Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1916-07-27


He lay there watching as the water
from the overlooking tub trickled to
the floor, pooled in the worn undula-
! lions of the boards, and crawled on
| again, in search of some avenue OF es-
cape. And he watched it as it moved,
fer on it's sinuous back, he remem-
! bered, it carried his message of deliV-
erance, his hope of life. Finding an
unused ventilator flue, the water foun-
tanned joyously down on the head of
long-haired artist hard at work on
canvas.
That artist, after speechlessly con-
templating the deluge, ran shouting to
the hallway, where he was Joined by
his model and by fellow artists from
neighboring studios.
When they found their investiga-
lions barred by a locked door, they
broke it in. While they were shifting
suspiciously about the outer room,
however, their efforts to reach the
source of that deluge were being an
ticipated by a more stealthy figure,
which, clambering monkeylike up the
narrow iron fire escape, climbed still
higher to the small window and
promptly broke 1t in.
Manley, rousing himself at the
sharp sound of the breaking glass,
turned about to behold the face of a
narrow-eyed and dark-skinned stranger
in the square of light about him. Even
as he stared up at this exotic face
with its uncanny fringe of jet black
hair he saw the unknown intruder
draw slender tube from under his
coat. To this tube the stranger fitted
a small arrow scarcely longer than
darning needle. Then, placing the tube
to his mouth, he sent the slender dart
whistling down through the air, where
it fixed itself in the wooden flooring
not three inches from Margery Gold
ems head.
Instinctively, as Manley witnessed
that incomprehensible attack, as he
vaguely awoke to the meaning of the
strange performance, he crawled to
the girls side. There he tried to
shield her helpless body with his own.
But after that he remembered little.
He awakened later to the sound of
a woman's soft sobs close beside his
aching head. And he knew, even be-
fore she spoke, that 1t was Margery
Golden.
ITS no use, DOCTOR" she was for.
lornly crying out to the figure nearer
the foot of the bed. II saw that man,
and l know 1t was Mauki. And as
soon as l saw him l knew Legar had
sent him, had sent him with the same
poisoned arrows that once killed an
informer in the Owls Nest!"
But this man isn't dead" protest.
ed the doctor.
mo, but he will die"
Nov, young lady, this won't do, you
know" the man of medicine tried to
reassure the quietly weeping girl.
"And if you leave me with him for a
few minutes I'll make another exam.
nation. And then we'll know the
worst!"
"Pd rather stay with him-to the
last" said the white-faced girl.
"But If you'll come back, in ten min.
utes!" quietly announced the man who
was not used to having his sugges.
lions crossed. And he held the door
for the unhappy girl as she passed un.
steadily out.
Manley, the next minute, lifted his
head from the pillow.
Say, doctor, what's this about me
dying?" he demanded.
THAT all depends on one point"
was the doctors reply as he gingerly
took up one Of the slender arrows, no
longer than a darning needle. "And
the point is whether or not we can
find an antidote for the poison that
was smeared on those outlandish blow.
gun darts. But the next point Is, how
do you feel?"
II might feel worse!"
The man of medicine looked puz-
zled.
well, that seems to be the strange
part Of this case. The infection must
be very insidious one. Even the
wounds themselves show no signs of
So you wait here min
1t until get my instrument bag!"
When that somewhat bewildered
nan of medicine returned with his bag
lie found David Manley sitting up In !
Jed, porting frowningly over a sheet |
II paper which he held in his hand.
Who threw this note on my bed ?"
demanded his patient. with a vigor
hat was unlocked for in the dying. +,
was the doctors turn to frown as :.
70 took the sheet Of paper from the
theirs hand.
Il drew the fangs from Mauki's
low gum" read the message there IN. t
cribed, his arrows held no poison. |,
nd you are safe. The Laugh
az Mask"
(To BE CoNTINUED.)