The Elbert County tribune., 1916-10-06


to you" he said, extending the paper
to the wondering girl. 81 found 1t
fastened on the thorn bush near the
great bowlder on Seven Oaks hill. 1t
is addressed to You and think 1t must
be from the Laughing Mask. for he
has been seen around there n number
of times"
AS AIargery hastily glanced at the
penciled note she saw that Davy was
right in his conjecture, and he re-
gained much that he had lost in her
affections as she realized what
struggle IL must have cost him to act
as message bearer for his masked
rival.
''I'll trouble you to hand over that
letter Miss Golden" demanded Cap
tain Brackett in authoritative tones
as he stepped from his place of con-
cealment. I've had my doubts about
your wantin' to land that masked
criminal in the cell where he belongs
ever since you steered us wrong the
time he made his last getaway an
perhaps this little doclSyment will help
throw some light on the subject"
His beefy paw suddenly shot out
and firmly clutched her slender wrist.
But the resisting girl found timely
ally in the person of David Manley,
who perceived that for reasons of her
own MIargery did not wish to surren-
der the note, and, with a quick move
ment snatched that object of conten-
tion from her fingers and stuffed II in
his pocket.
The belligerent captain now adj
vanced threateningly upon the new
factor of this unexpected resistance to
the majesty of the law.
"Come across with that paper, young
man." he beloved furiously, "or I'll
show you what 1t means TO interfere
with an officer performin' his duty"
Then MS the calm-faced Davy ex-
hibited no indications OF complying
with this demand, the irate policeman
attempted to decide the issue by physi-
cal force. Roughly throwing pin
ioning arm about the defiant Manley,
he made a vigorous effort to extract
the much-covetea paper from his pris-
oner's pocket.
AS the struggling figures thrashed
and tramped over the orderly flower
beds. Enoch Golden and two of Cap
tain BraclSetts men, who had heard
the sounds of the unequal combat,
came hurrying upon the scene. The
sight of these enemy reinforce
ments acted upon the nearly ex-
hausted Davy like n rowelled spur
upon the flanks of u jaded horse.
With supreme effort, he wrenched
loose from the grasp of his heavy
handed captor and darted across the
stretch of velvet lawn toward the
spacious countryhouse, with the de-
| termined officers close at his heels.
Up the steps and through the open
door he scurried, and, gaining the
gunroom Mt the end of the hall,
slammed and bolted the heavy door
of that sanctuary in the very face of
| his pursuers.
Don't be foolish, Davy," called out
Golden sharply. "you are making
grave mistake in resisting the law and
you will have to suffer the consequent
ces unless you open this door imme-
diately."
| AS though In compliance with this
stern warning. the key grated in
the lock and the door swung slowly
| inward. With quick rush the be-
sieging forces catapulted into the
gunroom, only to find it apparently
empty. Then, with gasp of amazed
Consideration they beheld figure
which silently emerged from the
space between the swung-bacll door
and the wall. For that figure wore
an enshrouding mask of yellow
cambrlc and gripped in one hand
q heavy caliber revolver, which wa
vered in disconcerting fashion over
that startled group.
81 think Davy must be well beyond
recall by this time" he said as he
slowly backed toward the door, "and
1 will now leave you to your own de-
vices"
AS he spoke the last word he
stepped into the hallway and with
almost simultaneous movements
pulled the door shut nfter him and
locked 1t from the outside. Then
came clamor of wrathful voices as
the Gagged detectives, smarting under
the indignities to which they had been
subjected, hurled themselves in un-
ayailing fury against that sout OBJ
struction which barred their pursuit of
the boldly impudent masller
But with the exception of fair
haired girl waiting anxiously in the
rose garden there was no one In
sight about the well-kept grounds.
AS in response to her eager inquiries,
her father told her of their humillat-
ing encounter with the masked inter
loper, who had mirnculously taken the
place of the harried Manley, Mar
gerry became conscious of the openly