The Elbert County tribune., 1916-10-13


Then l seen his hair was all streaked
with gray. When he spoke to me he
was n healthy young feller, but when
found him he was like some old man
about 20. what had died of some awful
disease. That's about all an I don't
| see how"
But Margery did not wait to hear
the concluding remarks of the detec-
tive, for at this point she abruptly
hung up the receiver. Here was news
of startling character which must
be impaired to the masked guardian
of her safety without loss of time.
without stopping to even catch up
hat, she slipped out of her room and
down the stairway. AS she tptoed
softly past the living-room, the door
suddenly opened and Captain Brack-
EFT and Walters stood on the thresh-
old. The stern-faced officer watched
the slender girl as she went out of the
front door and closed 1t behind her.
Then he turned to his crestfallen sub
ordinate.
"Never mind doin' what 1 was tell
in you, Walters" he tersely command
ed. 81 want you to shadow that young
woman. Don't lose sight of her for
n minute"
SO 1t happened that when Margery
| Golden paused by the mysterious lone
bowlder on Seven Oaks Hill hawk
| faced detective was hidden not ten
pnees distant behind one of the great
| trees from which the ridge took its
| name. He saw the girl glance fur
| lively about her, and then from her
pursed lips came a low. thrilling call
| like that of bird. After n brief in
terval she repeated this signal, and
presently yellow-masked man came
stealthlly around the side of the
great bowlder. The hidden listener
caught enough of what Margery Co.,
den was saying to become aware that
she was recounting, almost word for
word, his own story of the escape of
Jules Legar.
81 have a theory of my own as to
what was used to kill Jenkins In
that fearful manner" the Laughing
Mask was saying. land l am going
to find out tonight whether I am right
or wrong. Legar's followers have all
n man calling himself Skldmon. He
was known as n brilliant scientist un-
til he contracted the drug habit, and
then. when he was down and out. he
fell in with Legar. He lives in
tumble-down old house at the foot of
the blind alley south of Washington
square.
| At that moment the detective,
burning with zeal to make up for the
escape of Jules Legar by the sudden
capture of the Laughing Mask, sud
denly emerged from behind the oak
| tree and rapidly advanced upon the
| startled pair. AS the Laughing Mask
darted around the bowlder toward the
secret door leading into the subterra-
mean retreat, Margery planted herself
directly in the path of the oncomlng
| Walters.
you've about gone the limit this
time, young woman" he snarled as
he seized her slender wrist in his
powerful grasp, "an' We'll see what
the chief thinks of your helpin' that
criminal make getaway"
A little later the burly Walters
hailed his frail prisoner into the living
room, where her father and the de-
tectives were still gathered. Captain
| Bracket, fuming with anger, tried
his utmost to wiring from her the
secret of the bowlder, but his rapidly
volleyed questions failed to break her
sphinxlike silence. Finally her loving
! but sorely tried father locked her in
her bedroom to prevent her further
interference. Hastily going to her i'm
promptu dictaphone. Margery heard
the voice of Walters repeating what
the Laughing Mask had said about
Sliidmon, the last of Legar's hench-
men. When he had finished, the blat-
ant tones of Captain Bracket came
over the thread of copper.
"Our best move will be to watch
the house of this SlSidmon," he an
nounced decisively, San when our man
comes along Wen nab him. If we're
playin' in luck we might get Legar in
the same dragnet."
As Mnrgery replaced the receiver
she realized the Laughing Mask was
| threatened with grave danger. In
some way she must warn him. But
there seemed no possibility of escap-
ing from the bedroom. Then a sudden
scheme flashed into her mind. which
she hastened to put into execution.
To mislend her father she tied the
bed sheet to the window sill. and when
that gentleman discovered the sup
posed escape, he ran to the shrubbery
beneath the window. Then Margery
stole out of the closet and silently
went her way In her car.
AS Margery paused in front of q
dismal old rookery she suddenly per-
ceived In the moonlight n shadowy
| form mounting StendilY unWnrd On