The Washington herald., 1916-10-27

uE SLuQlO dL that NEIy
CHANGED to be occupied. Pierre La
Rue and Vanya Tosca, by means
Of a duplicate key. had Just en-
tered it.
It's all right" he was saying,
I've got one Of the men posted on
the roof across the court. If worst
come to worst, we can make a get
away there. The others ought to be
here in few minutes Stanley and
Clayton and the girl. It's one min
ute Of s."
He strobe to the window and, con-
ceaIing himself behind the flmy cur
tains, looked down into the street
below. Vanya joined him at his post
Of vantage.
There's a car turning IN at the
curb" she said, presently Per
haps-"
She broke of with a gasp of genuine
amazement. Even the iron-neryed
super-cTiminal at her side could not
repress a violent start Of surprise.
Both Of them stared in dumb incredu-
hty down into the street. The motor
car to which Vanya had called her
companions attention had drawn UP
at the curve. Its smartly liveried and
goggled chauffeur had jumped down
and opened one Of the tonneau doors.
Out stepped-Pierre La Rue!
Or at least out stepped a man who
At that distance was the living image
OF Pierre La Rue. The crisp black
beard, the tumbled hair under the
unconventional hattie pose Of the
head, the general outlines Of the face
all were Pierre La Rue, to the life.
'Tt's-lt'-oh, who Is It ?" whispered
Yanya, in awe, as she looked up won
deringly at La Rue himself.
But Pierre, after that first brief
start Of surprise, was himself again,
and he had already formed his own
idea Of the situation. But his face
was livid with fury and the Crimson
Stain hared hotly in his eyes.
It's that meddling idiot, Harold
Stanley" he told Yanya, "and he is
coming up here. Don't you see
what's happened? He suspects you,
just as 1 thought. He has made Clay
ton ask you to come here. Then,
while Clayton keeps out Of the way,
Stanley makes up as Pierre La Rue
and meets you. He thinks you'll mis-
take him for me and babble to him.
The fool. Except at a distance or
behind an eye-mask Qike last night)
we're no more alike than chalk and
cheese. The turkey tries to look like
the eagle. And here is where the
agile strikes back"
Stops were coming along the top
floor hallway toward the studio.
Pierre slipped behind the hangings of
an aICOve. Nanya stepped over to an
easel and began to study a half-fin-
ished sketch.
The door behind her opened in
steaIthy silence as some one outside
unlocked it and turned the Knob. Soft
footsteps crossed the studio to where
the woman was standing.
Eanya turned, as If noticing draft
from the open door. And thus she
confronted the man who had just en-
tered the room. The man who glared
at her was really a very creditable
imitation Of Pierre La Rue, as far as
his general aspect went.
The woman stared at him, as il
hyHnCtIzed. She did not shift her
Razc from his. Yet, subconsciously
she knew that Pierre La Rue had
Crept nOiseIessly forth from his hid
inE place and had picked up a heavy
antique CabOuret that stood near the
wall.
Tie supposed Pierre La Rue opened
his lips as if to speak. But the words
were never spoken. Down came the
lockwood cabouret with murderOus
force on the back Of the newcomers
head. The man fell crashing to the
studio floor like a polled OK.
Quick" ordered La Rue, pointing
at the quivering and senseless body
on the floor.
He and Yanya lifted the inert form
to the nearest chair, and there they
deftly bound the hands and legs Of
their victim to the legs and arms Of
the big chair.
Hes coming to his senses!" NUT
tered La Rue. ''HG must have head
like a stone wall. 1 thought l had
split his skull. Get out Of sight, some
where, Vanya. He mustn't see you
here with me-"
Presently the stricken man opened
his eyes, blinked dazedly and stared
about him. Then his wandering gaze
focused on Pierre La Rue, who stood
with folded arms and sneering half
smile, looking calmly down upon
him.
Mr.. Stanley" said La Rue, with
ironic courtesy, the game is up.
Here is where you drop out Of the
Crimson stain pursuit, very definitely
and permanently"
You presumptuous fool!" he
snarled fercely. up to yesterday /
should have been content to give you
a simple death, with the finger neck
lace Today am not. You are going
to die by torture. The most acute
torture I can inflict. Do you know
why?"
He paused as if for an answer. The
bound man in the chair merely gaped
at him in fascinated horror.
Mr.. Stanley" resumed Pierre, 1t
is not on the free list to try to i'm
ltate me. This you did last night.
This you have done again today.
The turkey cock has strutted In the
eagles plumage. And to punish that
you shall be tortured"
As he spoke he reached forward
with a gesture Of anger and tore
away his prisoners false hair and
beard. And once more the chilled
steel nerves sustained distinct shock
as the tie1 man revealed the face OF
Robert Clayton instead Of the sup
posed StAnley's.
"I went hunting for a fox" COM
mented La Rue, his nerve steadying
Again And If seems I have caught