East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-11-20

locking its heavy door behind him.
Florence was alone, in the dark-a
prisoner. She cried for help. No
answer came.
4 \ y
Vanya Tosca was alone in her
pretty fat. She was waiting for
Pierre La Rae, who mad bidden her
to expect MIN. Already ne was late,
and the woman was nervously won
dering 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, as
he entered the fiat and went with ner
into the living room. Il stopped mere
on my way from Riverdale &c the
office because wanted a rather i'm
portant talk with you"
"Of course, assented Vanya, easily,
as she seated herself on a rug-covered
diyan and motioned him to a chair
facing her. "And you may smoke if
you like. Do you care for drink"
mo, thank you" declined Stanley,
adding: u realized-and so do the
police-that the murder Of Truxton
Lambert in your fiat has thrown an
unpleasant light ON you. So has the
Hdnaping Of Miss Montrose from
Clayton's apartment while you were
there People are beginning to speak
Of you as ~ woman Of mystery.
That sort OF thing does you great
harm. 1t is no affair Of mine, of
course. And If you resent my ques-
tions I've nothing further to say.
But if you care 10 clear yourself"
Perhaps" she began, talking
slowly, as though to stretch the mar
rative to the greatest possible length.
perhaps yon will understand me
better, Mr.. Stanley, If ] go back a
little and tell you something Of my
earlier life. 1t viii help explain what
followed. You see, I was Russian
peasant giTi. Kff parents were very
poor. But my girihood was happy.
For l knew nothing better. Then,
when was 1S-One day in the forest
II met Pierre La Rue.
AS she was speaking the great
framed nicture. on the opposite wall
slowly swung outward, as though on
hinges. In the aperture behind i
appeared the face OF Pierre La Rue.
Then the picture swung shut again.
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 something di-
Tectly behind Harold
4 4 =
She Gid not move nor speak. And
ne saw, with amaze, that sne was in
a hypnotic trance. He saw more.
In the wide pupil of her eye, as in a
tiny mirror, he saw the perfect re-
iection of q mans face. The bearded
and CHASTITY face of a man with
lNphotiCally EtONlnE eyes.
'Haroldl7 cried a girls voice Just
behind the wondering Stanley.
He whirled about. The picture was
'winging outward from the wall. In
he opening behind It, stood Florence
AOntrose.
Il came hero with Mr.. Parrish to
ind 4 secret passageway," she ex-
'lained, -and i was locked in. fol-
owed a flight OF stairs in the wall
md at last 1 touched something that
elt ike canvas ! pushed and Il
pen. And saw you and Miss
liss Tosca. What In the world are
gu doing here2 And what Is the
natter with herr
She is IN some hind Of stupor."
aid harold, uncomfoTtably: adding:
Look at her eyes Look close. What
o you seer
"Why-Why ms the reflection OF a ,
'ce-a mans face" she answered ,
airing more closelv,
Ig m horror.
an who ..err
Ne -i.--..,. 4tarOld, incredulous 4
DO you suppose could forget it7e a
'e demanded. trembling. 1T Is the
urderer's face 1 would swear 10 ;
at
ouioki" he ordered, Give me that ~
mera, You say It has a microscoplc
rs Quick," =,
Before she could guess his intent a.
anley mad opened an,l adjusted tbs
mera Ganging ~ distance. he n
OK ume-exposure photosraph Of a,
g image In Vanya's staring eye.
she y coming bach TO her senses vi
ported Biorence, who had been ao
Wing to TsNlYO Vanya "Ehs-"