The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-13

mouth slightly agape, stood halfway between the chair and the wall, watching the man with the iron claw as he exulted over his enemy. She watched Legar's hand as it reached out to the mask of yellow cloth and tore it viciously from the face which it had concealed.
 Then a scream, short but high pitched, burst from her startled lips For what she stared at seemed more like charnel-houSe cadaver than a human face. Across it's discolored surface ran livid scars. The bulbous and distorted nose, now moist with sweat, seemed more like a fibroid tumor than an organ of flesh and bone. The coarse seam of the mouth leered crookedly from face that seemed leprous in it's corruption. Even the eyes, blood shot and small, seemed to stare out from under a gangrenous brow.
 And Legar drew back at the sight of those loathsome features. He backed slowly away, staring at that face, until he came to the electric button set in the wall. He reached out to switch on the electrolier. for the struggle on the fire escape land- ing had left curtain hanging half over the window, and this made the light uncertain. But even as Legar lifted his finger to the switch a sud- den knock sounded on the door of the room.
 Both Red Egan and the woman turned mutely to Legar. And as they looked the knock was repeated louder than before.
 Lock him in that closet" was the Iron Claws whispered command. And throttle him at the first sound!"
 Legar, who had already crossed to the door that opened into the hall. waited there until the closet door had been locked and shut. Then, as he motioned for the others to keep out of sight, he turned the key in the outer door and opened it. But as he opened it he made it point to see that his tall body blocked every inch of the opening.
 He found chambermaid standing there. A ring of pass keys was in her hand and frown of perplexity on her face.
 "Is there anything the matter, sir?" .1roI l., <ro,,,,;,,o o1o,,,
 "The matter? What should be the matter?" inquired the sleepy-eyed oc- cupant of the room, running a som- nolent hand through his tousled hair.
 "I thought heard scream, sir," explained the chambermaid, already relieved.
 Not in this room, my dear" calmly announced Legar.
 Ut sounded like this room"
 Legar, with his hand still on the doorknob, could afford to smile down at her.
 would you care to come in and make sure you are wrong?" he asked, as he swung the door wider. for he knew that by this time his confed- crates were well out of sight.
 I'm sorry if I was mistaken" ex- plained the maid. But Legar was still smiling as he quietly closed the door.
 It was Red Egan who stepped to his side as the key was once more silently turned in the lock.
 Here's a s.gnet ring l took off your man in there. Would that give YOU any tip as to who ke is?"
 Legar stood studying the ring, turning it over and over in his hand.
 No" he finally announced. But it'll let me send tip to our old friend Golden"
 ITO Golden?"
 "Yes, I'll send him that ring to show him we've got the Laughing Mask here. With it will go note giving him his last chance to hand over that chart!"
 And who'll carry that note?' asked Williamsburg Sadie out of the silence of apprehension which fell over that little group.
 You will" calmly announced Le- gar.
 "On the contrary, Til call up Col den myself and tell him he'll get it back, ten to one, if he makes a single move against you. And. besides that, we've got him so beaten at this game that he's going to cry quits the min- ute he sees we've ropcd in the last of his gang. the minute tell him