The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-30

EAV the bundle Of dellcately
carved arrows. They were
- as slender as a bistoury blade
and scarcely longer than a darning
needle Then he looked up at his
visitor.
so you really object to telling me
your name" he said as he carefully
restored the fragile darts to their re-
ceptacle OF capped bamboo.
Unless it's essential Id prefer not
to-" was the strangers quiet-toned
reply.
Then why did you bring these
things to me?" asked the doctor.
Because l understood you were
America. And l was anxious TO
know whether or not those innocent
looking arrows in your hand were
really poisoned"
The doctors smile was a grim one.
We'll. they were poisoned all right!
1t Is difficult, OF course. to say just
what the nature OF this venom Is.
But on these poison darts l found
unmistakable evidence of cobric acid.
That would imply that toxication
was produced by using the secretion
OF some najoid reptile such as the
cobra. The fact that these arrows,
however, are remarkably like those
used in the blow guns or blow pipes
Of certain aborigines OF South Amer
lea would lead me to infer that this
terrible poison has possibly been pre-
pared from certain toxicophidia of
the same continent.
Had DR.. Anstett been less inter-
ested In remarkable poisons and
more interested in remarkable per-
sons, he might have kept on the trail
Of this mysterious stranger, and in
doing 30 he might have discovered
that these envenomed arrows of
mystery we're the rightful property
OF one unrighteous Mauki. the per-
sonai servant OF that elusive master
criminal known as Jules Legar.
For Legar. realizing that as time
went on there was a natural neces-
sity for his own retirement to the
background, had become more and
more dependent upon his accom-
plioes. The Iron Claw. awakening 10
the fact that he had no contemplate
enemy In the person of the Laughing
Mask. was resolved on extreme meas
ures TO effect the rounding UP OF that
mysterious enemy.
One of these efforts included a visit
on Enoch Golden by Lieutenant
Kibby and three OF his men from the
detective bureau. Golden. the lieu
tenant pointed out, was in a position
to help the authorities out of a pre-
dicament by telling all he knew
about this same mysterious stranger.
But / don't know any more about
this Laughing Mask than you dol"
protested the old fnancier.
Surely you have at least some the
org as to the identity of the man?"
II thought / had. once or twice.
And my daughter thought she had.
But we were or the track. each
time"
One moment. please" cut In the
lieutenant as he suddenly rose TO his
feet and strobe across the room. He
stepped out through the portiered
doorway, started down the hallway.
you aware OF the fact that a young
woman has been standing there lis
tening to every word we said?
The dsep-nned face of the-aged fin
ancier showed no perceptible change.
My daughter, undoubtedly" re-
torted Golden. For the girls about
as interested In this case, you see.
rs we are ourSelves!"
Margory's interest in the mysterious
case of the Laughing Mask, indeed.
would have been brought promptly
homo to that somewhat puzzled po-
lice lieutenant had he been able to
give less attention to Enoch Golden
and more to the puzzled-eyed girl
who had stood momentarily arrested
at the entrance of her fathers
library. For as she moved on down
the shadowy hallway she found her-
self confronted by that interruptlve
but all too familiar figure of the
Laughing Mask himself. He MADE
gesture for silence as she started
back In alarm. Then he nodded MS
dominoed head In the direction or
the library door.
Now, perhaps, you viii understand
why III HAS not pSSn easy Ava AA'N ~
explain Just who / ami"
But you must explain" gasped the
bewildered girl. They are saying
terrible things about you. things
which l know to be untrue.
do you trust me?'
II want to-" was the whispered an
swcr.
Then will you continue TO trust
me?" asked tho man in the mask.
II don't think / can" was the girfs
hesltatfng answer. until you can
trust mel"
You mean that must unmaskr"
But MargoEy 9olden's reply 70 that
question was never uttered, For as
she WAS about TO speak her volatile
maid. Ceiestine. stepped into the hall
behind her b~neId the mysteriouaiy
masked ngure. and promptly allied
the house with q ringing Gallo
scream.
Mon pieu. Il is the Laughing