The Washington herald., 1916-12-13
CHAPTER XIV.
"The Human Tiger"

DR.. kontrose entered his laboratory
next morning with firm step, far
different from the tagging gait that
had recently been his.
His hour of fear was past. He
had made up his mind at last to the
course he knew to be right. And
nothing could shake his resolution.
As usual, on entering his labora-
tory to begin the days work, he took
his diary from a locked drawer and
noted in 1t the events of the previous
Gay, but now, when these entrias
were finished, he continued to write,
on the next page:
This day 1 shah be forever freef
l am going to sever the bonds that
nave kept me in the most horrible
captivity a human being can know.
L am going to smash to atoms the
accursed apparatus with which ad-
minister the drug that makes super
criminals Of Pierre La Rue and his
Crimson Stain gang.
All the present supply Of the drug
Is in large 'container' that stands
beside the apparatus. The formula.
Is In this diary. When have bro
ken the apparatus to fragments I
shall empty the container and burn
the diary. Thus not only shall my
terrible secret have perished, but all
record Of 1t shall be wiped out
Il shall thus have atoned for my
sin-insofar as I have the means to
make atonement. May my future
hlep to redeem my past!"
DR.. Montrose thrust the diary into
the drawer, got to his feet and
crossed to the cupboard. From a
shelf there he took a heavy metal
par. Going over to the apparatus
he swung the bar high above his
head for the first blow that should
completely wreck the delicate ma
chinery.
Florence Montrose meanwhile
CHANGED to stroll out of the house ON
to the veranda. Standing for a mo-
ment alongside a vine-covered porch
post, she glanced across the lawn to-
ward the Clayton house. Unkow-
lngiy she was wholly screened from
view by the thick foliage Of the vines.
For example, four people who Just
then entered the side gate did not
see her at all, nor guess that the girl
was standing there Watching their
approach with a puzzled frown.
In the lead walked Tanner and
kiel. Directly behind them came
Vanya Tosca and a disreputably
dressed cripple. At once Florence
recognized Vanya-
DR.. Montrose had long ago told
Florence not to be surprised at sight
OF any odd-looking people who might
come to the side door of the house
to see him.
But today the sight Of the cripple
amazed her. This man she had rea-
son to know was a member Of the
Crimson Stain gang. Her father, she
felt, ought to be told Of it. For it
might lead to a clew for the capture
Of his accomplices.
She had promised Harold Stanley
to aid him in every possible way to
solve the Crimson Stain mystery.
Iere perhaps was such a way.
Thrilling with the Zest Of aiding the
man she dearly loved. she turned
and sped into the house. Felix. who
vas peering curiously at her from
behind the library bay window.
slipped out of sight as she came In.
At the foot Of the stairs leading
up to the laboratory Florence paused.
She had intended to go straight to
her father with this clew. But now
she stopped, as a new thought oo-
CURED to her.
Suppose these people should al
ready be in the laboratory upon her
arrival there? Suppose the two other
men should prove to be accomplices
Of the cripple? Suppose when she
should denounce him there might be
violence2
These men might readily overpower
her father and herself. It was best
to be prepared for such a contin-
gency.
Florence went back to the library.
rummaged in a table drawer and
took out a revolver. Holding the
weapon in her hand ready for use, she
mounted the stairs toward the lab
oratory.
The four visitors, going in by the
side door, made their way along ths
passage that ended in the secret
panel.
Their eyes were glazed and deem
ctrcled. Their skin was pasty. There
were new lines in their faces. They
looked years older than they had
looked a week earlier.
Tanner slid back the panel and
stepped out into the laboratory: Kiel
was at his heels. vanya and the
cripple followed them out into the
room.
AS the four stepped into the room
their eyes fell on DIR. Montrose. He
had his back to them and was cross
ing the floor toward the apparatus,
which stood at the opposite end of
the laboratory.
In his hand the doctor carried a
thick metal bar. Curiously, Kiel and
Tanner watched him as he paused in
front Of the apparatus. Even then
they did not guess his purpose, until
they saw him whirl the bar aloft
above his head in both hands and
heard him exclaim to himself:
When I have shattered this I shall
have shattered forever the power OF
the Crimson >Stain!"
With wild-beast yell-as of a
famished hyena that sees its last
hope of food disappear-Tanner
cleared the space between himself
and Montrose.
AS the bar descended toward the
apparatus Tanner and Kiel were
upon the doctor. They wrenched him
backward.
Montrose tore himself free from the