The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-25
I. I I4II[E IRON I

One Of the younger gangsters made
q flying leap after the agile girl, who
now had start of several yards.
AS she franticaily scrambled up the
broken slope. she could hear the
heavy. crunching steps of her pur-
suar coming closer and closer. She
could hear the profane encourage
ment shouted by Legar's men to their
strainiug companion. Then, with the
goal almost within reach, her over
taxed strength commenced to fail.
Her struggles became weaker, and
the world seemed clouded with a
strange darkness. She heard the
sound Of heavy breathing and felt
rude hand clutchins at her arm.
Even as that offensive hand started
roughly dragging her back. pistol
cracked out of that enveloping dark
ness and the gripping fingers sud
denly relaxed their hold. She. heard
The sound of n heavy body thudding
down the hillside. Then another hand
caught her arm. this time in firm,
steady hold. and pulled her upward
onto tho stretch of level ground back
Of the rampant of massive powders.
When the mist finally cleared from
MarEory's eyes she expected to see
the familiar figure of David ManIey
standing by her side. But when her
rescurer turned from gazing eau
tiously and intently into the valley It
was with an involuntary gasp of sur
prise that she perceived his face was
covered by a yellow cambria mask,
which on SO many previous occasions
had shrouded tho identity of that
self-appointed Fighter of wrongs. On
this occasion lie also wore a long,
loose automobile coat reaching nearly
to his feet.
I'VE are going TO have n fight on
our hands in a minute he said
quietly "Legar and his men are get
ting ready to rush the place"
Almost as he spoke. a group of de-
termined and grinly silent figures,
each armed with formidable-loo
ing revolver. came stornihg up that
peaceful hillside. The Laughing
Mask, with a quick movement, drew
his companion to n place of safety.
Then he leaned slightly over the nat
ural stone hreastwork and ieveled his
blHCh HuIeiIlillC AT lIlo lOTSilOSI VI
the oncoming bandits.
With the splteful crack of the pistol
that figure stopped short, wavered
uncertainty for n moment. and then
plunged headIong into the valley.
From that advancing line of gang
sters came a sharp fusillade of an
swering shots, but the man in tho
mask seemed to bear a charmed life.
He continued to pump his automatic
in apparent indifference to the rain
Of bullets flatteing against the rocks
about him. A second gunman spun
about in his tracks, and dropping
heavily, caught on n projection,
whore he hung Imply suspended.
When the third OF Legar's evil
soldiery dropped his revolver, and
with a howl of pain clapped his hand
TO his shoulder, his companions broke
and scurried for cover. followed by
their disappearing captain. Legnrs
attempt TO rally his demoralized
forces to a fresh attack was appar-
emily futile. for there followed a long
and oppressive silence. But as tho
Laughing Mask warily raised his
head for brief reconnaissance of tho
ly close TO his ear gave warning that
his hidden enemies were decidedly on
the alert.
He flung tip his automatic for a
quick shot at the sniper whom he
saw half-concenlod behind a tree
trunk. But only dun click followed
his pressure on the trigger. Margory's
defender hastily explored his pockets,
but his search proving fruitless. he
realized that 1t was only a matter OF
minutes before his lack of ammuni-
ton would be discovered by his willy
adversary, with n consequent rush Of
his IN bid followers. For himself IL did
not matter. but he shuddered at the
thought of his brave spirited COM
panion falling into those remorseless
hands.
AS he turned to tell her of the
desperate situation confronting them,
he could not repress an exclamation
of startled surprise. For at this most
danger fraught hour of her existence,
he saw Margory Golden apparently
amusing herself with n round hand
mirror, on which she caught the rays
Of the midday sun and sent them
CHANGING off into space in tho direc-
ton of the great manor house topping
the hill across tho intervening stretch
of valley.
isn't this rather ill-chosen time
for such childish diversions" he In
quired a little sternly.
The preoccupied girl continued for
n fun moment TO turn and twist that
over-shifting mirror before she spoke,
This childish diversion, as you call
1t, may be the only means of saving
our lives" was her calm answer. IT
heard that click that meant your last
cartridge, and I am trying to hello
graph for help"
She resumed her quick movements
that sent the long beams of light ra-
dating out across the valley. Sud
denly they saw an automobile filed
with passengers turn off the high
way and wind rapidly up the drive.
They saw the distant figures of the
men as they got out OF that machine
and started to enter the house. Then
the bulky figure in the lead stopped
abruptly and concentrated his atten-
ton on that faint spot of light flick
ering on tho side of the veranda.
After a moment he turned and spoke
excitedly to the little group around
him.
1t was apparent the stalwart police
captain had interpreted those dancing
splashes of light into n frantic call
from Seven Oaks Hill for badly
needed help.
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