Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-06-08
CONTINUED from previous issue }


even walls have ears
The woman laughed.
"Then you'd better get earmuffs on
that window sill, for I've got a hunch
it's"
Her voice died away at the same
moment that the smile vanished from
her face.
Don't turn around" she said III a
sudden startled whisper as she looked
down at her feet For there mans
face starin' in at that window now
Legar remained motionless.
What lace?' he quietly asked.
Its the man in the Laughing
Mask vas the whispered response.
Legar continued to stare at her, stin
motionless.
That means he came up by the fire
escape meditated the fugitive. And
that means Red Egan must surely
have seen him.
The next moment the man with his
axm in a sling had thrown the band
age aside and was running towards
the window that opened on the fire.
escape landing.
On that narrow ledge of sheet-metal,
wedged in between the window sash
and the escape railing, a terrific COM
bat was already taking place. Before
Legar could get the window open the
Laughing Mask, by an adroit jiu-jitsu
movement of the body. succeeded in
pinning the winded Red Egan down on
the fire-escape platform. But already
a second sentry of Legar's was swarm
ing up the narrow metal stairway,
and all the attention of the man in
the mask had to be directed towards
his new adversary.
II was while countering the on
slaught of this second enemy that the
Laughing Mask became conscious of
still another point of attack. For as
he fought there, on his knees, astride
the painting form of Red Egan, an iron
claw reached viciously out over the
window sill behind him, and fixed it.
self in his shoulder. The next mo-
ment he was being hauled bodily in
through the open window.
Ready hands were there to take pos
session of that battered and breath
less captive.
Put him in that chair!" exultantly
commanded Legar.
Now whatll we do with him." de-
manded the painting Red Egan.
Leave him to me-" announced Le-
gar, studying his captive out of mar
rowed and sinister eyes. Then the
man with the iron claw stepped slow
ly and studiously closely to the chair
in which the helpless Laughing Mask
sat, for the light in the room was none
too clear.
so you're the man of myste.y, 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"
Williamsburg Sadie, with her mouth
slightly agape, stood halfway between
the chair and the wall, watching the
man with the iron claw as he exulted
over his enemy. She watched Legar's
hand as it reached out to the mask of
yellow cloth and tore it viciously from
the face which it had concealed.
Then a scream, short but high
pitched, burst from her startled lips
For what she stared at seemed more
like a charnel-house cadaver than a
human face
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 but.
ton set in the wall He reached out
to switch on the electrolier. for the
struggle on the fire-escape landing had
left curtain hanging half over the
window, and this made the light I'M
certain. But even as Legar lifted his
finger to the switch a sudden 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, loud
er 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.
He found a chambermaid standing
there.
is there anything the matter, sir?"
she asked in genuine alarm.
The matter? What should be the
matter?" inquired the sleepy-eyed oc.
cupant of the room.
Il thought l heard a scream, sir"
explained the chambermaid, already
relieved.
Not in this room, my DEAR" calmly
announced Legar.
I'm sorry if was mistaken" ex.
planned the maid.
1t was Red Egan who stepped to
Legar's side as the key was once more
silently turned in the lock.
Here's signet ring took off your
man in there. Would that give you
any tip as to who he is "
Legar stood studying the ring. turn.
ing it over and over in his hand
No" he finally announced. But
it'll let me send tip to our old friend
Golden al send him that ring to
show him we've got the Laughing
Mask here With it will go note
giving him his last chance to hand
over that chart"
And who'll carry that note?' asked