The Washington herald., 1916-09-17

astonishment, she found she could
speak Of the subject, upon which
hitherto La Rue's power had held
her dumb.
Il saw him the night your father
died" she answered. 1T was he who
killed him. 1 came into the dining
room just ahead Of you and Bob.
This man was strangling your father.
He looked at me-his eyes were far
ing red-and he vanished through the
curtains. He"
But" excitedly demanded Harold,
you never told US! Why not?
II tried to-" she faltered. "Oh,
30 hard tried to! But there seemed
a seal on my lips. /"
Please describe the man as closely
as you can,'" Harold went on, turning
TO the girl. I'VE want every detail"
mo, MOI" protested the doctor. Not
now. She Is too weak-too exhausted
by the trance-to be allowed to talk
any longer"
why, Dad" laughed Florence,
I'm nothing Of the sort. And I'll
gladly describe him. Besides, II may
save other people from becoming
Crimson Stain victims. Or, perhaps,
now that you are 50 close ON his trail
the Crimson Stain murders have
stopped! There hasn't been one OF
them since"
Since last night" supplemented
Harold
Last night" cried Florence and
her father.
Tell u.s." insisted Florence, while
her father stared in dumb misery at
the speaker.
You remember the tumbledown old
Lent house. just above the Bronx"
vent on Stanley. THE haunted house
we used to call it. Florence, you
and l went there on a picnic once
when we were kids. And you've both
heard the rumors, of course, that
Hiram Lent kept big sums Of money
there, because he didn't trust banks.
He has lived there alone, ever since 1
can remember. Well, Just before
midnight, last evening, he was found
lying dead across his doorstep. Some
people in an automobile lost their
way back to town and they stopped
at this shanty to ask the route. They
found him there, dead. His whole
house had been ransackcd. And
ana the marks Of the Crimson Stain
grip were on his wizened old throat"
Horrible! groaned DR.. Montrose,
MS own throat sanded with terror.
I'm going there this afternoon"
continued Harold land look the
ground over, in person."
Take me with you!" was Florencss
unexpected plea.
Her father broke out In a ferca
refusal.
I'll try to stop here on my way, IL
can make time to-" Harold told her
when he rose to go. And then. II
the doctor will let you. we'll run
down there together"
IN the walk leading through tha
grounds to the street Stanley was
surprised to meet Vanya Tosca COM
ing toward the house. At the sight
OF MIN she flushed with genuine en-
Darrassment. Having Jared to Mont
rose Tor new supply Of the impera-
lively needful drug, she was not over
pleased to be recognized.
- come to see If Miss Montrose
Is better" she faltered, as she took
StanIeys hand. II heard you telling
Mr.. Clayton she was ILL.,"
II was f1imsy excuse. but II rousa3
no suspicion in Harold's distracted
nina releasing her hand, he said:
She Is very much better. If you're
gong back to town, can I give Won
a lift in my carr"
Nanya hesitated. Then her nuick
eve noted that Florence was watch
ing them in genuine perplexity from
the window of her room, SpitefulIv
siao 10 stlng the girl with jealousy,
Vanya gushingly accepted the invita-
ton. Florence, with a queer little
tug at her heartstrings, saw them get
INTO the car and drive off together.
is there anything new in that
Crimson Stain crusade your news
paper Is wagtng?" asked Vanva idIv
as she and Stanley neared the oItv
YES" replied Harold, with some
Vshemence. There is a lot that's
new: That's why I'm hurrying back
to the office"
AND ne told her what he had learned
from Florence concerning the Crimson
stain. Yanya listened with polite in
terest, then changed the subject: and
presently left the car on the pretexr
OF having a call to pay in Bedford
Park.
Two minutes later she was In a drug
store telephone booth. An hour later
Fhe and Tanner and one or two others
were closeted with Pierre La Rue in