The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-21
TWELFTH EPISODE.
The Haunted Canvas.


@ HE daughter Of Dan O'Mara
was a very happy girl. So
happy. in fact, was the
freckled-nosed Peggy that
there were times when the sheer now
city Of her good fortune somewhat
frightened her. For the tide had
turned. The O'Mara family, az Peggy
put 1t. was at last in clover. That
mysterious Fighter OF wrongs known
as the Laughing Mask had interested
himself in getting honest work for
Dan o'Mara. And that gracious
eyed lady known as Margory Golden.
once she had realized the true POSI-
ton of the family, had become equally
interested in doing what she could
for the spindle-legged Peggy.
1t is true. none the less, that this
last mentioned young lady's benefac-
treas had been momentarilY non
pIused by Peggy's choice of voca-
ton, when this choice was placed
before her.
What would you like to do nost?'
Nargory had asked ut the end of her
second trip TO the O'Mara cottage
with a bundle of clothes for the all
but breathless Peggy.
BE a artists model" promptly
announced the rapt-eyed factory gil
"But why a. model" asked the
amazed Miss Golden.
ITO doll up in glad rags and get
reself painted" explained the dream
er of the dye watts. And odd rs that
choice seemed to her, MarEory Golden
did not depart from her promise. She
sought out her artist friend, Frank
Airnick, and inveigled him to expert
r1ent with a new and somewhat I'M
tried model. He met her smilingly.
But that smile was never nrcadsr,
than when he noticed her standing
wide-eyed before the large canvas
above the fireplace at the end of his
studio. For this painting. which bore
the title Of 1.-THE Vigilante," was n
remarkable piece of work, in more
ways than one. 1t showed the life
size figure of a frontiersman staring
ont into the room. with ieyeled car
bine at his buckskinned shoulder.
But the arresting feature of the
painting lay in the fact that both the
eyes of the figure seemed always to
be directed at the spectator, no mat
ter what position spectator might
take. II stood there like an armed
and menacing sentinel. seeming TO
command every corner of the high
walled studio.
That guy gives me the willies."
Peggy protested as she made her way
back to the model throne.
"Why?" asked the smiling man at
the easel.
He keeps such a bead on you. no
matter where you get In this ROOM"
WAS the girls reply.
That's why | keep him here. To
rec that you never do anything wrong.
Peggy, or that carbine OF his will call
you TO account"
Peggy O'Mara accordingly con-
Quoted herself with all due decorIm
during her working hours in the stu
dio. And those hours took unto them
selves wings, for she was happy in her
work and even happier In her knowl-
edge that her fathers troubles were
over.
But destiny, in the form OF one
Jules Legar, had secretly ordained
that this happiness should not be a
lasting one. For Peggy OMara was
no longer trivial factor in the ac-
tvities Of the Iron Claw. This slip
Of girl had brought defeat to his
plans when success seemed well within
his. hand. And for these humi1ia-
lions Legar decided that the ctrl
should pay. and pay to the fun.
The modest home Of the OAtaras,
however. had no inkling Of this deci-
zion until Dan O'Mara himself, wan
dertng about his combination kitchen
and itving-room in search of his pipe,
was somewhat startled TO see n
square Of paper pinned to tho faded
door panel. Peggy herself, joining
her father, wa7 equally mystif1ed by
this slip OF paper. for its surface
showed nothing but round blot or
TWO OF black ink on a square of white.
Neither Dan OMara nor his daugh-
Ter mad any reason TO know the mean
ing Of the spotted warning. any more
than they knew that one Mauki, the
sfeaithy en1lsSary Of the Iron Claw.
$1,000 hidden behind the walls of one
ot The three cottages commanding n
c!ear view Of the O'Mara home.
Ihey had no way of knowing that
this same Mauh lurked there behind
shattered window. patiently watch
ing hour after hour the house across
the way. Close beside him as he
watched stood maya zine rifle to
which Maxim aiiencer had been
adjusted. And on the floor beside the
r1fie lay yet another weapon. This.
however. was weapon of defense.
for II consisted Of d craftily con-
structed cape which, for purposes OF
- disguise, could be promptly converted
INTO woman's skirt.
So sure was MauA Of his defensive
arrangements that when he caught
sight of Peggy O'Mara and her father
at the window he promptly reached
Tor his rife, adjusted the barrel be-
tween the shutter Stats. and took aim.
Then he pulled the trigger.
The next moment q bullet went
crashing through the window of the
O'Mara home.
Instinctiyely the two startled dg-