The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-10-21

/ seriously OF making you his bene-
/ ficiary!"
Nanley. putting down the camera
stared at him in amazement
/ Yes. young man, mean what say.
| II YOU could ever show moment
/ serious interest in my business, you
become the heir to that business and
all that went with it.!
But have other things to remem-
| Der" answered the ever tiippant Man
: ley.
What other things?" was the older
mans curt inquiry. stung by the
thought that even his muniticence was
/ being condemned.
We'll. this gim-crack. for one thing
And for another, that letter IN your
hand there. about your tenements.
But Golden's patience was exhaust
ed. Get out of here!" was his brusque
command. Get down to Griswold's
bank with these checks. and be quick
about IT,"
Whcreupon Manley meekly took his
departure. Two minutes later, how
ever. vet another figure was passing
through the gloomy silences OF Enoch
Goldens home. II was more purpose
full figure than that OF the lazy-eyed
young secretary. And over the face
OF this intruder as he cautiously made
his way through the great house was
an odd-looking band OF yellow cloth,
cut in the form Of a mask. The center
of this. dropping apronlike almost to
his upper lip. was marked by an in
verted crescent. which at first glance
lent to the partly-cOvered face the
faint suggestion OF an ironically laugh
ing mouth. Yet the unknown stranger
was serious enough as he stopped be-
fore q door at the end of the second
hall and pushed on one Of row of
mother Of pearl buttons. The door slid
noiselessly back at that signal, and an
electric elevator rose automatically to
the level of the floor where he stood.
Inside the elevator, he touched still
another button, whereupOn the cage
rose noiselessly. Once it had come TO
a stop, he leaned against the appar'
emily blank wall of the elevator shaft
7 and studied it closely.
His exploring plainly found there a
secret spring. for the next moment a
panel slipped noiselessly to one side
and he stepped into the room so art
! fully freproofed with pressed steel
! panels and grained to look like oak
+ which Golden had once used as his
4 bOndroom.
That room. although not used fol
years. was at the present moment fal
5 from empty. For pacing restlessl!
2 back and forth, as the stranger quietly
4 entered, was a goldeh-haired woman
r of little more than twenty. The face
under the mask smiled little at he
S sudden movement and gasp of sur
d prise as he confronted her.
u Are you still afraid Of me?" h.
u asked
n "N-no!" hesitated the girl
. I'D give a good DEAL" declared tn
. other, ito know who you are!"
! "T'm-I'm afraid ! can't help yo
II any, in that" she finally told him.
why not?'
Because | don't know myself"
The man in the mask hesitated. T
d. make things plain. apparently, was n
s. easy matter.
s. Il want to take you to a man VIII
l may be interested in you. who ma
n even prove to be very kind to you,"
The pale face with the haunted eye
D.. suddenly hardened.
IT. Il no longer ask for kindness frol
men," was her almost passionate r
3 tort.
ct oh. this old scoundrel won't be tc
/, dangerously kind, especially until II
ice is broken. | warrant you tn;
much. But with him, I'll also warran
| you'll face none of the affronts tn;
you may have faced in the Owl
Nest"
= But why should he be interestt
in me?"
Because you may remind him OF
daughter he himself once had"
Then what must do?"
You must put on a dress ha,
ready. one exactly like the one h
own daughter used to wear. And
like you to let down your hair"
SO the girl. still touched with wo
der, was cautiously led to another pa
II of the great house, where she let dow
= her hair and dressed herself in a ri
4 ish little frock which she found
u ready laid out for her. And the VIC
& der *As still in her eyes as the mask
q stranger struggled her quietly dow
q through the house, and as the az
"A millionaire bent low to unlock the b,
q tom drawer of his desk. motioncd h
. noiselessly into the library and in
an armchair facing the desk.
BY the time Golden had raised I
head again the mysterious stranc
: had slipped out Of sight.
Golden. as he sat upright. stared I
several moments OF silence at t
=. strange figure in the armchair.
- Who are yOu?" the grim-faced ,
-. fnancier finally demanded. But t
girl remained silent
Golden. studying her more close
aw rose unsteadily to his feet
az How did you get hcre?" he ask,
Tea And passing a hand across his mo
", tened brow he asked still again. w
"a are you"