The Washington herald., 1916-10-08

he saw chance to crafty his
curiosity.
AS he stood, peering about him, he
heard a faint noise that seemed to
come from the other side of an ap-
parently blank wall. Scared, he
crouched behind q table, just as q
panel in the wainscoted wall began
to slip to one side, revealing an
inner room beyond the wall.
Through this opening appeared the
head and shoulders of Tanner. As
Felix stared bewilderedly at him,
Tanner entered the laboratory and
turned around to close the secret
panel.
If once the panel should be closed,
Felix knew he himself had scant hope
of finding way to open it again.
Therefore, in the second that the
other mans back was toward him,
the servant sprang forward from be-
hind the table and buried his talon
like fingers in Tanners throat.
When Mr.. Montrose, half minute
later, rushed into the laboratory, he
saw the secret panel standing open
and Tanner sprawled senseless ON the
floor.
At last Tanner opened his eyes.
Shuddering, he looked wildly about
him. The sight Of the doctor leaning
over him seemed to reassure the
tough. To the wordless question in
Montrose's eyes, he babbIed, inco-
herently:
mo, don't know who. I couldn't
see him. Butt felt the throat-grip,
all right, as long as could feel any
thing. It's-it's warning, doc!"
A spasm Of terror shook DR.. Mont
rose from head to foot
=
Florence watched at the front door
until Stanley was out of sight Then,
as she made as though to go back
into the house, she saw Layton Par
rish turn in from the street and start
up the walk toward the veranda-
She advanced a step to meet the
detective, and held out her hand to-
ward aim, eourteously, II not cordi-
ally.
well, Miss Montrose," was Par
rish's almost effusive greeting as he
shook hands with her, 81 hear you
are to be congratulated on clearing
young Clayton from the charge Of
killing Truxton Lambert"
I'm so glad he is free!" she ex-
claimed, her heart warming to this
bearer Of good news 'T tried to tell
you about the Figure In Black you
remember. But you-
IT know, I know" replied Parrish.
1T was my own loss II I'd taken
In q NN ~ y-1y,n
Clayton would be mine, and not STAN
ley's. That's why I've come here to-
day. I'm beginning to get a pretty
high idea Of your detective powers,
young lady, and want to avail my
self Of them II you'll let me-"
F1attered at this praise from the
usually grumpy Parrish. she made
answer.
why, certainly. What can DOR
I've been making inquiries about
that apartment house where Hiss
Vanya Tosca lives" he said
"Yes?'
well, It seems the house was a
private dwelling years ago-before it
was turned into apartments. 1t was
built by an eccentric old chap, who
put two secret passageways in it
leading up from the cellar. That got
me thinking. VIII you help me2"
Help you? How?"
by coming there with me and
searching the cellar. A woman's wit
and woman's eyes are better than
any mans. Perhaps you can solve
the puzzle and find the second pass
ageway. I've tried; and I can't find
It"
Less than an hour later Parrish
was ushering her into the dingy cellar
Of the apartment house Through the
front cellar he led the way, electric
dashiight in hand, and to an inner
room beyond the furnace.
'Tookl" she interrupted, eagerly,
her quick eye noticing an irregular
oblong Of wood that projected a few
inches beyond the moldy side wall.
She laid hands on the slab Of wood,
and with all her young strength
sought to push It to one side. To her
delight the slab yielded at her first
attempt and slid noiseIessiy to the
left, revealing q narrow opening in
the wall and the beginning Of q fight
Of rude stone steps.
But, on the instant, the fashlieht
went out. And. simultaneously, shs
heard the sharp click of a door lock.
Parrish had backed out of thu room.