Bisbee daily review., 1916-12-17
SEVENTEENTH EPISODE
The Vanishing Faker

The staid Wilson, who in his many years of faithful service as butler in the Golden household had seen many strange and unusual happenings. was at that moment decidedly perplexed. Unless his beloved young mistress had beer suddenly bereft of her senses why was she indulging in such queer and childish antics out there in the rose garden.
 As Wilson turned from the window sadly shaking his old head the object of his solicitous anxiety turned to her red-faced companion.
 .T think understand the code fairly well now she said with quiet satis- faction, "and you certainly have been q very efficient teacher"
 Don't mention it, Miss Golden" an- swered her fiattered companion
 The man speaking in this jocular vein was the redoubtable Captain Bracket of headquarters. who had taken upon himself, to the exclusion of all other duties, the self-assigned task of rounding up that mocking and elusive parsonage known as the Laughing Mask.
 A thick-set detective now came brisk ly down the grass-bordered path and respectfully saluted his chief. After q low-tOned conference with this man. Captain Bracket excused himself and hurried away. Left alone, Margery sat down on a rustic bench close by a towering bush of fragrant lilacs, her hands toying idly with the mirror as she gave herself up to her not alto getker pleasing thoughts. For these thoughts, in large measure, concerned her fathers secretary, David Manley, and of late she had been greatly disap- pointed in that young man.
 
 The silver-backed mirror slipped from the fingers of the abStracted girl and dropped with a little clatter on the grayeled walk at her feet Reused from her reverie she stopped te pick it up, and as she did so a curious thing happened. Reflected in that circular hand-glass was the image of a man, peering out through an opening in the lilac bush. Covering his face was the familiar yellow mask with the laughing mouth-slit. More determined than ever to ascertain the identity of her mysterious protector, Margery quickly lodged around the lilac bush. hoping by this flank move
 .,I.a fr,fr hr Srrr TariS Sn But Margery. herself. was the one sur prised. for no trace of that masked and evasive figure rewarded her thorough search.
 To her further bewilderment she suddenly saw David Manley. dressed in his motorcycle togs, standing on the other side of the strangely pro ductive bush.
 What are you doing here" she in auired icily. You seem to have ac- quired rather iIDpolite habit Of startling people by springiEg out of the ground quite unexpectedly"
 As David reddened under the sting of this cutting remark he reallzed that Margory's faith in him was de cidedly shaken.
 "I-Tm awfully sorry I annoyed you. Marccry," he Stamm"red 1polCgetical- Iy. but Aunty Kicks over at the old homestead telephoned ] could have one of the litter of collie pups they're pIize-winning stock, you know. Before pick one out thought I'd ask you fl ycu had any particular preference for markings" f>
 Margery promptly and ungratefuh5 rejected this proposed peace offering.
 isut despite her cool trcatmca. "i Davy, Margcry scn, lock or tehV''I concern after his dejectcd figure hur.