The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-07-22

was now several inches lower thai
the rest OF the floor. And this, OBJ
yiously. had released a steel arm
which had swung suddenly forward ana
swept the startled intruder Fat
against the stone wall. holding hith
there as in a wise. And as he stood
pinioned there a great block OF grad
lite. released by some hidden ma
chinery. was slowly descending from
the roof OF the corridor. Margery
quickly manipulated the chains and re-
leased the chauffeur.
Let me at 'em." he shouted, bran
dishing the automobile wrench which
he still carried in his hand. "Just
let mo at 'em!r
It's no use" cried Margery, hold
ing him back. They have gone, the
lot OF them. And we've got TO follow
quickly, or thers'll be whole fam
lily meet worse fate than yours
might have been tonight"
She had taken the wrench from his
hand and was leading him out OF the
tunnel mouth by this time. explain
ing that he would have to bring his
taxicab from its hiding place anu NJ
once start In pursuit or the Iron Claw.
But these explanations came TO a sud
den and an unexpected ending, for Lee
gar and his followers. skulking In the
bushes, caught that betraying sound
OF voices and saw a chance that was
too good TO be missed. They closed In
on the girl and the taxi-driver Yet
that sullen-spirited driver. when cor
nered. fought with an energy 80 ex-
plosive that the entire circle became
involved in the struggle. II was I.e-
gar himself and only Legar, who had
the presence OF mind TO direct the at
tention towards the girl He swung
suddenly about and started for her.
She saw him coming. raised the heavy
wrench she still carried and sent Il
nat against his bony temple and took
to her heels. She Jumped into the
empty taxicab and headed for the
OMara cottage.
So colorless was her face as the be-
wildered Dan o'NIara opened tho dor
that he started back in alarm. And
her words were even more disturb
ing.
Come away" she called out.
Come quick, or II will be too late!"
and what's wrong. now?" asked
the astounded householder.
Get Peggy" gasped the girl as she
stared frantically about the little
room. Get her away from here, quick!
The house has, been minedi There's
been a bomb left here, and any mo-
ment-"
She stopped speaking. for the pun.
gent smell OF powder smoke had as
sailed her nostrils. Then from the
open window, in which a somewhat
neglected fiower-box stood. came a
faint sputter OF sound
She ran to the window. Lying In
the fower-box she saw heavy
cylinder 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 IL was.
II was the Internal machine which Le-
gar's agent had placed there TO do
the explosion might take place.
Margery caught the heavy cylinder
up In her hands She even tried To
blow out the fuse. But this was use
less. Then she tried 10 tear It away.
But this second effort was equally
fruitless. And sheer panic took pos
session OF her at the thought OF her
The bomb dropped from
her fingers to the floor. She made one
effort to warn poor young
Peggy O'Mara away. as the girl ran
TO her side. But instead OF repeating
about the slender body as though I'm
mute acknowledgment that she knew II
was already too late For the fuse, she
could see, was burning down into tho
end OF the cylinder itself. She even
closed her eyes, awaiting the inev-
She opened them again, at the sound
OF sudden step. She opened them
TO see a masked figure dart into the
room. catch up the smoking metal
cylinder. and with one and tho same
hurl II out through tho
opon window.
The next moment a great detonar
ton shook the walls OF that house.
The bomb had exploded. But tho
house OF o'Mara stili stood. And
Peggy and her father stared open
at tho newcomer. who, In
stead OF staring back at them. stood
ntently regarding Margery Golden.
The Laughing Mask" said that
somewhat shaken young lady. In little
more than a whisper.
AT your servicel" replied the man
n the yellow mask. with half-hum-
bio and half-mocking bow as he stood,
'or one neeting moment, IN the mar
Tow doorway.