East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1917-02-27
CHAPTER XIV.
THE Human Tiger"

t' 1~AtAOSo cntefou MS laDOratOrt
/ next morning with a firm step, fal
@nerent from the tagging gait that
had recently been his.
Ais hour OF fear was past. He
mac MADE up his mind at last to the
oonrae ne knew to be right. And
nothing could shake his resolution.
AZ usual, ON entering his labora-
teSy 90 begin the days work, he took
ms Vlary from a licked drawer and
noted In II the events Of the previous
0ay, put now, when these entries
weLS nnisheds he continued to write.
ON the next page:
This day ] shall be forever freel
I am going to sever the bonds that
haVe kept me in the most horrible
capuVity human being can know.
1 am going TO smash to atoms the
accursed apparatus with which 1 ad.
minister the drug that makes s1Iper-
criminals OF Pierre La Rue and ME
Crimson Stain gang.
IAN the present supply OF the drus.
- IN a large 'container' that stands
beside the apparatus. The formula
- IN this diary. When 1 have bro
ken the apparatus to fragments I
shall empty the container and burn
tho diary. Thus not only shall INV
terrible secret have perished. but ali
record OF It shall be wiped out.
II shall thus have atoned for NV
sin-insofar as have the means 10
make atonement May my future
hlep TO redeem my pastl"
Or. Montrose thrust the dinry into
the drawer, got to his feet and
crossed to the cupboard. From a
bar. Going over TO the apparatus
no swung the bar high above his
head for the first blow that should
completely wreck the delicate ma
chfnery.
Florence Montrose meanwhile
chanced 10 stroll out Of the house on
20 the vernnda. Standing for a mo-
ment alongside a vine-covered porch
post, she glanced across the lawn to-
ward the Clayton house. Unkow-
tnglY 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
zee her at all, nor guess that the girl
was standing there watching their
approach with a puzzled frown.
In the lead walked Tanner and
Kiei. Directly behind them came
Vanya Tosca and a disreputably
dressed cripple. At once Florence
recognized Vanya.
DIR. Montrose had long ago told
Florence not 20 be surprised at sight
OF any odd-Iooking people who might
como 10 the side door OF the house
10 see him.
4 y \
But today the sight of the cripple
amazed her. This man she had rea-
soh 20 know was a member OF the
Crimson Stain gang. Her father, she
felt, ought 70 be told Of II. For It
might lead TO n ciew for the capture
of mis- accomplices.
she had promised Harold Stanley
20 aid him in every possible way to
so1ve the Crimson Stain mystery.
Here 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
was peering ceriousiy at her from
behind the library bay window,
slipped out OF sight as she came in.
At the foot OF the stairs leading
up 20 the laboratory Florence paused
sho had intended to go straight 20
her father with this clew. But now
she stopped. as q new thought oc-
CURED TO her.
suppose these people should al
ready be in the laboratory upon her
arrival there7 Suppose the two other
men should prove TO be accomplices
Of the cripplef Suppose when she
ahouid denounce him there might be
vioaance7
These men might readily overpower
her father and herself II was best
to be prepared for such a contin-
gency.
Florence went back TO the library.
r1Immaged in n table drawer and
took out a revolver. Holding the
waRpon 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 the
passage that ended in the secret
panel.
TheIr eyes were glazed and deep
carcied. Their skin was pasty. There
were new lines in their faces. They
looked years older than they had
locked n week earlier.
Tanner aid back the panel and
stamped OsIt into the laboratory; kiel
vas at his heels. Vanya and the
cripple followed them out into the
room.
As the four stepped into the room
their eyes fell on DR. Montrose. he
had his back to them and was cross
Insr the floor toward the apparatus
which stood at the opposite END oi
the laboratory.
In his hand the doctor carried :
thick metal bar. Curiously' kiei ano
T,.nnar watched him as he paused IN
front OF the apparatus. Even then
they dId not guess his purpose unu
theY saw him whiri the bar aloi,
! aR,ova his head in both hands ano
hoard him exclaim to himself;
ssWhen I have shattered this shal
havn ahnttered forever the power o.
the Crimson StainF
with A wild-beast yen-as OF
eanniShed hyena that sees is las
hoos OF food disappear-Tannel
-lc.red the space between himself
and Montrose- -, A..
A. the bar descended toward h'
..o.rafua Tanner and Kiel wer'
upon the doctor. They wrencheo MN
H@o1troas tore himself free from thu
10 men'a grasp and whtried aoou
20 fAoo them a.
ssDocIs TAnner was exclaiming q
-.-s.i tnrror. ssDooi For heaveni