The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-17

posture, and went slowly down the
stairs to the gunroom. AS she ex-
pected, she found Captain Bracket
and his subordinate still discussing
the new developments of the case.
Going directly to the surprised de-
tective, Margery addressed him in a
low, constrained voice. Il am very
sorry, Jenkins, that 1 was SO rude,
she said alphabetically. II really
didn't mean to doubt your word; 1t
was only that some of the things you
said greatly surprised me-"
That's all right Miss Golden, an
swered the somewhat confused off,
Ger. "These strange doin's are
are enough to get on anyone $
nerves"
A rather embarrassing silence 1oi-
lowed, which was presently broken
by Captain Bracket, impatient 10
again occupy his accustomed POSI-
ton in the center of the stage.
"I'Il have a word with that woman
when the time comes" he said, turn
ing toward Margery, "but right now
young Manley is the one that needs
watchin'. 1 thought maybe you'd feel
like takin' me down where he's
stayin' in your car"
Anxious to do anything which
might tend to clear up the harassing
doubts preying upon her mind Mar
gerry willingly acquiesced in this plan.
A little later the speedy, gray road
ster containing the determined po-
lice captain and the trouble-faced girl
drew up just around the bend of the
road beyond the Kicks homestead,
where David Manley had taken up
his abode since his abrupt departure
from the manor-house of his former
employer.
Suddenly Margery felt her heart
quicken as she saw a familiar figure,
with dejectedly dropping shoulders,
cutting across the fields in the direc-
ton of Seven Oaks Hill. The Keen
eyed officer caught sight Of his
quarry at almost the same moment.
There's our man now" he said
quickly, land it's up to us to keep
him in sight every minute"
Stealthily the slender girl and the
burly captain, slipping from cover to
cover, Swallowed the distracted Man
ley, who was apparently too occupied
with his thoughts to be at all on his
guard. He finally reached the sum-
nit of the hill and made straight for
the lone bowlder, where on previous
occasion the Laughing Mask had
mysteriously eluded the holly pur-
suing police captain. His trailers
lodged into q nearby thicket and
brea thlessly waited the outcome OF
this strange procedure.
Nor had they long to wait. A few
tense moments elapsed after David
Marley disappeared from view be-
hind the bowlder and then another
figure emerged from in back Of that
stone concealment. The features of
the newcomer were shrouded by a
yellow and grotesquely laughing
mask. The elated police captain
turned to the startled girl crouched
at his side.
do you still think I should discard
my theory about David Marley and
the Laughing Mask being the same
persona" he whispered triumphantly.
II don't know what to think" came
the weary response.
+ \ r
II.
Through that opening the two
shadowers of the Laughing Mask
saw him advancing toward a rose
mantled summer-house at the end of
a shaded walk. They saw a graceful
girl, her fower-like face aglow with
eager expectation, suddenly emerge
from the summer-house and run to
meet him with outstretched arms.
Then as the two figures met for a
moment in a close embrace a sharp
cry of pent-up anguish burst from
the white lips Of AIargery Golden.
As that soul-racked cry reached his
ears. the perfidious nlasker broke
from the embrace of his companion
and stood gazing in startled surprise
in the direction from which it came
At that moment thick-set figure
came catapaulting through the hedge
and bore down upon the Laughing
Mask like a human cannon ball. The
exasperated police-captain, realizing
he could no longer hope to take his
enemy by surprise, had staked every
thing on this sudden rush. But the
.nimble-footed fugitive was off like a
sprinter trying to beat a record, and
by the time he reached the road ne
had gained a wide lead over his lumb-
ering pursuer, who shortly gave w
the chase and slowly retraced his
steps, blowing like winded truck
horse.
"This is the second time you've
harbored that criminal" he barked al
the proudly erect young woman who
stood facing Margery Golden, IAN as
an officer Of the law give you warn.
ing it will be worse for you if yor
don't tell us where he keeps himself
under cover"
II shall tell you nothing" answered
the openly defiant girl. your bully
ing threats do not brighten me in the
least, and I shall see that your in
sulting conduct is reported to tn,
proper authorities"
With this parting shot the unruf
fled girl deliberately turned her bacl
on the raging police captain and, will
quiet dignity made her way toward
the white-pillard mansion. Nothinf
remained for that utterly routed arm
of the law but to withdraw from tn,
field of this disastrous verbal battl,
with the best grace he could muster
but already, in his somewhat Limited
range of mental activity, he had de
vised new scheme for trapping tn
elusive masquerader, whose imme
date capture he was more grimly de
termined upon than ever.
To his surprise Margory Colder
promptly and steadfastly rebelled a
the part which he had chosen for he