Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-11-12
FIFTH EPISODE.
Tho I'p,irc In RIarIx.


Robert Clayton stood agast, still
half dazed. The plain clothes man
laid a heavy hand on his shoulder.
Come along." he ordered curtly
But I didn't-Im Innocent" stam-
nered Clayton. u
Hold on" interposed Stanley,
"Many u jealous detective has faced
a false arrest charge through being
in too much of hurry. We can't
talk this over on the roof here. Come
down to Mr.. Clayton's studio. Bring
him along. Not so roughly, man! I'll
answer that he won't try to escape"
Reluctantly the officer assented.
And the trio climbed through the
scuttle single file, returning to the
ST. Gio.
Now, them" proceeded Stanley, as
he switched on the electric lights.
Lets get another look At that note"
The plain clothes man drew out the
note He did not place ii in Harold'9
outstretched fingers. but held 1t up,
tight -clenched between mis- own hands,
to prevent either of the others from
snatching and destroying it.
Harold was thus enabled to read,
but not to handle it. He and Clayton
both stared at the scrap of paper.
That's not my writing. It Is not
In the very least like mine. You know
1t isn't, Harold"
"Of course / know It isn't!" eagerly
asserted Stanley. a look of genuine
handwriting a hundred times. This is
no more like 1t than it's like mine.
Officer, you've made a big mistake
here"
1T is tiap," cried CLAYTON. That's
- not my writing Some one is trying
to throw the blame Of the murder on
III Ill. f,1I hot
know about 1t ="
"Anything you say now" warned
Tie detective, again dropping into pO-
ice diction as he rccitcd the legal
formula, anything YOU say row Is H.
able to be used against you at your
trial"
speak mp, Rob," adjured Stanley.
"Clear yourself"
II went to Nanya Tosca's apart
nnent," began Clayton, speaking ai-
rectly to his friend. and and ignoring
the inpatient detective. You remem-
Der. you were to meet me there. |
hid in an alcove behind some cur
tains. so as to surprise her when she
came in. 1t was fools way Of act
Ing. hut"
ut was a lovers way Of acting"
admitted Stanley. (Which amounts to
the same thing Go ahead."
"She came into the lirngroom,"
continued Clayton. "There was man
with her. A flashy ove"dressed chap.
I'd never seen him before. But she
called him Truxton. SO I knew VINO
ne must be. / was wild with jealousy.
Sc l.
80 you pulled gun and shot mm!"
accused the detective.
mo-" hotly denied Clayton. 81
took a step toward the curtains. But
at that very first step"
He paused, lifted his hand nervous
" to his neck; then went on:
AT the very first step I felt set
OF long, ice-cold fingers grip my
who had seized me But hard as [
struggled / couldn't shake off that
stranPling grip or see my captor' S
face. Then the choking must have
made me faint For the next thing l
remember / was swaying on the edge
of the roof up there Just now and you
were dragging me back"
Almost at the same instant Flor
ence Montrose. in crossing the hall of
her fathers Riverdale house, chanced
to meet Parrish as Felix admitted
= him ct the front door.
Ask Doctor Moutrose If he can see
me fer five minutes" she heard Par
IRISH tell the servant.
As Felix departed on his e-rand,
II fltTencc StcpPpn lOTWdtus Iloluihs
aside the curtains OF an adjoining
ROOM she said:
"Win you come in here, Mr.. Par
rish? want to speak to you"
Wondering at so odd request from
girl who scarcely knew him by
sight, Parrish followed her through
the curtained doorway
"Mr. Parrish" went on Florence,
cxcitedly. as she turned to face the
LOT
for you. clew that may solve the
whole Crimson Stain mystery 1t Is
about the murder ~ Truxtcn Lam
bert I saw him killed. Never mind
how. I'll explain that to ycu later
I've been trying to get Harold Stan
ley on the telephone to let him know
about It. But can't nnd him. So
I am telling you instead. I saw
Truxton Lambert killed. His murder
or was"
watt" broke In Parrish, nervous
" MS a faint sound from the hall out.
side reminded him of Felix's appear
ance on the landing. Wait here q
minute please I'll be right back"
vainly Florence Montros9 awaited
the return of the man who mad SC
oddly left her in the midst OF her rev
elation. For five minutes she stood
there. wondering at Parrish's non
appearance Then she stepped ou'
into the hall.
Parrish was not there. Her pretty
hrows contracted in bcwllderment
As she was starting to make further
Investigation the telephone at her ell
bow hogan TO ring.
Florence pickev up the instrument
"Te that YOU, F'lorenceP" came Har
old Stanlevs voice In answer to hei
query. "I'm down at Rob Clayton.
studio. Bob has lust been arrested
for Truxton Iamhert's murder
went with him when he was taken u
the station. I've come back here I,
look around. wanted to see II
could solve the puzzle Of mote
he"