East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-12-11

Z
studio after Pierre's escape
wv over the rooftop rope he
IA found Vanya Tosca, as well
as Florence, busily explaining
he whole affair to Stanley.
Tit was horrible!" he heard
vanya stammer as Clayton's eyes
rested questionlngly on her troubled
face. II was waiting here for you.
And i saw Pierre La Rue come in.
Then, all at once, a second Pierre
La Rue sprang into the room, behind
the first, knocked him senseless, and
then passed his hands across my face.
1 felt myself falling asleep. The next
thing l know / was sitting in the
dressing-room. I jumped up and ran
IN hereto find Miss Montrose lean
ing over you! What does it all
mean? Are there two Pierre La huesF
And where have they goneT
''Mr. Clayton made up as Pierre La
Rue-iust for a joke. The real Pierre
Ia Rue must have followed him here
and knocked him senseless. That Is
all 1 know. Except that La Rue mas
escaped"
"My heads buzzing too much for
me to paint any more today salq
rlayton. But I'll be all right by to-
morrow. Shall we say at in the ant
9rnoon?"
And promptly at next day Vanya
sas on hand. AS she stepped forth
krom the dressing-room into the STU
5sio, clad in her "Delilah" draperies'
her beauty was so intense, so alur-
ing, that Robert Clayton stared
spellbound, at her.
She threw the light shawl from her
shoulders and stepped toward the
model throne to take her pose for the
picture. But Clayton, as she passed
close beside the easel, sprang up
hom his chair and impulsively caught
her in his arms.
"I love you'll" he exclaimed, as he
Krasped her in his arms. "Oh, love
fou, vanya! Tell me you'll marry
ne. Tell me you Will"
Noiselessly the door leading from
the studio to the outer hall was
Apened. Mrs. Clayton, during a shop
Ding tour, had dropped in for a five-
minute chat with her son To sur
prise him she had softly opened the
5tudio door instead Of knocking.
And-the surprise" was all hers.
AS quietly as she had opened the
door, Mrs Clayton now closed 1t,
stepping back into the outer hallway
as she did 80.
! Regaining control Of herself by
mighty effort, Mrs. Clayton raised
her trembling right hand and raped
At the studio door.
At sound of her knock the man and
the girl in the studio started apart
Robert, muttering angrily, strobe to-
ward the door. Vanya slipped into
the dressing-room.
Clayton threw open the door, say
hg Grossly;
"wen, what the deuce do you
gant?"
At sight of the pallid-faced woman
Sn the threshold he exclaimed:
"Oh, excuse me, mother. ] thought
IL was a bill collector or book agent
or an insurance chap, or something
like that. I'm pestered with them
here. Come in. It's mighty nice oi
you to call on me like this in worl
hours"
He led the way into the studio
Mrs. Clayton glanced sharply around
her. Vanya was nowhere to be seen
Her shawl, however, lay on the floor
IT am afraid 1 have interrupted
YOU in your work." said the old
lady stifly.
mot a bitp' Robert assured hel
with forced cordiality. mot a bit
We were Just through. My model Il
in there getting into her stree
clothes. Sit down."
He spoke loudly, so that Vanya
behind the dressing-room curtain
should take her cue from him.
"By the way" as his face clouded
you say you would phone the polio'
again this noon. Had they any
further news Of the necklace7'
NO." said Robert, "only the usua
bunch Of clews-that lead nowhere
We"
The dresstng-room curtain wa
drawn aside, and vanya Tosca cam
into the studio. She was dressed 70
tho street; even to hat and gloves.
"Good-by, Mr., Clayton" abe sail
denurely. when do you Wish me +
pose for you asaini Tomorrow"
I'll think 90" gputtered Robert, Il
some confusion; adding. IT you ar
going to bo at home this evening II
call, And We can arrange then 70