Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1916-07-20

are about to be shocked in a muc
more serious way. On the stroke @
twelve there is to be an accident here
perhaps something much graver thai
an accident, in which it is my grea
desire that you should not participate
So | must ask each and every one O
you to leave this room, and this house
as quietly yet as quickly as possible
Every one" repeated that authorize
tive-voiced intruder as Da Espares and
the tall man in the Arabian burnoose
rose to their feet, except these two
gentlemen here"
Out of the silence that ensued on
that declaration arose a small MUIR
muir Of wonder, stir of nervousness,
] and one shrill laugh from woman
holding a wine glass. Then Enoch
Golden himself called out an angry ex-
postulation, followed by a sharp word
or two of command. But the company
had already risen. For the masked
stranger, stepping still closer to Da
Espares and the figure in the flowing
burnoose, had coolly intercepted them
as they moved in unison towards a
side door.
Get back, both Of you," the clear
voice behind the yellow mask had
called out, cor before God I'll shoot
you down where you stand!"
That sudden threat of violence was
the spring which released the ten
sion. There were mingled shouts of
resentment and fear, followed bv
quick and unreasoning rush for the
door, courtiers and nuns and meas
ants and Apaches and Geisha girls in
contending furry Of fnery and fright
ened faces.
For minute or two the master n,
the house struggled in vain to stop |
them. Then his attention was directed
towards the Laughing Mask, for the
latter, advancing with a quick stride
TO the man in the burnoose, jerked
aside that flowing garment and re.
Vealed Legar himself, Legar with a
scared face and an iron claw
at the end of his right arm. And the
same moment that this movement was
,ak1ng place, Da Espares himself. with
lis eyes always on the Laughing Mask
stole quick step by step towards the
loor on his left. He had reached that
loor before his enemy detected him.
the man with the revolver wheeled
bout and fired as the Spanish knight
SILK and lace dived through the open.
ng. Legar, seeing his chance in that
VISION or interest, charged bodily
nrough the dar1ask-laden table. scat
erlng silver and glass and flowers az
e went. In another breath he had
eached the conservatory, where, a
econd or two later, his iron-shod arm
ould be heard failing through the fra, 6
lie barrier Of glass between him and
10 outer world. And by the time
noch Golden reached the spot bia {
1emy had vanished.
Yet In almost the same breath tbe
aughing Mask had leaped In the on
'slte direction, In pursuit of the flee
g la Espares. But that flight. wher.
'er 1t led or might have led WAC In
rrupted by sudden defamation that
ooK the great house to its founda.
d. Inere was roar of falling cir.
rs' the spl1ntertng Of wood, the rum. 2
or "A great avalanche, as a seven. ~
steel vault, deprived of ,ts sun- |
rts' crashed down through the finn q
nooring, carrying dust and debris
tumDnng pieces Of household fir.
.ure as 1t went. Nor did that maa-
e tnlng OF metal stop until 1t bedded
elf in the broken cement foorina
the cellar below. Then above the
cie OF railing plaster and ecboin1
'Wers OF scattering bric-a-brac rose
quick cry of human voices calling
help. iins
Ioiden' staring dazed at the grea,
IN through which sudden ruin had
pteu' was scarcely conscious of the FL
'ntened girl clinging SO forlorn1v
lib arm. He was scarcely consc,on.
me throng Of servants and watoh'
VINO ran back and forth through
austy rooms. He uuaverinelv L
'ed his daughter to a chair sba F
cd wide-eyed at Wilson as the 1at.
leo David Manley, limping a l,ttla Sch
much disordered as to annara, at
the room. Oh
anybody hurt?" asked the white gu
d girl. '"e WHITE fro1
ie ever dependable old butler ,oos. lner
u J Maniey' who in turn looked Sch
y Bar
m I sorry, Miss Margery,a Wilson
a M explained, but It is thu
GU mean he is"-- ~
Q old butler nodded. year
= AFRAID so, Miss Margery Tbex res
Just found his body, crushed mn.
he vault" eu un' F(
ITO BE CONTINTrEn, tbor