East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1917-02-27


street Pierre turned once more to the
dazed Clayton and said, tersely:
'Co back, ahead Of mel"
Mechanically Bob refraced his steps
through the hedge into the Montrose
rear garden, and thence into the
house by the side door, and up into
the laboratory. There, at q word
from La Rue, he sat down in the
doctors favorite chair.
Pierre, taking a stout rope from
under his coat, tied Bob, hand and
foot. Then he left the supplied man
there and departed.
Early next morning Bob Clayton
awoke. TO his amazement he found
himself bound to the chair. At the
same moment DR.. Montrose entered
the room and stared in wondering dis
may at the fettered man.
IL followed Pierre La Rue here"
numbled Bob, stupidity. "The next
thing l remember ] woke, just now.
What has happened?"
The doctor, rousing himself from
his Mortified daze, cut the prisoner
loose. replying:
81 know no more than you. But
I must entreat you to promise you
viii say nothing to anyone about this
Promise mel"
why, certainly. IL you insist"
agreed Bob, perplexed by the others
earnestness. But
THANK youl" cried Montrose in
genuine relief. II thank you with all
my hearth"
While Pierre La Rue had been busy
stealing the precious drug and its
apparatus. several of his henchmen
had chanced to drop in at Tanners
fiat. And there the talk had taken
an odd turn. A single speech of
Tanners had started it all.
mo-" Tanner said in reply to a
query from Kiel, THE chief hasn't
been here today. He's going to try
to pinch the drug for himself If I'm
any Judge of his character.
i've got another huneh about him
too" went on Tanner. emboldencd by
the others wide-eyed interest. We
never see La Rue except when he has
work for US. None of us know where
he lives or what he does when we
aren't with him. Well. here's my
notion: believe he's some solid and
respected big-bug in this city and
that he operates in disguise. II we
can find out who he really is, and
threaten to blow to the cops or. to
young Stanley, wen have him where
we want him"
Harold Stanley, on his way to the
office that morning, dropped In at
Clayton's studio. Bob was not yet
there, and Stanley was about TO
leave. when the sound of a familiar
light step in the hallway outside
made him dart into a clothes closet
and shut its door on crack
Peeping out, he saw Vanya Tosca
let herself into the studio. The model
listened for a second: then, hearing
Clayton's step on the stair, she went
into the adjoining room, as though
to make ready for the pose.
Bob strobe into the studio and
crossed to the clothes closet to hang
up his hat and street coat He stepped
back in surprise at sight Of Stanley.
Harold, with a finger to his lips, en-
Joined silence. Bob, thoroughly mys-
titled. pushed the door almost shut
and went to the telephone.
There. calling up the importer from
whom he had bought the vase. ne
said:
'Be sure to have the Cioisonne jar
here at 3 this afternoon, please Dr.
Montrose is 20 be here at to give his
opinion on Il"
Bob, leaving the telephone. went
into his ante-room for a canvas. The
instant the coast was clear Vanya
slipped out of the dressing-room and
out Of the studio. Bob returned with
the canvas, looked to see no one was
in the dressing-room. and then went
again to the clothes closet. To his
astonishment IL was empty. Stanley
had departed. in Vanya's wake
Instead of going to his once Har-
old returned home. He spent the
bulk of the morning in the now ia
miliar task Of making up as Pierre
La Rue. Thence, he went downtown
to the shop of the importer to whom
he had heard Clayton telephone.
Promptly at 5 O'Clock two porters
came puffing up the stairs ana INTO
Bob's studio. bearing big paekns
box. Two minutes later DR.. Mon
trose and Florence arrived on their
visit of inspection.
Rob. with cleat and hammer, pried
off the packing box's cover So IN
terested were he and his guests In
this process that none OF them
CHANGED 90 look upward. Therefore
tbey wholly failed to see Tanner and
Kiel and Vanya. who were peering
down in keen excitement, through the
,skylight.
/, with a final tug. Clayton tore on
the box cover and plunged his hands
in the jute and paper beneath Ihen
he Jumped back. The paper had be-
p,,n to stir. And before Bob could
sneak or move a man sprang out OF
the box and stood bowing Detore
them. Il was Pierre Ia Rue.
An three of the studios other oo-
cupants stared aEape- so ulo tne
three onIookers above them Then
DIR, Montrose. with a stihed cry, p%ut %
his hand on Ia Rue. as II 70 inaNe max
sure the intruder was not ghost
with a swift motion Montrose tnen
! tore away the newcomers taiSe
beard. .,-. a..
Harold Stanley stood reFeaaieo 70
the dumbfoundod beholders.
$50 that's who he isl muttereu
I Tanner In crass astonishment
|. |. stanIeV crossed 10 the door. Tnen
, he turned and faced the Montroses
|. ana CLAYTON. What he said 70 them
An the few seconds before he left tne
, rooUa the three on the skylight could
. not hear. But they could note ne
/, words erect on the others n tne
-, rr..er,aa tErrw a.