The Washington herald., 1916-10-15

Bob caught one of the fellows fly
ins coattails. There was a sharp rip
of cloth and Morrison was running
at top speed across the lawn toward
the street, leaving his torn coat
tail in Bob's clenched hand.
Clayton vaulted the rail and set
OF as fast as his legs would carry
him after his prey. He saw Morri-
son leap into a waiting automobile
and heard him shout to the chauf-
feur. The latter was evidently wait
ing for him, for the cars engine was
going.
The car swung out into the high
way and whizzed away to northward.
leaving Bob Clayton.
A whirring noise close behind him
caused Bob to turn. Up the street,
at a speed Of perhaps fifty miles an
hour, motorcycle was whiZzing. It
was two-seated and contained but
one rider.
On the instant Bob Clayton threw
up both hands and yelled to the
cyclist to stop. AS the man, wonder
ingly, slowed down, Bob sprang to
the seat behind him, pointing to the
fast receding automobile and pant
ing:
Catch that car for me! In the
name of the law!"
Foot by foot the motorcycle over
hauled the fleeing automobile. Two
miles farther on it was alongside.
Clayton made a flying leap that
landed him on the automobiles run
ming board. The masked chauffeur
evidently lost his nerve. For, seeing
himself overtaken, he brought the
car to a thudding halt, sprang from
the wheel and ran away.
Clayton's arms were groping for
Morrison. The latter, seeing escape
was hopeless, met his attack. To-
gether, locked in a fierce grapple.
they lurched from the running board
or the car to the roadway. There.
silent, tense, murderous, they fought.
The car had halted midway on a
little bridge that spanned a deep and
narrow stream. Clayton's furious
onslaught gradually drove Morrison
back against the rail of this bridge.
The rail was old and rotting. Nor
rison ran in to clinch with his foe
clayton delivered an upper cut that
the ln-rushing Morrison was just too
late to block. The blow caught him
nush on the point OF the jaw.
backward reeled Morrison, half
stunned; and his full weight crashed
against the decayed bridge rail. The
rail snapped like a straw under the
impact.
Still carried backward by the i'm
petus OF his own weight, Morrison
pitched over the edge, clawed help
lessly at the air and crashed head
long downward into the rocky stream
that ran far below him.
Meantime, at the Clayton house.
Harold Stanley suddenly found him
self in extremely tight quarters.
An examination Of the guests faces
would quickly prove to the Claytons
that this bearded and otherwise
made-up person was a stranger to
them. And questions would arise as
TO how he came to be there,
questions would undoubtedly be
followed by search. The necklace
would be found in his pocket.
No, it was high time to get avav.
and to remove his disguise.
But as he reached the hallway hs
found himself face to face with F1or-
ence Montrose. The girl (after one
wildly unbelieving look at the man
she believed to be Pierre La Rue)
gave stiftled cry of horror and slid
to the floor in dead faint.
Immediately the hallway was
choked with people who gathered
about the swooning girl. Some one
shouted loudly for DR.. Montrose.
Others called for water to revive her.
or ran scurrying in search Of it.
In the turmoil Harold had no
chance to reach the front door, as he
had planned. The only way open to
him led upstairs.
Acting on the idea, he sped un-
noticed up the broad staircase, along
an upper hall and into the first room
whose door was ajar. He entered and
shut the door behind him.
By the light OF single shaded elec-
trio lamp Stanley saw he was in a
bedroom. In the foot of the bed lay
long flower box. Before he had
time to notice more he heard foot
steps coming toward him along the
hall. He slipped into a clothes closet
and drew the door almost shut be-
hind him.
Peering through the crack he saw
a butler and maid carry the uncon-
scious Florence into the room and lay
her gently on the bed. AS they did
so she opened her eyes.
IT'S all right, Miss Montrose," said
the maid soothingly. "Just you lie
here and rest and DR.. Montrose will
be here presently"
They tiptoed OUT leaving her. Har-
old, watching through the door
crack, waited only to be certain they
were gone before coming out into the
room. But, as he looked, he saw a
strange thing that held him, for q
moment, motionless.
The cover of the flower box at the
foot Of the bed was beginning to
move, with queer jerky motions.
Then one corner Of it rose up. The
snake, annoyed by the commotlon in
the room, was firing Of it's resting
place. Inch by inch it crawled out
Of the box and onto the counterpane.
Then, catching sight of the girl, the
reptile coiled, angrily, to strike.
At the same instant, Harold STAN
ley flung himself forward, with a cry
Of horror; seized the snakes neck,
broke it with one convulsive squeeze,
and hurled the dead creature out of