The Washington herald., 1916-11-28
The Crimson Stain Mystery.
Copyright. lsls. ;, cea.end.s.a FUN oorpeussn.
Novelised By ALBERT PAYsoN rERHUNE.
From the Consolidated Motion Picture Triumph

-e&N~' = " AAe1a AiO 10 SHY as lOQK
as l have. must go If"
is 1t the Crimson Stain cases that
are to Keep You busy today" she
asked.
TITS always the Crimson STAIN"
he answered. And today's plan Of
campaign ought to"
She interrupted him by getting up
and going over to the curtain that
hung In the library doorway. She
fancied she saw the curtain move.
When she pulled II quickly aside no
one was there. But vanya Tosea
was twenty feet away and moving in
door.
AT sound Of F1orence's step Vanya
turned. With a cordially outstretched
hand she retraced her steps.
Good morning. Miss Montrose,"
she said effusively. I've just been
upstairs to see your father. I'm one
OF MS patients, you know"
Florence barely touched the gioved
hand Vanya offered her and merely
inclined her head In reply tc the 9TH
ers salutation. But ,Vanya, not at
all offended by her coldness, turned
with equal effusiveness to greet Har-
old Stanley, who had followed Flor
ence out into the hallway.
If you're on your way downtown.
Miss Tosca, can't we go together, as
far as your home ?" said Stanley.
Vanya gladly acquiesced, and, with
a word Of good-by to her frigidIy
unresponsive hostess, moved forward
10 the front door. Stanley, as he
turned to make his adieux to Flor
ence, was cut to the soul by the look
OF grieved wonder in his little sweet
hearts eyes.
1mpulsively he stopped down and
whispered a few rapidly breathed
sentences into her ear. As II by magic
the sorrow fed from Florence's face.
leaving glow Of happy pride. She
even sent a glance Of friendly inter-
est in Vanya's direction.
Pierre La Rue sat in the place of
honor In the low-ceiled back room of
Tanners upper East Side apartment.
Tanner himself and q man in a black
mask and third member Of the gang
were listening to the chiefs curt
words
Vanya phoned me, just now" La
Rue was saying, that Stanley and
the Montrose girl are going to ride in
van Courtland Park this afternoon.
I'm going to give you your instruc-
tions. you three. And IL you don't
bungie things again we ought to get
them both. It's q better chance to
put the girl out Of the way than we're
likely to get again. For they never
LET her -
more. Vanya ought to be here any
minute now. By the way. she is
bringing along a man she vouches
for She says she's known him all
her life and that he's the real thing:
the sort we need. He's a street beg
CARA cripple-and-"
We need husky men," objected
Tanner, mot crippled ones"
So?" sneered La Rue, giancine in
amused contempt at his henchman.
We'll, when I remember the blum
ders some Of you strong-armed men
nave been making-you for example.
Tanner-it seems to me q cripple
couldn't do much worse. Besides
who'd suspect a cripple-a street pam
handler?"
Oh, II Vanya swears he's all right,
I suppose he Is" erunted TANNER
You know best the kind Of men You
want. Only. l."
Vanya Tosca entered. At her heels
ciumped along a ragged figure of par
ucularly disreputable aspect.
The new recruit was an unshaven
blear-eyed tramp, who traiIed one
ill-shod foot behind him as he moved
HnhQrf
Iorth rrom his studio to call on
Vanya- AS he neared the apartment
house where she lived he saw a man
mount the front steps and enter. A
little to his surprise Bob recognized
the visitor as Layton Parrish. Idly
wondering what new business could
call the detective thither, he was
about to continue his own progress
when he saw a disheveled looking
cripple approach the house cautiously
and disappear through its doorway.
Bob lighted a cigaret and crossed
to the opposite side Of the street to
wait. After less than half an hour
ne saw Parrish emerge from the
house and peer cautiously I'D and
down the street.
Bob had slipped into a vestibule
and the detective did not see him;
Yet Parrish's oddly furtive manner
reused the watchers curiosity. And,
coming out from his place Of con-
cealment, Clayton followed him down
the street, instead Of going to
Vanya's apartment
For several blocks Parrish went
straight ahead. not once looking back.
clayton was barely ten yards behind
him. Presently the detective entered
an office building, which Bob recog-
nized as that in which Parrish's own
ofice was located.
So near was Bob to the man he
followed that Parrish entered the Of
flce q bare six feet ahead Of him and
slammed shut the grounds glass door.
There was no response. He opened
the door.
The room in front Of him was
empty.
Clayton stared about him In utter
amazement.
An odd fancy occurred to the puz-
zled man. Could it be possible that
Parrish had crawled into the desk
and shut down the roll top to hide
himself from his unwelcome caller?
Bob went over to the desk and
flung back its roll top. Except for
a few papers and other odds and ends
the space inside was empty. Clayton
with another puzzled glance departed.
E@.r l. i