The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-28

down on the forehead Of the man In
the mask.
But ready hands were there to take
possession of that battered and
breathless captive.
Put him in that chair!" exultantiy
commanded Legar. And Red Egan
and his accomplice flung the Laugh
ing Mask bodily into the green-tap-
estried wingchair that stood in the
center of the room.
Now, whatll we do with him ?"
demanded the painting Red Egan.
with an anticipatory lick of the lips.
for there was more than one old
score, he remembered, still to be
evened up.
Leave him to mel" announced
Legar, studying his captive out of
narrowed and sinister eyes. Then the
man with the iron claw stepped slow
ly and studiously closer to the chair
in which the helpless Laughing Mask
sat. for the light in the room was
none too clear.
80. you're the man OF mystery.
are you? You're the hero who keeps
a dead-wall between him and the
world. Ell? Well. my valiant hero.
we'll soon put your visor up!''
The man in the mask, as he heard
those hooking words. started to his
feet. But the two men beside him
quickly flung him back again into
the chair
Hold him thereH commanded
Legar. drawing still closer to his
captive.
Williamsburg Sadie. with her
mouth slightly agape. stood halfway
between the chair and the wall,
watching the man with the iron claw
as ne exulted over his enemy, She
watched Legar's hand as II reached
OUT 10 the mask Of yellow cloth and
tore IT viciously from the face which
1t had concealed.
Then scream, short but high
pitched, burst from her startled lips.
Fer what she stared at seemed more
ike eharnel-house cadaver than a
human face. Across it's discolored
surface ran livid scars. The dubious
and distorted nose, now moist with
sweat, seemed more like fibroid
tumor than an organ Of flesh and
bone. The coarse seam of the mouth
leered crookedIy from q face that
Even the eyes, blood shot and small,
seemed to stare out from under a
gangrenous brow.
And Legar drew back at the sight
of those loathsome features. He
backed slowly away, staring at that
face, until he came to the electric
10 =
out to switch on the electrolier, for
the struggle on the fire-esc land
ing had left a curtain hanging haff
over the window. and this made the
light uncertain. But even as Legar
lifted his finger to the switch a sud
den knock sounded on the door of the
room.
Both Red Egan and the woman
turned mutely to Legar And as they
looked the knock was repeated louder
than before.
Lock him in that closet" was the
Iron Claws whispered command
And throttle him at the first sound!'
Legar, who had already crossed to
the door that opened into the hall,
waited there until the closet door had
been locked and shut. Then. as he
motioned for the others to keep out OF
sight. he turned the key in the outer
door and opened it. But as he opened
1t he made 1t a point to see that his
tall body blocked every inch OF the
opening.
1t was Red Egan who stepped to
his side as the key was once more
silently turned in the lock.
Here's signet ring 7 took of
your man In there. Would that give
you any tip as to who he is?''
Legar stood studying the ring,
turning 1t over and over in his hand.
NO" he finally announced. "But
itll let me send a tip to our old
friend Golden"
ITO Golden?"
Eyes. III send him that ring to