The Washington herald., 1916-10-01

e1citedly, as she turned to face the
grert detective Il have great news
for you. A clew that may solve the
whole Crimson Stain mystery. 1t
is about the murder of Truxton Lam
bert 1 saw him killed. Never mind
how. I'll explain that to you later.
I've been trying to get Harold Stan
ley on the telephone to let him know
about it. But I can't find him. So
am telling you instead. 1 saw
Truxton Lambert killed. His muir
derer was"
''Wait!" broke in Parrish, nervouSy,
as faint sound from the hall outside
reminded him Of Felix's appearance
on the landing. wait here a minute,
please. I'll be right back"
Vainly Florence Montrose awaited
the return OF the man who had 50
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 out
into the hall.
Parrish was not there. Her pretty
brows contracted in bewilderment.
AS she was starting to make further
Investigation the telephone at her
elbow began to ring.
Florence picked up the instrument.
rs that you, F1orence?" came Har-
old Stanley's voice in answer to her
query. I'm down at Bob Clayton's
studio. Bob has Just been arrested
for Truxton Lambert's murder.
went with him when he was taken to
the station. I've come back here to
look around. wanted to see If
could solve the puzzle of q note
he"
Bob arrested7" repeated the Eirl,
incredulous and Mortified. Arrested
for the Lambert murder? Why, he is
innocent! AS innocent as you are!
AS innocent as I ami"
"Of course he is" rejoined Stanley,
land you're brick to be so loyal in
your belief Of him. But he"
TT isn't just BELIEF" she corrected.
vehemently. It's knowledge. I
know Bob didn't kill Truxton Lam
bert I know it, because I know who
did kill him"
You know?" echoed Stanley in
high excitement. III come up there
and"
NO." she interposed. TIL come
down there"
But it's late, and"
Hello" she called. Have they
cut US OFF,"
There was no reply. Again and
again she called. But the connection
was hopelessly broken. A hand in
the darkness just outside of the cur
tains had reached out swiftly to the
telephone wires and had severel them
with a pair Of nippers.
1t took her some little time to
change into the clothes she selected.
And 1t took much longer to get hold
of a taxicab at that time Of night
and in so remote district. Nor was
the ride downtown a short one. Much
could have happened in the hour be-
fore Florence reached the Clayton
studio. Indeed much did happen.
In reply to a hurried summons, six
persons awaited Pierre La Rue on
the latter's arrival at the big room
at the rear of Tanners old-fashioned
upper East Side apartment. Pierre
entered the room and nodded care
lessly in response to the almost rev.
erent satutations Of his henchmen.
Singing out two members Of the
listening group, La Rue drew them
aside, speaking rapidly and incisiveIy
to them. Then, he led them to a cup
board, whence he produced two
shapeless black dominoes and masks.
As he spoke, his curt directions,
the Crimson Stain surged luridIy
INTO his eyes. His whole face and
body seemed transformed. His two
followers took the dominoes and
masks, folded them carefully under
their coats, and hurried out.
Harold Stanley was heartily tired
Oh his long and lonely vigil at Clay
toms studio.
So, tuning at the delay and worry
ing at thought Of the girls lonely
journey, he strode over to the window
to watch for the arrival of her taxi
cab. The glare Of the studio electric
lights on the pane prevented him
rom seeing plainly into the street
below. So he switched off all but one
dtm-shaded light and returned to his
post at the window, drawing shut be-
hind him the flimsy oriental hang
tngs that divided the shallow window
seat from the rest Of the room.
Thus, while everything in the stu
do was plainly visible to him, he him
self was shut Off from the sight of
anybody within the half-lit room.
As he stood there looking out into