credit OF clearing young
Clayton would be mine, and not Stan
ley's. That's why I've come here to-
day. I'm beginning to get a pretty
h b idea OF your detective powers,
Young lady. and I want TO avail NY
sci IF them if you1l let me-
Fiattered at this praise from the
usually grumpy Parrish, she made
lBSN er.
My. certainly What IN 1 do?'
"Tvo been making inu $ about
hat apartment house re Miss
Ianya Tosca lives, he s.'1.
~ esq
We'll, it seems the house was a
private dwelling years as before 1t
vas turned into apartments It was
'uilt by an eccentric old chap, who
nut two secret paSsag geways in it
eading up from the cellar. That got
ne thinking. win you help me?"
Help you? How?"
"By coming there with me and
the cellar. A woman's wit
nd q woman's eyes are better than
NY mans, Perhaps you can solve !
he puzzle and find the second pass
geway. I've tried: and / can't find ,
-
Less than an hour later Parrish 4
'as ushering her into the dingy cellar
the apartment house. Thrugh the (
'ont cellar he led the way, electric :
ashlight in hand, and to an inner Il
,om beyond the furnace n
'Look!' she interrupted, eagerly.
er quick eye mott, og an irregular
olons Of wood that projected few s
Iches beyond the moldy side wan. n
She aid hands on the slab Of wood. Il
nj with all ner young strength
'ught @ oush Il to one side. To her a.;
5hFht the slab yielded her first ie
ft.0 md slid nos to the
r V'5irg a narrcs .eninc in s.
il -' tnd The beginning II a fight q
rude stone steps n
But, on the instant, the fiashnght II
ent out. And, simultaneous she
ard the sharp click Of q door lock. =,
irish had backed out OG the Foom, q