The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-28

- NOCH GOLDEN looked at
the heavy shadows about his
daughters eyes. Then he
seated himself heavily In
Tho armchair which she had go abb
vtractedlly turned about for him.
, 'Margory." he said with an effort
1t sternness, are YOU still worrying
about that young Manley?'
For n moment or two the girl re-
NAMED silent.
y can't help II, father" nurmured
The girl with tho shadowy eyes. turn
Ing away. Tho morose old man In
the armchair reached out a hand
and patted the flowerlike hand ~ his
daughter. Then he sighed again.
There. there. my girl everything 8
going to come out all right; you mark
my words And before the week Ia
out. II what the police tell me is true,
we're going 10 have this man Lngar
safe behind the prison bars where
he belongs. And then our troubles
will be over. Moreover. there is no
aoubt in my mind about David's be-
ing alive"
But the girl refused to be COM
forted
Mine will never he over. until 7
know that David Napley is alive and
well, until ] can see him again with
nv own eyesi'
well. I've n feeling that we're both
going 10 see him. my dear, when the
right moment comes. What's troub-
ling me more than David Manley. Just
now. II the problem Of this Laughing
Mask. person. I had nothing less than
derutv commissioner call me up this
morning. for the authorities down in
Center street are convinced Of the facs
this Laughing Mask would he a better
raul than even Leear himself They
claim 20 have = clear record against
him. and in ten minutes I've got 10
face a delegation from the detective
bureau arid tell them for the TWEEN
tieth time tust how much. or rather.
how little, know about that mysteri-
gus stranger"
The girl rose slowly TO her feet.
There was no longer any trace Of
tears In her eyes.
well, YOU can tell them for me
that the Laughing Mask is not what
they are trying to make Of him. II
they think they have n record Of
wicIsed things he has done. that record
Is a false one. / know II is. For I
have a record of my own. n record Of
what this Laughing Mask has done,
and 7 know that every time he has
acted on our behalf he has acted only
70 right a wrong.
The old man looked up. astonishe1
by the spirit In his daughters voice.
He watched her from under his beet
ing brows as she crossed TO the door
Then for the second time he sighed
ludlbly.
well, Tn glad you feel that way
about 1t. for God knows we need a
friend or two. In times like these!"
ia prefer friends without the
habit Of disappearing the moment
hey were most needed" retorted the
shadowy- girl from the open
soor. And II there was any doubt as
% the personal application of this
somewhat iupersonal remark. that
loubt would not have remained long
p her fathers mind had he followed
lis daughter 70 her room and there
seheld her as she sat staring de-
Iectedly at her photograph Of David
Marley IN It's little oval frame Of
3lver.
It was not Enoch Golden, though,
Who stepped Into that room and in
errupted the unhappy girl as she
tared down at the face in the oval
rane. II was n much liehter-footcd
intruder. who added 10 the primary
mystery Of his abrupt appearance by
rearing a yellow mask which COM
,letely concealed his features. And
Nargory Golden. looking up. saw this
3etlFe silently and pcns!vefy regard
ng her.
She could even see the smile which
lifted for a moment about the fringe
u the mask. Then the intruder 5
ace grew serious again
yuired
You seem to appear only on those
occasions when am" she slowly and
houghtfully replied
Then there is a chance that ] may
se more successful than in the past
n allaying that uuhappiness.
I'm afraid not. in this case" was
Ter reply.
Why not ?' ne inquired. with a
,iance toward the photograph on the
'resser.
Because II concerns a person you
re In no way In touch with"
You mean your fathefs secre-
ary2"
Once more the girl sat studying the
masked face.
Yes" she finally replied
And you feel sure some harm has
vertaken him."
How do you know that a.
II know more things than you
imagine" was the others quiet toned
ret confident reply The girl watched
lin as he stepped 10 the door and
aosed it. And you are wondering
4 this very moment If young Manley
vii ever come back 10 you
Yes. It is because care for him