The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-02
lThe Marvellous Story, Hitherto Unpublished
From, Which the Pathe Photoplay of
the Same Name Was Made)

fetched Joe crack over the head
that put him TO sleep for g. minute. By
the time Miss Wilkens had got her
eyes open an let out q scared screech
they was through the winder and
climbtn' down the latticework."
Wait minute. Jenkins" Captain
Bracket interrupted. Your story
may be very interesting. but what has
this part OF it got to do with the
Laughing Mask?"
Il was Just comm TO that" his sub
ordinate replied in n somewhat ag-
grieved tone. I'VE got out the front
door Just az the thugs was maxim
tracks for a racin' car they had hid
den Off TO on 9 side Of the road. Old
man Parker tried to stop 'enl. but he
got n wallop on the jaw that knocked
him stiff. They Jumps into the car
ard sends her of with the self-starter.
We thought they WAS gone all right,
when that automobile stops up with a
Jerk THAT pretty near put them motor
bandits over the glass front. We was
Johnny on the spot then, an we COL
Jared oalr men In hurry. An say,
what do you think put the kibosh on
that Joy ride getaway"
AS neither OF the detectives audi
tors seemed disposed to attempt the
solution Of this mystifying riddle he
proceeded, after short pause.
The thing that brought them
CROOKS to a standstill was a rope as
thick as my arm. with one end tied
10 the rear axle of the automobile
ana the other end made fast to a. big
tree, The wheels was buzzin' round.
but they wasn't gettin' nowhere. An
the man who rIgEed up the contrap-
ton for stoppin' those crooks must
have been that Laughin' Mask yere
after, We 'found those jailbirds had
pretty bad records ar the commish
said was likely 20 get some good
news In couple OF days. Perhaps
this Teller with the mask amt as bad
as you think. chief"
Why doesn't he come out into tho
open. then, and explain these charges
standin' against him. instead of
sneakin' around like q masked safe
blower" he demanded with consid-
cradle heat. IT he did what you say
1t was only 10 get the laugh on the
police. and he's right In thinkin' some
OF these detectives are prize idiots
The way you janlmed in here I
thought you had picked up some
thing worth talkin' about"
Il didn't know you wanted ma 10
begin backwards" he said In rufT1Ad
tones. Tive got somethin' worth
talkin' about ell right, II youll give
me a chance to tell it."
please ten us everything that han
pened. Jenkins" she interposed quiet
ly. i think you showed wonderful
bravery in capturing those despera to
criminals after being wounded your
self"
Well, II certainly was sorne scrap
Miss Golden" answered the nollif,ed
thief-catcher, addressing himself ex-
elusivefy 10 the diplomatic girl. IAN
tho stran gest part Of the whole thing
happened after I got the bracelets on
them crooks and left Joe to watch
them. while went up to the house to
see II anything was missin'."
Just as l reached the house" he
quickly resumed. 1.-The moon broke
through the clouds an stood Iookin'
into tho garden. for had a bunch
that one armed desperate might be
hangin' around TO superintend that
COB his msn tried to pull off Then,
all Mt once, ! seen Miss Wilkens.
dressed IN kind OF lace wrapper,
standin' Ike n ghost down at the
further end OF the garden. An abe
wasn't alone by a long shot. Talkin'
TO her free and and easy as II he'd
known her all his life. was that dare
devil, Laughin' Mask. I felt sort OF
obliged 70 him for tippin' me Off
about IeFar's eeCond-story workers,
but J knew you was anxious TO have
litte talk with him, 80 commences
TO sneak up on them night providers
like an old Tom would go after a
couple of sparrows. I had covered
about half the distance when that
masked Romeo grabs Miss Wilkens
in his arms an commences to kiss
her like n happy bridegroom. An
che keeps comm right back for more.
was that surprised I must have let
my foot down heavy, for they broke
apart and he goes through the hedge
like n shot. When l comes up on the
run there WAS only Miss wilkens nm
when ] told her she was harborin' a
man wanted by the law, she froze mo
up with naughty stare.
You must have been drfnkin', Of
ficer.' she says. i just came out for a
minute to calm my nerves after all
that excitement an the only person
I've seen Is an extremely rude police
man
Il don't believe word Of the last
part Of your story Margory cried In
"A voice perilousiy close to tears. Il
don't believe the Laughing Mask has
promenading about that garden with
a strange young woman at mid
right" Then she added. with true
feminine logic: And. even II he was.
] know he didn't kiss her"
With tremulous shoulders the deep
~ hurt girl hurried from the room.
leaving the two uncomprehending
and stolid police officers to exchange
a look OF blank bewilderment.
To Margory Golden, alone in the
privacy OF her room, this fresh stroke
seemed almost more than she could
bear. Two men had protested their
deep and abiding love for her. and in
some measure her heart had gone out
TO both OF them, leaving her unde-
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