East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1917-02-05

troubious dreams, a sentinel IL his
racked brain seemed 70 whisper .
warning that he was no longer alone
In bis quiet Hbrary--that soms one
had crept In TO spy upon his sleep. or
else that q vague peril h0vered over
him.
This thought banished slumbsr and
every vestige Of comfortable drUwsiA
ness. Like a soldier awakened by the
reYeille, DR.. MontrOse started up, eyes
wide, muscles tense, sleep wholly de-
serting him.
He lurched to his feet and stared
about him, as might q suddenly
aroused watchdog. Every faculty was
on the alert, and a slow anger was
kindling within him against the un-
known intruder who had robbed him
Of his rest.
But his swift glance around the
library failed to discern any such in
truder. Except for himself the big
room seemed empty. Nor was there
sign that anyone else had entered.
Yet this did not lessen his queer in
tuition that some lurking foe had
stolen in upon him.
Then from the corner Of his eye
Montrose saw the hallway curtains
sway, ever 50 slightly. And to his
straining ears came faint sound, as
If from the hall.
In one stride DR.. Montrose had
reached the library doorway and
swept aside the curtain. No one was
lurking behind 1t. A second step
brought him out into the hall, re-
solved to learn who had been spying
upon him.
He looked down the wide hall to-
ward the front door, Then, turning,
he looked back and up the stairway.
There was no one to be seen.
Had he reversed his inspection and
looked first toward the stairway in
stead OF toward the door he might
have caught a ieeting, momentary
glimpse Of q shadowy figure that
darted back out Of sight from the
landing at the top OF the stairs.
Puzzled, only half-convineed that
he had been at fault in his suspicion,
the doctor made a tour of the lower
rooms. No one was in them.
He returned to the library and
tried to sleep once more. But now,
strangely enough, his drowsiness and
fatigue were gone. Never had he felt
wider awake.
A restless activity had replaced his
earlier WEAKNESS. He knew he would
be wasting time If he should seek
further to woo slumber. And he
wanted to be at work
Picking up his medicine chest from
the hall table, he mounted the stair
way and went to his gloomy labora-
tory. There, locking himself in, he
proceeded to take of his coat and
replace it by a chemical-stained
working jacket that he always wore
when he had experiments to make.
As he did 80 he noticed phial at
one side Of the newly opened medi-
cine case 1t was a tiny flask Of
hydrocyanic acid that had been emp
tied, and which he had put by itself
at one side Of the case, so that he
might not forget to refill it.
Knowing he would need the drug in
some work he was planning, he
crossed to a wall cupboard, took
therefrom a larger bottle Of hydro
cyanic acid and filled the little phial.
Picking up the refilled phial, he
started back to his work table. Mid
way across the room he halted, at
tracted by an almost imperceptible
noise from behind the secret panel.
He thrust the phial into his vest
pocket; and, frowning, he strobe
across the floor to the panel.
His teeth set and his frown deep
ening, Montrose flung open the panel.
In the aperture behind it stood Pierre
La Rue.
For an instant Montrose and La
Rue faced each other without speak
ing. The former was flushed and
angry; yet in his eyes fiiekered a
nameless terror. La Rue, on the con-
trary, smiled suavely. at his host, as
one sure of a cordial welcome.
All at once the dread in Montrose's
ewes was replaced by a steely CLINT
Of resolution. The lines around his
mouth hardened. His bearing was
that Of a man who has once and for
all made up his mind.
He raised his arm. in unconscious
dramatic power. Pointing down the
passageway. behind the panel, he
spoke one word:
"Go!"
"Go, ] sayl" he shouted.
"Aren't you making good deal OF
unnecessary noise. doctor?" asked La
Rue, alnusedly, as if talking to a
cranky kindergarten child. "And
aren't you being just a little bit in
hospitabIe, too? That's hardly the
way to greet a dear old friend. Try
again"
81 told you to CO." said the doctor,
steadying his angry voice and trying
TO speak calmly, and I meant 1t. Go!
This is the last time / am going to
be tormented by your presence in this
room. / am going to have this panel
and tho secret passageway walled
up"
"By Ill means" smilingly assented
Pierre. Have it walled up, and let
us come into your house by the front
door instead. 1t will be far more con-
venient than the present hole-and-
corner arrangement. And 1t will give
us q glimpse of your pretty daughter
now and then"
you'll leave my daughters name
out of this!" hotly commanded Mont
rose. "It is a black insult to her for
q beast like yourself to mention her.
And now will you go?"
NO." replied La Rue, not at all
ruffied by the others wrath, Il won't.
As you very well knew I would not
when you told me to. Come. come,
doctor. don't behave like sulky
schoolboy. We owe everything to
you. most Of all. And I don't for
get 1t. But YOU are as much RESPONSE