The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-21

had escaped injury, his dignity had
not escaped hurt.
Let me at 'em!" he shouted, bran
dishing the automobile wrench which
he still carried In his hand. Gust
let me at emf
TITS no USE" cried Margory, hold
ing him back. 'aThey have gone, tne
lot of them. And we've got to follow
quickly or theFell be a wheie ft-r-s--
lily meet a worse fate than yours
might have been tonight"
She had taken the wrench from his
hand and was leading him out OF tire
tunnel mouth by this time, explain
Ing that he would have to bring his
taxicab from it's hiding place and at
once start in pursuit of the Iron
Claw. By this time. with that chauf-
feur, discretion had become the bet
ter part OF valor.
Not much!" he announced with de.
cision. That guy can blow up the
whole of Long Island for all | care.
I've had my fill o. this rough-neck
work! I'm goin' t. beat it back to
broadway. and I'm goin' to do my
traveiin' where the white lights shine.
or know the reason why."
She had reached the empty taxicab
hidden away under the heavy tres
shadows. looked back for a moment.
and realized that 1t was worse than
useless to walt for help.
Her thoughts. however, were not oy,
that vanishing taxicab as she raced
up the narrow walk and pounded
frantically on the faded panel of the
cottage door. She was thinking more
OF the inmates OF that house and the
death which at any moment might
envelop them. So colorless, in fact,
was her face as the bewildered Dan
O'Mara opened the door that he
started back In alarm. And her
words were even moro disturbing.
Come away" she called out.
Come quick or 1t will be too late"
She ran to the window. Lying In
the flower box she saw a heavy cylin-
der OF metal. Even before she caught
sight OF the time fuse which quietly
Kissed and burned at one end Of the
cylinder. she knew what 1t was. 1t
was the Internal machine which Le-
gaF's agent had placed there to de-
stroy the house. And at any moment
the explosion might take place.
Yet Margory caught tho heavy CYL
inder up In her hands. She even tried
to blow out the fuse. But this was
useless. Then she tried TO tear 1t
away. But the second effort was
equally fruitless. And sheer panic
took possession of her at tho thought
of her helplessness. The bomb
dropped from her fingers to the floor.
She made one instructive effort to
warn poor young Peggy O'Mara away
as the girl ran to her side. But in.
stead OF repeating that warning she
let her arms close about the slender
body, as though in mute acknovlede.
ment that she knew 1t was already
too late. For the fuse, she could see.
was burning down into the end Of the
cylinder itself. She even closed her
eyes. awaiting the inevitable.
She opened them again at the sound
Of q sudden step. She opened them
to zee q masked figure dart into the
room, catch up the smoking metal
cylinder and with one and the same
movement hurl 1t out through the
open window.
The next moment a great detona.
ton shook the walls Of that house.
rafting the windows and driving q
cloud OF mingled dust and smoke In
through every opening.
The bomb had exploded. But the
house Of O'Mara still stood. And
Peggy and her father stared open.
mouthed at the newcomer, who. IN.
stead Of staring back at them, stood
intently regarding Margory Golden.
"The Laughing Mask!' said that
somewhat shaken young lady IN little
moro than Z whisper.
AT your service!" replied the man
In the yellow mask with half.hum.
BILE and half-moclking bow, q 10
stood for one fieeting moment "a thu
narrow doorway.
Go b. continued next woeA.l