Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-11-13

that apartment house where Miss
Nanya Tosca lives he said
yes"
"Wcll, it seems .the house was pri-
Vate dwelling years ago before II was
turned into apartments. II was built
by an eccentric old chap, who put two
secret passageways in IT leading up
from the cellar. That got me think
ing. VIII you help mc?'
Help you? How
"By coming there with me and
searching the cellar A woman's wit
and womans eyes are better than
any mans. Perhaps you can solve the
puzzle and find the second passage
way. I've tried and | can't find it."
Less than an hour later Parrish
| was ushering her into the dingy cellar
of the apartment house Through the
front cellar he led the way, electric
flashlight in hand and to an inner
room beyond the furnace.
Look" she interrupted eagerly
her quick eye noticing an irregular
oblong of wood that projected "A few
inches beyond the moldy side wall.
She laid hands on the slab of wood,
and with all her young strength
sought to push it to one side. To her
delight the slab yielded at her first
attempt and slid noiselessly to the
]
the wall and the beginning of IA flight
of rude stone steps
But, on the instant. the flashlight
went out. And, simultaneously, she
! heard the sharp click of a door lock
Parrish had backed out of the room,
locking its heavy door behind him.
Florence was alone, in the dark-a
prisoner. She cried for help. No an
| swer came.
Vanya Tosca was alone in her
pretty flat. She was waiting for
Pierre LaRue, who had hidden her to
expect him. Already he was late, and
the woman was nervously wondering
why. Then came ring at the outer
door of the apartment. With a smile
of eager welcome she ran to the door
and flung IT open.
on the threshold stood Harold Stan
ley
you'll forgive this intrusion, won't
you, Miss Tosca ?" asked Harold, aH
he entered the flat and went with her
into the living room. II stopped here
on my way from Riverdale to the
office because | wanted II rather ini-
portant talk with you"
"Of course" assented Vanya. easily,
as she seated herself on "A rug-coVered
divan and motioned him to a chair
facing her. and you may smoke if
| mo, thank YOU" declined Stanley,
adding: 81 realized-and so do the
police-that the murder of Truxton
Lambert in your flat has thrown an
unpleasant light on you. So has the
kidnapping of Miss Montrose from
Clayton's apartment while you were
there. People are beginning to speak
of YOU as "a woman of mystery That
sort OF thing does you great harm. II
ig n nf
lif you resent my questions I've moth
ing further to say. But If you care to
clear yourself"
perhaps, she began, talking slow
Ily, as though to stretch the narrative
to the greatest possible length, per
haps you will understand me better
Mr.. Stanley, if | go back "A little and
tell you something OF my earlier life
1t will help explain what followed
You see, was a Russian peasant girl
Ny parents were very poor. But my
girlhood was happy. For | knew moth
ing better Then, when | was IS
one day in the forest-l met Pierre
LaRue."
As she was speaking the great
framed picture on the opposite Wal
slowly swung outward, as though OF
hinges. In the aperture behind II
appeared the face of Pierre LaRue.
Stanley noticed that Vanya had
ceased speaking. Her voice had
trailed away into nothingness. Her
wide eyes were fixed and CLASSY. They
were staring at son<thing directly
behind Harold.
She did not move nor speak. Ant
| he saw, with amaze, that she was II
hypnotic trance. He saw more
In the wido pupil OF her eye as in
tiny mirror he saw the perfect re
Election of mans face. The bearded
hypnotically glowing eyes.
Harold" cried girls voice JUS
behind the wondering Stanley.
He whirled about The picture wal
swinging outward from the wall. Ii