The Sentinel=record., 1916-11-26

He pointed to the cigaret case, which he still held in gingerly fashion by it's corners
 The polished surface of one side of the case distinctly bore the imprint of Felix's thumb.
 See the scar?" he whispered. "It's-"
 He glanced up quickly, to see Fe- liN's curious face peering at him through the curtains of the reception room doorway.
 What is the matter?" asked Flor ence, turning, an instant too late. to see the face disappear.
 Wait" said Clayton, vexed, and I'll show you what is the matter"
 He strode across to the reception room doorway and flung the curtains apart On the threshold, facing him. stood-Lemuel Parrish,
 What in blue blazes are you doing here?' shouted Bob, in stark amaze ment
 You needn't holler at me like that" Prumbled the detective "I decided to come in, after all. for a talk with Dr. Montrose."
 Here is pr Montrose now" inter- posed Florence as the doctors step sounded in the hall "I will tell him you are waiting to see him"
 Clayton bewldered, looked stupidlv from the cigaret case to the glumly staring detective.
 Promptly at half past that evening Bob ClaytOn's car drew up at the Montrose home Florence, bewitch- ingly pretty in a fiimsy white evening dress was waiting in the hallway for her escort.
 'l showed Stanley those finger prints we photographed Clayton was saying as he and Florence de- scended the Veranda steps toward the car. "They are to be reproduced m tomorrow's Examiner. ] showed him the thumb-print on the cIgaret case, too And he thinks, just as l do, that they're just the same"
 '1s Harold coming to the dinner?" asked Florence, 'or wasn't he in- vited?"
 Mother invited him." replied Clay ton. But he can't come. He says he has nights work laid out for him."
 Clayton pressed the self starter. The ear whiI1ed forth into the night.
 As it left the Montrose grounds a dark figure noiselessly sprane from the shadow of the porch vines, darted in the wake of the car. and hthely jumped up on the turn-ba at the rear of the automobile
 He was a strange person in appear ance, this ride steater-as the dim light from the electric street lamps half revealed his outlines Bearded, shabbily dressed, a slouch hat pulled low over his eyes, he had the bent shoulders and curved spine of Q hunchback. He was not a pleasant sight to look upon.
 The Crest Country Club lies sev- erai miles beyond Riverdale, and is connected with that pretty suburb by an excellent state road But at the time of Mrs. Claytons dinner the road was undergoing repairs-~af fter the manner of so many state roads
 At a certain point a barrier was stretched across the highway, to which were affixed two red lanters and a white cardboard sign bearing in large black letters the word De tour" with a black arrow under meath.
 The by-road led through woods and fields, with one or two deserted shacks here and there where tramps were won't to sleep,
 At a sharp curve in the road a man stepped out from the wayside bushes that lined both sides of the way and waved a lighted lantern.
 Hello" growled Bob. "a break down ahead. I suppose that means delay And we're late as it is Whats wrong, my friend?" he asked as the man with the lantern came along side the suddenly halted car
 His question changed into an ex- clamation of dismay as the man with the lantern whipped his othor hand from behind his back and leyeled an automatic pistol at Clayton and the girl. At the same instant two more men stepped from behind the screen of bushes with drawn revolvers.
 One of them wore a hlaci; mask. the other Clayton recognized in the gloom as Tanner.
 "Hand!" curtly ordered the man with the lantern, Hands up, both of you! Way upi"
 Hands upi" commanded the man with the lantern.
 With three pistols pointed at him Bob Clayton had no option but to obey the fiercely parked order. Re- luctantly he lifted his hands above his head.
 Now" went on the lantern bearer, "get out of the car, both of you"
 Florence, trembling, stepped to the ground. The lantern carrier ironically started forward as if 10 assist her. In doing so he lowered his revolver. And Clayton, with a furions spring. launched himself upon him.
 Down crashed the two men among the wayside brambles, the lantern going out as they fell.
 Clayton was uppermost. Swinging free his right hand as he and his fallen foe battled there in the ditch he brought down his fist with terrific force upon his opponents jaw point
 The smitten man loosed his frantic grip on Clayton. as the impact of the blow paralyzed him. Again Bob's right fist smote with full force on his enemy's jaw.
 The other collapsed, senseless. Bob staggered to his feet and stared about him. The two other men and Flor ence were nowhere to be seen.
 Fifty yards ahead, in the faint star Iiubf Iopr1ad mn oua of tha aayaraI