The Elbert County tribune., 1916-10-06


the fields toward Seven Oaks hill,
looming across the valley. A few mo-
ments later the stalwart police cap
tain and his two men came pounding
oger the same course, but at u some
what slower and heavier gait.
Far down in those buried chambers
under the hill, for which those striving
figures were headed, wolfish-faced
man desperately clawed at the pile of
rock and debris choking the tunnel.
Suddenly with an eellike movement
he wriggled through the narrow pas
sage he had effected, and staggered
like n drunken man toward the ladder.
his scar-ravaged face livid with dread
apprehension.
He made his way through the open
ing and stood confusedly blinking In
the bright flood of sunlight. The next
moment a running figure bore down
upon the outlaw from the other side
of the rock. There was sudden i'm
pact of colliding bodies and Jules Le-
gar and the Laughing Mask stood in
dazed uncertainty, staring into each
others eyes.
oy WuIily lHe iuthdtt VI
that terrible claw of iron, the masked
mystery, with sudden trick of Jap
anese origin, sent his heavier Oppo-
nent toppling over backward. Then,
before Legar could regain his balance,
the Laughing Mask slipped through
that still open passage into the bowl
| der, the panel closing sharply as he
| stepped on the platform. The next In
slant Legar found himself face to face
| with Captain Bracket and the two de-
| tectives. who had been hot on the trail
of the Laughing Mask.
Before Legar could draw his gun
those three heavy and resolute officers
avalanched themselves upon him, barry
| ing him under their combined weight
| as he crashed to the ground.
To Margery Golden, still lying on
that narrow rocky ledge, expecting
every moment an attack from out of
the dark, the passing time had seemed
| like fearful eternity. She had heard
Black Tony creeping about below her
in an apparently futile search for his
| flashlight.
| Then came a low cry of triumph and
thin streak of light wavered upon
her. She saw the sinister, leering face
of the swarthy italian as he came
steadily nearer. She shrank back
against the rough wall as long ta-
pering knife, clutched in sinewy fin
gers, came reaching toward her. 1t
seemed certain that nothing short of
n miracle could save her. But even
as the knife was raised to strike, the
miracle happened.
The apparently solid wall behind her
suddenly gave way and Margery felt
herself quickly pulled through an open
ing by strong, tender arms. She was
vaguely conscious of being borne up a
ladder and presently n gentle breeze
famed her cheek. When the fresh air
had revived her and she became ac
customed to daylight she saw the
Laughing Mask bending over her.
81 had a feeling up to the very last
that you would save me-" she mur-
INJURED gratefully.
"It was lucky L knew about the old
ventilating shaft connecting all the
galleries in the mine," he modestiy re-
piled; ''it will be quite safe for you to
go home now, for happen to know
that Legar himself is captured and his
men have all met the final punishment
they so richly deserved"
But Margery fixed a pleading look
upon her masked savior.
Cant you see how am tortured by
this terrible uncertainty" she said in
supplicating tones, "if you really love
me, you will tell me who you are"
For moment the Laughing Mask
hesitated, then he slowly raised the
yellow visor which so long had pre-
served the secret of his identity.
Transixed with wonder. Margery
stood gazing upon the face of her
companion. A little cry broke from
her lips, a cry that might have agni-
fed either joy or sorrow.