Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1916-08-17


weapon of defense, for it consisted
of craftily constructed cape which
| for purposes of disguise, could b.
| promptly converted into a woman'i
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 rifle, adjusted the barrel be
tween the shutter Stats, and took aim
Then he pulled the trigger.
The next moment a bullet went
crashing through the window of the
O'Mara home.
Instinctively the two startled fig
ures leaped away from the window.
AS they did so they realized that q
third person had entered the room.
And second glance showed them
that it was the Laughing Mask him
self.
He stood for moment or two, star
ing down at the spotted warning that
lay face upward on the floor. Then
he stared at the shattered window.
The next moment he was pushing
Peggy and Dan O'Mara bodily back
from that square of light.
But what's the meanin' of all this,
anyway" demanded the astonished
householder.
''It means that bullet came through
that window" the Laughing Mask ex-
planned. "And / know that bullet was
intended for your daughter here"
The next moment the Laughing
Mask had caught a broom from the
corner and about 1t was draping one Of
Peggy O'Mara's well-worn waists.
Above this he placed the girls hat,
tying 1t 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 human fig
ufe was scarcely In position at the
window before second pane crashed
in and the broom was knocked from
the hand OF the masked man hold
ing 1t.
"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 moment deep in thought
"O'Mara, I want you to slip out by
your back door and get help. Call on
any neighbors you can trust in a case
like this. Then hurry back here, for
I don't want that scoundrel to suspect
his plans haven't worked out exactly
as he imagines!"
well get the divil!" announced
O'Mara as he slipped away. And while
waiting for his return the Laughing
Mask sent Peggy for cupful Of flour.
With this he powdered her hands and
blanched her thin young face. Dan |
O'Mara had stepped back into the
house before the masked visitor had
his task.
Now, l want that sniper to think
he's done his work, don't want him |
% break from cover until your friends
have surrounded that house. So take
your daughter and carry her out, just
as though she were dead girl
Dan O'Mara, doing as he was d.
-ected, stepped from the doorway with
his own white-faced daughter hanging
imp in his arms. He acted his part !
with sincerity that was not without
conviction. For, two minutes after he
had staggered into the open with that
sad burden, the sniper from
he shattered house was detected slip
ping out of q. cellar window and sour
.ying along q broken fence.
That escape, however, came before
Dan O'Mara's friends could completely
AXE up their position about the sus-
,ected house. But one of those friends
.aught sight of the fugitive in the
cape, the alarm was
,iven, and the pursuit began.
It was not long chase, but it was
stern one Determined as those in
ignant factory-toilers were to run
own the mysterious gunman so wan
only threatening their homes, the
eeing Mauki proved himself starting
Y feet of foot. He gained sufficiently
n his pursuers to round q corner,
odge into an empty coalshed, and
merge moment later as stopped
Id woman in amber-colored spectacles
nd rusty gray wig. Being obviously
ard of hearing, this same old woman
ould not give much information to
le group of excited men suddenly ac-
osting her as she hobbled across the
rect
Five minutes later a swarthy-skinned
ian with wiry black hair was hurry
lg across country to one of the>well-
oncealsd dens of Jules Legar, where
Q duly reported to the Iron Claw the
ews of his enemy's ruse and his own !
arrow escape.
Before the second day had passed
egar had evolved yet another plan
,r the subjugation of his enemies.
his took the form of decoy mes
age delivered to the unsuspecting
egg Mara, purporting to be
asty request from Frank Aimick to ]
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