East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1917-03-05
CHAPTER XVI.
''The Unmasking."

DR.. Montrose sat at his laboratory
ahse writing in his diary. His nerv-
Jus hand traced the words;
''The Crimson Stain band is openly
seeAslDg my life. The drug, together
vita It's apparatus, has been stolen.
30 ] no longer have any hold over
is victims. They will turn on me
IS murderousiy as wild beasts turn
IN the trainer who has lost the wea-
ION VITA which he controls them.
Il am afraid--horribly afraid. Not
or Avself. The man who has no
ioDe has no fear. But am afraid
or my darling daughter, who also
nay break her heart If she learns
~ unhappy connection with the
'r4msOn Stain. May she never
aiess-"
A soft rap at the outer door caused
i'm to look up in guilty dread from
is writing.
Who is there?" he called hoarsely.
10 the same time thrusting the diary
Jack into its drawer and closing his
ihaking fingers around the butt of a
oaded pistol that lay in the same
lrawer.
Who is there?" he repeated, try
ag to steady his voice.
IT'S 1. daddy" came FIorence's
,oice. Let me ini"
With a sigh OF relief. DR.. Mon
lose loosed his grip on the revolver.
iosed the drawer and went over
90 unlock the door at which his
2ughter was so imperiously rapping.
Why, daddy" she said playfully
rs she entered the room. what makes
w lock yourself In like that7"
IL didn't know the door was
u ,ked." he answered. lamely enough.
fea're III" accused Florence, not
.nE the perturbation in his face and
fo'oe. or else something is worry
ng you"
No. mol" he denied In haste.
Yes, there is," she declared. "Oh,
ted me what IL is. daddy, dearg'
Dear little girl" replied Dr. Mont
20. @, conauering his nervousness with
a herculsan effort Of will and forcing
hisSself TO smile reassurinRly down
intp the wistful face so eagerly up
"a r-sed to his own-"dear little girl,
ZOE are mistaken. And you are max
ing yourself unnecessarily unhappy
)ye4- mo.
ne continued. taking her tonderly in
mis- arms. But IL is all over now.
some day / may be able TO tell you
tboue IL. In the meantime. Just re-
member that all want In this world
jr th'i next Is for my little daughter
o be happy"
Ho Itissed her and led her to the
'oor. Reluctantly she left him.
Left alone. DR.. Montrose was re-
'lrning to the table when his keen
trs caught The sound OF a stealthy
'otfaH moving along the secret pas
"geway that led TO the panel.
\ wave OF fear. mingled with de-
rminatf0n. swept through the doc
ttr as he recognized tho muffied step
pproaching nearer and nearer the
i8neI.
The drug is gone!" he muttered.
half-aloud. And he knows IL So
ho must be coming for-for met
Galvanized into sudden activity as
nc footsteps halted Just ON the op-
nosite side OF the panel. DIR. Montrose
uuunded forward. He threw his
Dholo weight against the panel as IL
Hegan to slide open.
You shall not come in" he
rowled. like an angry dog. "You
hall not!"
Three minutes later Pierre Ia Rue
ood I'm the center OF the room. pant
1g from fierce eNertion.
on the floor, half his body hidden
'-om view. lay a man. His head and
loulders were visible In the passage
ay beyond the panel. His legs and
over body sprawled Imply on the
lbOratory floor.
"a. a a.
own at the threshold OF the secret
oor. From his feeble motions as he
ny there he was slowly recovering
unsciousness after stunning blow.
Pierre La Rue looked in grim
,musement at the PROSTATE body.
hen he crossed 20 the table. opened
IS drawer, took out the diary and
,ianced at its last entry. With a
mile of genuine pleasure he noted
lat DR.. Montrose had written.
Then he thrust the diary carelessly
1to his coat pocket and turned again
the weakly moving form on the
,or. Picking up the sufferer in his
a sinewy arms he half carried,
.If dragged him down the secret
assageway, % pausing only TO close the
mel behind him.
Harold Stanley. at almost the same
lmeht, entered the Montrose house.
L must speak at once TO DIR. Mont
,.,e," he said 70 the maid servant
Who admitted him.
"Dr. Montrose is busy in his labo-
-atory, 1 think" replied the maid.
'He has given orders that he is not
be interrupted while he is working
here"
"I'l take the responsibility of dis
urbing' him." said Stanley. Don't
Dother TO announce me. I'll go up
here myself"
His feet made no sound ON the rug
strewn floor. AS he neared the labo-
atory he saw man crouching at its
loor. peering through the keyhole.
The light was too dim for Stanley
% make out the details OF the caves
lropper's face or figure. And, as ne
anne a step nearer, the man at the
leyhole evidently heard him For ne
from his crouching posi-
ion with lightning swiftness, insert
ng n key in the lock. opened the door,
dipped into the laboratory and closed
md locked the door behind him.
Il was all done in less than second
,efore Harold. sprinEing forward
'ould intercept him.
Stanley reached the laboratory door