Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1916-09-07
light. Now, If yer ready e come

4
pistol. A look of surprised consterna
ton came into Red Eagans face-fol
a moment he swayed unsteadily OF
his feet-ehen slowly crumpled into
heap oil inanimate clay. Into the
startled vision of his companion came
q black limousine furiously racing
along the highway, the evil face Of
Legar plainly discernible as he leaned
far out from the swaying vehicle
emptying his automatic in their direc-
ton. There was not a moment to
lose. Snatching the crimson-stained
paper from under the limp body of
the slain gunman, the woman ran
swiftly toward the old barn, reaching
that sanctuary just as Legar and his
confederates swarmed out OF the
limousine in hot pursuit. Through the
sagging portals and up the rickety
stairs she darted, the wolish pack
close at her heels. For brief instant
she surveyed her surroundings Be-
hind the heavy oaken door of the har-
ness-room she knew Margery and her
father had taken refuge in accordance
with her instructions, and she must in
no way jeopardize their safety.
Close by a broken window, over
looking the depths of the rocky
| gorge, stood a shabby old-fashioned
| trunk. It took but moment for the
| harried fugitive to scramble into that
ancient receptacle, but even as she
lowered the cover Legar and his
henchmen stormed up the narrow
stairs. The quick eye of the master
crook caught the movement of that
closing trunk cover. Grinning with
unholy exultation, he turned to his
unsavory crew of followers.
Take that trunk and throw 1t out
the window" snarled Legar. We've
Gagged our bird all right, and when
she hits those rocks she won't feel
like meddling with my business for
some time to come"
AS he led his murderous band out
of the old building toward the alb
ruptly sloping wall of the ravine, the
door Of the harness room slowly
opened and Enoch Golden stepped out,
closely followed by his horror-stricken
daughter
II could see plainly through that
crack in the door," murmured the
white-faced girl, ''the poor woman
tried to hide in trunk and Legar
had his men drop her from the win
dow"
The distressed look in her eyes
changed to one of sudden bewilder- |
ment. From out of the cobwebbed |
mouth of grain chute, over which |
the trunk had been resting, appeared |
the head and shoulders Of the yelled |
stranger. AS she regained her foot |
ing on the rough boarded floor she |
drew from the inside of her black |
gown q crumpled and blood-stained |
paper. This she quietly handed to the |
startled girl
Here is the proof I promised you,"
were her low-toned words.
But how did you escape from the
trunk?" Intercepted the still bewild
cred Margery. who are you? And |
why did you risk your life to clear
the name of the Laughing Mask~
The woman replied calmly.
Ildil tuc uOIIOm VI Tue CTuQK was |
broken away and 1t was easy for me
to slide through the opening into that
grain chute. AS to who l am, the
time has come when / am ready to
reveal my identity" The woman of
mystery, with a quick movement, tore
of her heavy veil and with it wig
of dark hair, disclosing a clean-cut
and boyishly handsome face An in.
credulous gasp of surprise burst
from Margery's lips-"Davy!" she
shrilled joyfully. ooh, Davy, you have
come back to US from the dead"
Eyes, have come back to you,"
answered the resurrected Manley,
soon will tell you the whole story,
but now unless we are to fall into
the clutches Of Legar and his band
Of cutthroats we must leave this
building at once"
4
A little later Marley sat on the
veranda relating his
strange story to q group of listeners,
II remember terrible explosion"
be said ref1ectively, then the mau.
solemn came tumbling down about
my ears like house of cards. After
hat everything seemed to get dark,
md about a week ago / came to my
senses lying on cot in hospital.
You must have mistaken some other
poor beggar for me, and, while every
,ne thought I was dead, 1t seemed
ike good chance to catch Legar off
lis guard. I got the paper l wanted,
,ut I guess I've stirred up hornets
lest"
One of the listeners was bull
rocked individual with a reddish. ,
brown complexion, wearing the uni
orm Of captain Of police. He now !
huffled his feet uneasily. ,
That's all very interestin', young :
man," he broke in with an air OF i'm !
"but I've come all the way )
o this jumpin' off place from head !
uarters to get that Van Horn loot