The Elbert County tribune., 1916-07-21


are about to be shocked In much
more serious way. On the stroke of
twelve there is to be an accident here.
| perhaps something much grayer than
an accident, in which it is my great
desire that you should not participate!
So l must ask each and every one of
you to leave this room, and this house,
as quietly yet as quickly as possible!
Every one," repeated that authorita-
tive-voiced intruder as Da Espares and
the tall man in the Arabian burnoose
rose to their feet. except these two
gentlemen here"
Out of the silence that ensued on
that declaration arose a small mur-
muir OF wonder, stir of nervousness,
and one shrill laugh from a woman
holding wine glass. Then Enoch
Golden himself called out an angry ex-
postulation, followed by a sharp word
or two of command. But the company
had already risen. For the masked
stranger, stepping still closer to Da
Espares and the figure in the flowing
burnoose. had coolly intercepted them
as they moved in unison towards a
side door.
Get back, both of you" the clear
voice behind the yellow mask had
called out. "or before God I'll shoot
you down where you stand!"
That sudden threat of violence was
the spring which released the ten
sion. There were mingled shouts of
resentment and fear, followed by
quick and unreasoning rush for the
door, courtiers and nuns and peas
ants and Apaches and Geisha girls in
contending furry of finery and fright
ened faces.
For minute or two the master of
the house struggled in vain to stop
them. Then his attention was directed
towards the Laughing Mask, for the
latter, advancing with quick stride
to the man in the burnoose, jerked
aside that flowing garment and re-
vealed Legar himself, Legar with a
sinisterly scared face and an iron claw
at the end of his right arm And the
same moment that this movement was
taking place, Da Espares himself, with
his eyes always on the Laughing Mask
stole quick step by step towards the
door on his left. He had reached that
door before his enemy detected him.
The man with the revolver wheeled
about and fred as the Spanish knight
in silk and lace dived through the OPEN
ing. Legar seeing his chance in that
division of interest, charged bodily
through the damask-laden table, scat
tering silver and glass and flowers as
he went. In another breath he had
reached the conservatory, where, a
second or two later, his iron-shod arm
could be heard failing through the fra
gile barrier of glass between him and
the outer world. And by the time
Enoch Golden reached the spot his
enemy had vanished.
Yet In almost the same breath the
Laughing Mask had leAped in the op-
posite direction, in pursuit of the flee
ing Da Espares. But that flight, wher-
ever 1t led or might have led, was In
terrupted by sudden detonation that
shook the great house to its founda-
ton. There was roar of falling Cir
ders, the splintering of wood. the rum
BILE of great avalanche, as a seven
ton steel vault, deprived of its sup
|
sy flooring, carrying dust and debris
and tumbling pieces of household fur
niture as it went. Nor did that mas
sive thing OF metal stop until It bedded
itself in the broken cement flooring
of the cellar below. Then above the
rattle Of falling plaster and echoing
showers of scattering bric-a-brac rose
the quick cry of human voices calling
for help.
Golden, staring dazed at the great
room through which sudden ruin had
erupted, was scarcely conscious of the
frightened girl clinging SO forlornly
to his arm. He was scarcely conscious
OF the throng Of servants and watch
men who ran back and forth through
the dusty rooms. He quaveringly
helped his daughter to chair. She
stared wide-eyed at Wilson as the lat
ter led David Manley, limping a little
and much disordered as to apparel.
into the room.
rs anybody hurt?" asked the white
faced girl
The ever dependable old butler look
ed at Manley, who In turn looked
away.
I'm sorry, Miss Margery,r Wilson
hesitatingly explained, but 1t is the
Count Da Espares!"
You mean he Isl
The old butler nodded.
I'm afraid SO, Miss Margery. They
have Just found his body, crushed un'
der the Vault"