The Washington herald., 1916-11-02

lOl III II Olll tie SIuQiO on MS PROM
ised call at Venya Tosca's flat. His
heart throbbed stirringly at pros
pect of seeing her. He had tele-
phoned for taxicab, but the COM
pany had evidently made a mistake
in the address. For the cab did
not arrive. Impatiently, he started
out on foot.
AS he went he glanced about him
for any stray taxicab he could hail.
And, within a few blocks, he found
one.
1t was not on the street itself, but
was backed into a sort Of alleyway
court, at the rear of a ramshackIe
apartment house. The courtyard was
dark. By the light from one Of the
houses windows Clayton could barely
distinguished the outlines Of the cab.
He entered the alleyway and ad-
vanced toward the vehicle. Then it
was that he noticed there was no
chauffeur on the seat.
Passing around the side of the taxi,
he made for the dimly seen rear door
way in front Of which it stood. Just
then the door opened, letting out a
dim CLEAN Of light from a hallway
lamp. Three men were coming out
from the house Z,
Clayton stepped forward toward tho
light. But on almost the same in
slant he halted, and slipped hastily
back into an angle Of the wall. For
he had recognized the foremost Of the
three men.
1t was Pierre La Rue.
T.
black mask. And behind the latter
was a tall, slender man, with the
coat, puttees and cap Of a chauffeur.
Got your mask ready?" Pierre in
quired Of the chauffeur.
Yes. SIR" respectfully answered
the man, climbing onto the drivers s
seat. Right here in my breast
pocket"
Wait till you're sure the coast Is
clear" ordered La Rue, entering the
cab, followed by the masked man,
then follow US indoors"
The cab door shut. The chauffeur
made a short turn OF his machine
and 1t started toward the mouth Of
the court. Robert Clayton as It sped
by him darted out Of the wall en-
brasure, caught the edge Of the cabs
top and with one toe gained foot
hold on the rear axle.
Forgotten was the peril of his stu
alton. Forgotten even was his pro-
posed visit to Vanya Tosca. Every
thing was forgotten except the fierce
thrill Of the man hunt.
Yes, now that Clayton had found
La Rue, he would stick to him, in the
hope Of solving the mystery or of get
ting the arch in his power.
Wherefore, fiattening himself upon
the roof OF the taxicab, Robert lay
there, tense with eagernees and sus-
pense.
After a long twenty minutes the
taxicab slowed to a snail pace. Clay
ton had kept general idea of his
surroundings. And now he knew at
q glance where he was
Clayton had known that house ell
his life It was Harold Stanley's
home. And again the thrill of the
man hunt possessed the young artist
The taxi halted. La Rue and the
masked man stepped out. The latter
to the chauffeur.
TN Eve minutes Join u.s." he said
You know which window. Keep
watch here till then, to make certain
we weren't followed"
He vanished into the darkness, in
the wake Of the masked man. Tho
chauffeur sat alert and watchful on
his high seat.
Robert Clayton counted slowly up
70 fifty. Then, knowing the others
must by now be out Of earshot. he
gathered his body into a compact
mass and launched himself upon the
unsuspecting chauffeur.
y y
In less than three minutes Ro,, #
Clayton had divested the senseless
man Of his coat and cap and puttees
and had clothed himself in them.
Feeling in the inner pocket Of the
chaufeurs coat he drew out the
folded mask and adjusted 1t to his
own face.
Then, lightly he ran toward the
house, and began slowly to circle it.
Presently he found the newly opened
window he sought. It led into the
Stanley library.
Clayton crawled over the sill and
into the room One shaded electric
light was turned on. BY its glow he
saw La Rue and the masked man
kneeling in front of the library safe.
Robert was not adept in the gentle
art Of se-breaking AS he scram-
bled into the room one OF his cropping
feet struck against a chair, upsetttng
1t.
At the noise La Rue turned and
swore fiercely. Then he bent once
more to his task of boring a largo
enough hole in the safe to hold the
nitroglycerin with which he intended
to open 1t.
"All ready!" he heard La Rue say
Stand back 1t will explode in thirty
seconds now. Come over here, out of
the way"
He drew the two others into the
farthest extremity Of the long room
AS he did so the library door opened
again. Harold Stanley sauntered in.
Coming home Unexpectedly early,
Stanley had stopped at.the library on
his way upstairs for some letters he
wanted to read again before going to
bed.
At once he noted the upturned light
and the appearance Of the safe. Strid-
ing across tothe safe, he bent over 1t.
Clayton took an impulsive step for
ward. But he was too late.
The safe door clashed to the soft
rug. Harold Stanley was sent sprawl
ing and senselass b,y tho oonorsaiov>