The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-12-30

another "'dpOll. 1Hlo' Az
a wcapon of defense. for it consisted
of q rraftily constructed cape which,
for purposes of disguise, could be
promptly converted into a woman
skirt.
So sure was Mauki of his defensive
ARRANGEMENTS that when he caught
sight Of Peggy O'Mara and her father
at the window he promptly reached
for his rife, adjusted the barrel De-
tween the shutter Stats, and TOOK ann.
Then he pulled the trigger.
The next moment a bullet went
crashing through the window of the
O'Mara home.
Instinctively the two startled hg-
ures leaped away from the window.
AS they did so they realized that
third person had entered the room.
And a second glance showed them
that it was the Laughing Mask him.
self.
He stood for a moment or two, star
ing down at the spotted warning that
Law face upward on the floor. Then
he stared at the shattered window.
The next moment he was pushing
Peggy and Dan OMara bodily back
from that square of light.
But what's the meanin' of all this,
anyway" demanded the astonlshed
householder.
at means that bullet came through
that window" the Laughing Mask eX-
planned. And know that bullet was
intended for your daughter here
But who'd be shootin' at me daugh-
teri" persisted Dan O'Mara.
THE man whose plans she double
crossed a the dye works. the Iron
| Claw, himself, or somebody posted
about here by the Iron Claw"
The next moment the Laughing
Mask had caught a broom from the
corner and about it was draping one OF
Peggy OMaras well-worn waists.
Above this he placed the girls hat,
tying it in place with a scarf. Then
| dropping to his knees well out of sight
on one side of the window, he slowly
advanced his improvised dummy into
the square of light.
That rough outline of a human fig
ure was scarcely in position at the
window before a second pane crashed
in and the broom was knocked from
the hand of the masked man hold
ing it.
THAT shot could have come only
from one of those three houses across
the way. And it's ten to one it's from
that empty house on the right"
He drew away from the window and
stood for a moment deep in thought
"O'Mara, I want you to slip out by
your back door and get help Call or
any neighbors you can trust in a case
, like this. Then hurry back here, fol
/ don't want that scoundrel to suspect
!, his plans haven't worked out exactly
! as he 'imaginesi"
: We'll get the divil!" announced
a O'Mara as he slipped away. And while
waiting for his return the Laughing
r Mask sent Peggy for a cupful of flour
2 With this he powdered her hands ant
$ blanched her thin young face. Dal
s OMara had stepped back into tn
3 house before the masked visitor hat
: completed his task.
5 Now. I want that sniper to thin
: he's done his work, | don't want hlr
D to break from cover until your friend
{ have surrounded that house. So TAX
r YOUR daughter and carry her out, JUS
v as though she were dead girl
e Dan O'Mara, doing as he was d
d rected, stepped from the doorway wit
t his own white-faced daughter hangin
n limp in his arms. He acted his pal
d with a sincerity that was not withol
4 conviction. For, two minutes after b
r. had staggered into the open with thu
apparently sad burden, the sniper frol
/" the shattered house was detected sill
y ping out of a cellar window and sou
rying along a broken fence.
1t That escape, however, came befol
Dan O'Maras friends could completed
10 take up their position about the su
!" pected house. But one Of those FRIEND
caught sight of the fugitive in Il
10 strengthening cape, the alarm VIZ
g. given. and the pursuit began.
ii II was not long chase, but 1t W;
a stern one. Determined as those /
t. dignant factory-toilers were to RI
lg down the mysterious gunman so wa
Id tonly threatening their homes, Il
IS fleeing Mauki proved himself startin
* ly feet of foot. He gained sufficient
se on his pursuers to round a corne
r. dodge into an empty coalshed, al
es emerge a moment later as a stoop'
at old woman in amber-colored spectacle
IT. and a rusty gray wig. Being obvious
10 hard of hearing, this same old WON;
es could not give much information
ri the group Of excited men suddenly g
en- costing her as she hobbled across L
q. street.
e. Five minutes later a swarthy-skinn
~ man with wiry black hair was hurl
ing across country to one of the we
Is, concealed dens of Jules Legar, whe
ci- he duly reported to the Iron Claw {
n news OF his enemy's ruse and his oy
40 narrow escape.
as Before the second day had pass
OF Legar had evolved yet another pl
ell for the subjugation OF his enemi'
as This took the form OF a decoy m,
er, sage delivered to the unsuspecti
a Peggy .O'Mara, purporting to be
a hasty request from Frank Aimick
ra come to his studio at nine o'clock tn