The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-17
IThe Marvellous Story, Hitherto Unpublished
From Which the Pathe Photoplay of
the Same Name Was Made)

fetched Joe a crack over the head
that put him to sleep for a minute. By
the time Miss Wilkens had got her
eyes open an let out scared screech
they was through the winder and
climbin' down the latticework.'
wait minute, Jenkins" Captain
Bracket interrupted. your story
may be very interesting, but what has
this part Of it got to do with the
Laughing Mask?"
Il was just comm to that" his SUBJ
ordinate replied in a somewhat ag-
grieved tone. 1--WE got out the front
door just as the thugs was maxim
tracks for racin' car they had hid
den off to one side Of the road. Old
man Parker tried to stop 'em, but he
got a wallop on the jaw that knocked
him stiff. They jumps into the car
and sends her off with the self-starter.
We thought they was gone all right,
when that automobile stops up with a
jerk that pretty near put them motor
bandits over the glass front. We was
Johnny on the spot then, an we COL
Jared our men in a hurry. An say,
what do you think put the kibosh on
that joy ride getaway"
AS neither of the detectives audi
tors seemed disposed to attempt the
solution of this mystifying riddle he
proceeded, after a short pause.
The thing that brought them
crooks to a standstill was a rope as
thick as my arm, with one end tied
to the rear axle of the automobile
and the other end made fast to a big
tree. The wheels was buzzin' round,
but they wasn't gettin' nowhere. An
the man who rugged up the contrap-
ton for stoppin' those crooks must
have been that Laughin' Mask ye're
after. We found those jailbirds had
pretty bad records an the commish
said I was likely to get some good,
news in a couple of days. Perhaps
this Teller with the mask amt as bad
as you think. chief"
why doesn't he come out into the
open, then, and explain these charges
standin' against him, instead Of
sneakin' around like masked safe
blower?" he demanded with consid-
cradle heat. "If he did what you say
it was only to get the laugh on the
police, and he's right in thinkin' some
of these detectives are prize idiots.
The way you damned in here I
thought you had picked up sone-
thing worth talkin' about"
II didn't know you wanted me to
begin backwards" he said in ruff1ed
tones. 1--WE got somethin' worth
talkin' about all right, If you'll gre
me chance to tell it,
please tell us everything that hap
pened, Jenkins" she interposed quiet
ly. IT think you showed wonderful
bravery in capturing those desperate
criminals after being wounded your
self"
"Well, it certainly was some scrap,
Miss Golden" answered tie Modified
thief-catcher, addressing himself ex-
clusively to the diplomatic girl, IAN
the strangest part Of the whole thing
happened after got the bracelets on
them crooks and left Joe to watch
them, while went up to the house to
see if anything was missin'."
"Just as / reached the house." ne
quickly resumed, 'the moon broke
through the clouds an T stood lookin'
into the garden, for had a bunch
that one-armed desperate might be
hangin' around to superintend that
job his men tried to pull off. Then.
all at once, seen Miss Wilkens,
dressed in a kind of lace wrapper,
standin' like a ghost down at the
further end Of the garden. An she
wasn't alone by a long shot. Talkin'
20 ho. frao ond ond aocu IL ho,6
known her all his life, was that dare
devil, Laughin' Mask. I felt sort of
obliged to him for tippin' me off
about Legar's eecond-story workers,
but I knew you was anxious to have
a little talk with him, so commences
to sneak up on them night providers
like an old Tom would go after a
couple of sparrows. had covered
about half the distance when that
masked Romeo grabs Miss Wilkens
in his arms an commences to kiss
her like happy bridegroom. An
she keeps comm right back for more.
was that surprised I must have let
my foot down heavy. for they broke
apart and he goes through the hedge
like shot. When comes up on the
run there was only Miss Wilkens an
when I told her she was harborin' a
man wanted by the law. she froze me
up with a naughty stare.
"'You must have been drinkin, OF
f1cer,' she says. I just came out for a
minute to calm my nerves after all
that excitement an the only person
I've seen is an extremely rude police
man.
II don't believe word of the last
part Of your story" Margory crieo ~
a voice perilously close to tears. y
don't believe the Laughing Mask mas
promenading about that garden with
a strange young woman at mid
night" Then she added, with true
feminine logic: And, even II ne was
know he didn't kiss her."
With tremulous shoulders the deep
ly hurt girl hurried from the room
leaving the two uncomprehendine
and stolid police officers to exchange
a look of blank bewilderment.
To Margory Golden, alone In the
privacy of he, room, this fresh stroke
seemed almost more than she could
bear. Two men had professed their
deep and abiding love for her. and IN
some measure her heart had gone out
to both Of them, leaving her unde-