Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1916-09-28

Still 10TH as lHuluereDlly dS lHOuBii
1t had been a fallen tree-trunk. Then,
as he was about to enter the shanty,
ne paused for a moment on the thresh-
old and flung a quick look over his
shoulder. What he saw brought a
snarling execration to his lips, for
tearing down the precipitous hill
side toward the quarry came an auto
mobile driven at a death-courting pace.
On the running-board of that madly
lurching car precariously chung a man
wearing a yellow mask. As in a
swirling cloud of dust the car struck
the foot of the hill that masked fig
ure leaped wide to the side of the
road and, miraculously retaining his
footing, dashed into the quarry, shout
ing frantic warnings as he came.
Then it was that Legar realized his
prey would escape him unless he act
ed without the loss of a second He
swung about and darted through the
door of the shanty toward the pump
like electrical contrivance from which
creeping wire tendrils extended to the
mined cliff. But before his lean
fingers could jam down the handle
and make the connection which would
produce the jumping blue spark of
deadly power Margery Golden and
the astounded detectives had leaped
from their place of concealment and
hastily advanced to meet the masked
fugitive for whom they had been
lying In wait.
"Legar!" he painted brokenly.
"Legar is here-he's firing a blast
half the cliff will fall-hurry-hurry-
In Gods name-hurry
His words and manner carried In
slant and fearsome conviction, and
that startled group about him, madly
plunging for safety, barely reached
the highway when deafening, rever-
beratlng roar split the air and rocked
the very ground under their feet.
For moment the little group stood
In spellbound silence, gripped by the
suddenness of that mighty convul-
sion, and shaken by their own near
approach to death. Then as the fine
dust clouds accompanying the chaotic
upheaval gradually settled 1t came to
the scattered sense of the ungrateful
police captain that the much-wanted
Mask was standing close be- !
side him. With quick movement he
the wrist of that elusive fugi- |
tive in his. strong stubby fingers.
I've got you this time" he yelled
out in triumphant tones.
But instead of replying to this
somewhat premature statement the
masked prisoner made a quick and
1exterous tripping movement with his
foot, at the same time giving his
'ed-faced captor a violent shove that
sent him ludicrously sprawling on his
back. Then he darted into the quarry,
his way amid the great piles
If rock, with the police captain, who
had now recovered his equilibrium,
md the two detectives In full cry at
lis heels.
Margery Golden breathlessly await
ID the outcome of that chase, for she
ealized that If this man, who had
ust saved her from a terrible death,
vas captured she would be respon-
fble in large measure. The running
lgures were lost to sight, but pres
ntly the Laughing Mask broke from
he cover of great rectangular rock {
nd, dashing past her to the opposite
ide of the road, threw himself face !
ownward among the sheltering :
ushes. The next moment his pursuers
merged from behind the rock and
anne pounding toward Margery
olden.
(which way did he go?" the gasp
lg police officer demanded of the girl
tho held the fate of the Laughing
Task in her hands. After an almost
nperceptible hesitation, she pointed
lently toward the bend of the road.
.ardly had the detectives, trailing
lis fake scent at top speed, disap-
cared around the turn than there A
ipped out of the bushes a masked
cure bearing evident traces of ex- z
austion. Slowly he approached the
RI, into whose eyes crept a look of
ern reproach. Taking her hand he =
Used 1t tenderly to his lips.
wont you try to believe In me
st little while longer?" he asked
n low, pleading tone.
Then without waiting for her an
yer he relinquished that soft, white,
md and ran up the road in the op-
site direction from that taken BY,
8 pursuers.
(To BE CONTINUEDa
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