The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-06
Copyright. 1915, by Arthur Stringer. TWELFTH EPISODE.
 The Haunted Canvas.

HC I1duuICQ AdnVdS. FI HE daughter of Dan O'Mara
 was very happy girl. So
 happy. in fact, was the
 freckled-nosed Peggy that there were times when the sheer nov city of her good fortune somewhat Frightened her. For the tide had turned. The O'Mara family, as Peggy put 1t, was at last in clover. That mysterious tighter of wrongs known as the Laughing Mask had interested himself in getting honest work for Dan O'Mara. And that gracious eyed lady known as Margory Golden, once she had realized the true posi- tion of the family, had become equally interested in doing what she could for the spindle-legged Peggy.
 It is true, none the less, that this last mentioned young lady's benefac- tress had been momentarily non- plused by Peggy's choice of a voca- ton, when this choice was placed before her.
 What would you like to do most?" Margory had asked at the end of her second trip to the O'Mara cottage with a bundle of clothes for the all but breathless Peggy.
 'Be a artists model" promptly announced the rapt-eyed factory girl.
 But why a model?" asked the amazed Miss Golden.
 ITO doll up in glad rags and get meself painted!" explained the dream CT of the dye vats. And odd as that kz I,@ 01d dax1 did not depart from her promise. She sought out her artist friend, Frank Ainick and inveigled him to experi- ment with a new and somewhat un- tried model. He met her smilingly.
 But that smile was never broader than when he noticed her standing wide-eyed before the large canvas above the fireplace at the end of his studio. For this painting, which bore the title of "The vigilante," was a remarkable piece of work, in more ways than one. It showed the life- size figure of a frontiersman staring out into the room, with leveled car bine at his buckskinned shoulder But the arresting feature of the painting lay in the fact that both tho eyes of the figure seemed always to be directed at the spectator, no mat ter what position spectator might take. It stood there like an armed and menacing sentinel, seeming to command every corner of the high walled studio.
 That guy gives me the willies: Peggy protested as she made her way back to the model throne.
 "Why?" asked the smiling man at the easel.
 'tHe keeps such bead on you, no matter where you get in this room!" was the girls reply.
 That's why I keep him here. To see that you never do anything wrong, Peggy, or that carbine of his will call you to account"
 Peggy O'Mara accordingtly con- ducted herself with all due decorum during her working hours in the stu dio. And those hours took unto them selves wings. for she was happy in her work and even happier in her knowl- edge that her fathers troubles were over.
 But destiny, in the form of one Jules Legar. had secretly ordained that this happiness should not be a lasting one. For Peggy O'Mara was no longer a trivial factor in the &C., tivities of the Iron Claw. This slip of a girl had brought defeat to his plan when success seemed we'll within his hand. And for these humilia- tions Legar decided that the girl should pay, and pay to the full.
 The modest home of the O'Maras, however, had no inkling of this deci- sion until Dan O'Mara himself, wan dering about his combination kitchen and living-room in search of his pipe, was somewhat startled to see a square of paper pinned to the faded door panel. Peggy herself, joining her father, war equally mystified bv this slip of paper, for its surface showed nothing but a round blot or two of black ink on a square of white. Neither Dan OMara nor his daugh- Ter mad any reason to know the mean ing of the spotted warning, any more than they knew that one Mauki. the steaitny emlssary of the Iron Claw. stood hidden behind the walls of one or the three cottages commanding a clear view of the O'Mara home.
 < 4 <
 Iney had no way of knowing that tnis same Mauki lurked there behind a snuttered window. patiently watch ing hour after hour the house across tne way. Close beside him as he watched stood a magazine rifle to which Maxim silencer had been adjusted. And on the floor beside the rine lay yet another weapon. This. however, was weapon of defense, For 1t consisted of a craftily con structed cape which, for purposes of disguise, could be promptly converted into woman's skirt.
 So sure was Mauki of his defensive arrangements that when he caught sight of Peggy O'Mara and her father at the window he promptly reached Tor his rife, adjusted the barrel be- tween the shutter slats. and took aim. Then he pulled the trigger.
 The next moment a bullet went crashing through the window of the O'Mara home.
 lnstinctively the two startled ag-