The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-10-14
F'TMHE IRON Claw CAV

fRead thls story In the palladium
ana sss II Ut the palaee.1
Then m shut the vault door. And
the sooner W ct out 70 your car the
bsttsr!"
He stood watching her q che
CROSSED to the heavy safe door and
sswung Il shut He saw her gioved
hand 60 up to the nickeled handle, to
Throw on the lock. Then she did Q
startling and unexpected thing. with
40 oddly birdlike movement Of tho
head she stopped and stared intently
ut his figure. clearly outlined against
the dark folds OF the portiere behind
him. Then. instead Of locking the
vault door, she took four quick steps
70 the heavily carved teakwood table
On her right. From this she caught up
. Roman lamp Of heavy bronze, hurting
it with ill her force 1t the swaying
portiere behind him at tho same mo-
ment that she uttered her sudden
scream Of warning.
For from the folds Of that portiere
abe had caught sight Of an iron claw at
tAe end Of preternaturally long arm.
And - this iron claw was lifted high
in the air she caught the CLINT Of .
naked steel knife-blade, pointed and
pleader. held. in some inexplicable man.
ner. IN the clutch Of that circle Of iron.
.Legar." was al she had time to cry
but - the bronze lamp went swinging
against that appraised tentacle Of wood
and iron. But the warning was sui.
dcient.
The Laughing Mask, leaping to one
side. escaped before the knife could
be recovered. Then he ran towards
the girl in the center of the room,
standing between her and the door,
a. though to shield her body with his
own. for BY this time Legar was in tho
room itself. And % he advanced on
them he tossed the knife away and
drew . revolver from his pocket.
But the man In the mask, moving
even more quickly than his enemy.
swung the girl about and half carried
and half dragged her back to the vault,
I hcre with one tug Of his free hand
! sprung the heavy steel door half
open. Legar fred, as he did 20, but
the shot ricocheted harmlessly against
the safe-front Of japanned steel.
Father keeps . navy revolver IN
tho coin drawer Of the vault here"
called out the girl as the man in the
mask pushed her deeper into tho shad.
ow of the protecting door.
At the same moment that tho Laugh.
ing Mask swung about and tusged
open the coin drawer, Wilson and .
round-eyed footman, having heard the
sound Of the shot, came running to the
library door. But before that door
could be opened, Legar. realizing that
his time was short, had taken matters
in his own hand. Charging bodily
against the half.closed vault door, he
swung it shut before the meaning of
his maneuver could be understood.
Then he threw on the lock, spun the
dial. and wheeled about to cover the
two white.faced and gaping-mouthed
servants with his revolver.
Stir one foot, either Of you, and It'll
be your last move on this earth!" he
cried 40 he edged suardedly towards
the door. still covering them - he
went.
He would have reachsd the door
and passed out through Il without In
terruptjou. had not the entrance door
OF the house been thrown open end the
noise OF many fest sounded through
the wide hallway. And the nGKt 10
ment the indignant voice q Enoch Col
den could bs heard calling SoR his
vanished servants.
Legar, with . movement Of his
weapon, motioued Wilson and the
shakins.kneed footraAn out through
the door. Then. staring frantioally
about the room. he ran to . Psrugian
panel screen Of fAded tapestry and
crouched behind Il, with Ais revolver
still in his hand.
l. The next moment the room vas
nlied with . clatter Of hurrying feet
and babel Of voices. Wilson. almost
inarticulate with excitement, attempt.
ed for the third time to explain the
situation to Enoch Golden and the Of.
tieials from the central once who fol-
lowed at his heels.
MY daughter. you SAY. shut up IN
that vault"
Yes, sir. shut up with the man IN
he yellow mask"
Golden was breathing hard % he |
stopped over the lock-dial and worked |
with shaking fingers on the combina-
ton.