The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-07-22
TWELFTH EPISODE
ThefHaunted Canvas.

The daughter OF Dan O'Mara was D
very happy girl. So happy, In fact.
was the freckled-nosed Peggy that
there were times when the sheer nov
city OF her good fortune somewhat
frightened her. For the tide had
turned. The oMara family, as Peggy
put Il, was at last In clover. That mys-
terious Fighter OF wrongs known a.
the Laughing Mask had interested
himself In getting honest work for
Dan O'Mara. And that gracious-eyed
lady known as Margery Golden. once
she had realized the true position OF
the family, had become equally inter
ested in doing what she could for the
spindle-legged Peggy.
It is true, none the less. that this
Aforementioned young lady's benefac-
tress had been momentarily nonplused
by Pe9gy's choice OF vocation. when
this q oice was placed before her.
wv hat would you like TO do most?"
Mardery had asked at the end OF her
ecojhd trip to the O'Mara cottage
with bundle of clothes for the all
but Ibreathless Peggy.
Be a artists model" promptly an
noud need the rapt-eyed factory girl.
But why a model" asked the
amd heed Miss Golden.
ITO doll UP in glad rags and get
me- self painted" explained the dream
or OF the dye watts. And odd as that
Choice seemed to her, Margery Golden
did not depart from her promise. She
sought out her artist friend, Frank
Aimick. and inveigled him to expert
ment with a new and somewhat I'M
tried model.
Frank Aimick, however, soon found
the ardent-eyed young Peggy moro OF
q help to him than he had anticipated.
Some OF her unctuous yet uncouth at
titudinizing, I'm fact, brought smile
TO the face OF the busy artist.
But that smile was never broader
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 "The Vigilante," was re-
markable piece OF work In more ways
than one. II showed the life-size fig-
ure OF frontiersman staring out into
the room. with leveled carbine at
his buckskinned shoulder. But the ar
resting feature OF the painting lay
I'm the fact that both the eyes of the
Iigure and the barrel OF the leveled
ride seemed always to be directed at
the spectator, no matter what position
the spectator might take.
THAT guy gives me the willies!"
Peggy protested as she made her way
back to tho model throne.
"whyT asked the smiling man at
the easel.
"He keeps such bead on you. no
matter where you get In this room!
was the girls reply.
But destiny. in the form OF one jules
Legar, had secretly ordained that
Peggy's happiness should not be last
Ing one. For Peggy o'Mara was no
longer a trivial factor In the activities
OF the Iron Claw This slip OF a girl
had brought defeat to his plans when
success sSamed well within his hand.
Ain for these humiliations Legar de-
cided that the girl should pay, and pay
to the full
The modest homo OF the o'Maras.
however, had no inkling OF this deci-
sion until Dan O'Mara himself, wan
dering about his combined kitchen and
living room In search OF his pipe. WAS
somewhat startled 10 sec square OF
paper pinned TO the faded door panel.
Pessy >herseif. joining her father. was
equally mystified by this slip OF paper.
for its surface showed nothing but .
round blot or two of black ink on .
square OF white. Neither Dan O'Mara
nor his daughter had any reason to
know the meaning OF the spotted
\ warning. any more than they knew
that one Mauki. the stealthy emissary
OF the Iron Claw. stood hidden behind
the walls OF one OF the three cottages
commanding clear view OF the
O'MasR home.
They had no way Of knowing that
this same Mauki lurked there behind a
suffered window. patiently watching.
hour after hour. the house across the.
way. Close beside him as he watched