The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-03


stopped to reclaim the blood-stained
prize lying in the road One-Lamp
fired a quick shot at the girl crouch
ing low in the saddle. The oxultant
gunman saw her suddenly drop as
though struck by the bullet, but be-
fore Dutch Franks avaricious fin
gers could close over that dust-be-
grimed paper the plunging black
horse bowled him over like a nine-pin.
The bewildered One-Lamp Louie
caught a fleeing vision of q slender
figure with a foot perilously caught
in the pommel of the saddle, swing
ing like a Comanche warrior, head
downward, far over the side of the
rushing charger He saw a white
hand scoop up the battle-torn strip of
paper from the roadway, and then
with a clatter of. rapid hoof- beats,
horse and rider were swallowed up
in the swirling dust-cloud.
+ + +
AS Margory swept past the last Of
h .r enemies she saw the black limou-
sine backing out from the shrubbery
just ahead of her, and by a herculean
effort succeeded in pulling up barely
in time to avoid collision with that
mysterious vehicle. Just then the
Laughing Mask, with his left hand
hastily bandaged, burst out of the
bushes and ran swiftly toward the
waiting motor car. He stopped in
sudden wonderment as he saw the
serene-eyed girl who smilingly ex-
tended frayed and soiled strip of
white paper.
II don't know whether this is your
property" she said lightly as he came
toward her, "but 1 didn't want you
to lose it after that terrible fight"
you are the most wonderful girl
in the world" was his somewhat ire
sponsive reply, land if you will tell
me how"
He was suddenly interrupted by the
sound of loud and raucous shouts and
the jerky whirring of the taxi-cab
engine.
"These men are in an ugly mood
and will stop at nothing. My man
and l can hold them off until you get
a start. When you get home give
that paper to your fathers secre-
tary, it concerns him deeply. Go at
once and ride as hard as you know
how.
There was something in thise Incl
Sive tones that compelled obedience
and for the second time that day Ma
jor felt the unaccustomed lash Of his
mistress whip. All the blood of his
kentucky forbears rose in hot re-
bellion and taking the bit in his teeth
he tore away at a furious gallop. AS
his rider turned for a brief, but anx-
ious glance behind, she saw the taxi
cab como to a lurching stop just the
other side of the black limousine. She
saw it's evil-faced passengers lean
ing out from the windows with drawn
revolvers. Then, as she swerved
around bend in the road, she heard
a sharp fusillade of shots, and with
little prayer in her heart for the
safety Of her masked protector, she
gave all her attention to guiding the
thoroughbred, nobly racing for her
safety.
When Margory finally drew up that
trembling, foam-f1ecked animal which
has carried her SO bravely, it was in
front Of the veranda where she had
started out but a short time before
so happily unconscious of impend-
from the saddle into the midst of the
anxious group which had flocked out
of the house at the sound Of her whirl-
wind approach. But before the groom
led the tired Major back to the stable
she took his dropping head IN her
arms and impulsively pressed her
lips against his satinlike skin.
you're brave old fellow" she
whispered softly, as she turned to
enter the house.
From the depths of comfortable
wicker chair in the spacious living
room, Margory narrated the exciting
events Of the last hour to q little
circle Of breathless auditors, includ-
ing the somewhat abashed Captain
Bracket of headquarters. AS she
painted in glowing colors the bravery
displayed by the Laughing Mask in
aiding her escape, by standing off her
pursuers, while himself wounded in
the hand, the not overastute police
officer shifted uneasily in his chair
as slough something troubled his
mind.
And when she exhibited that tat
tered slip of paper which she had
been instructed to deliver to the
young secretary, Davy Marley, the
red-faced captain could restrain him
self no longer.
II amt sayin' this Laughing Mask
amt brave enough when it comes to
a showdown" he said in unctuous
tones, but that don't let him off
those crimes he's charged with"
At that moment the unsuspecting
object of this thinly yelled insinua-
ton airily entered the room. Mar
gerry uttered gasp of surprise as
she saw his left hand bound in a
blood-stained handkerchief. In the
hush which followed his entrance
Davy found himself the target Of all
the eyes in that little group. 1t was
the belligerent-f officer who
finally broke the oppressive silence as
he approached the wondering secre-
tary.
"That left hand of yours looks
kind of mussed up" he said with
ironic solicitude; perhaps you
wouldn't mind tellin' us how 1t got
hurt"
For the first time since Margory
had known the frank and boyishly
engaging David Marley he appeared
constrained and somewhat evasive.
''Wh--I-I was fooling around in
the gunroom and-and my automatic
accidentally went off," he replied
haltingly, and then added quickly as
though struck by an inspiration. II
was cleaning 1t. you know"
Into the dull face of the captain
flashed a look of satisfied triumph.
hen Sec +