The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-30


approaching calmness.
With an effort he took from the
pocket where he had thrust 1t, the
confession absolving the Laughing
Mask from the. crimes which he,
Jules Legar, had committed. Before
he went he would at least have the
satisfaction Of destroying this proof
OF the anocence Of his detested en-
envy. He realized that even his pow
erful body must speedily yield to tn,
terrible poison with which he VI :.
inoculated. He was about to rend
the paper with his iron hook when he
caught sight OF q white-faced girl
staring at him in wide-eyed horror
from the adjoining room.
+ y y
In spite of his dimming eyesieht
he knew that girl to be Margery
Golden. the daughter of the man who
was responsible for his scared face
and manned arm. II he could take
her with him into the realms Of
death. all the devilish ingenuity
which he had expended In the past
10 injure her would not 60 for moth
ing, and the vengeance he had
sworn to exact would be complete.
With this f1endish purpose simmer
ing in his brain he advanced un-
steadily in her direction.
The affrighted girl shrank back into
a corner as the man with the wolfish
face bore down upon her. But even
as his cruel iron claw reached out
toward her white throat, the poison
took effect. His breath came in hur-
ried gasps. and tearing away his coll
lar. he fought for air to relieve his
congested lungs. With distended eyes
and foam-fiecked lips he suddenly
pitched headlong to the floor, where
he lay writhing and twisting like
a soul in torment. AS the relentless
poison ate into his vitals his convui-
sive struggles weakened, and death
stilled forever his thrashing iron
claw.
Then the shuddering girl became
conscious that tho Laughing Mask
was standing near, and as he stopped
and took the confession from the
stifening fingers Of the dead Grim
inal she saw his yellow visor was
torn and splashed with blood. He
stood for a moment staring at Legar
in shocked silence, for the upturned
scar.marked face was like that OF an
extremely old man, with sagging hol-
lows in the cheeks and the parch-
mentlike skin deeply scanned by
network Of wrinkles. His black mar
had turned completely white. Skid
mons theory had been completely
and fearfully demonstrated.
Suddenly there resoundeo through
nj
ing blows delivered upon the 'front.'
door, followed a moment later py
heavily pounding feet as the raaoins
detectives, headed by Captain Brack-
EFT. came storming up the stairs FOR
once the Laughing Mask cooliy stood
his ground and made no attempt to
evade the approaching officers. VINO
Rad 80 long and persistenuy tracked
him. AS they spread through the
house he could hear their startled
cries OF surprise, and presently with
Enoch Golden and the heavy-jawed
captaIn in the lead they came crowd
ing into the room where he and Mar
cory were waiting. In the grasp OK
those astounded detectives were no
less than four Laughing Masks, each
one an exact counterpart OF the othef.
The loudly exulting voice Of Captain
Bracket broke the momentary hush
which followed the discovery OF
Legar's lifeless body.
This is what I call a good days
work" he complacently announced.
the one -armed criminal has got his.
an instead OF one masked crook
we've rounded up a whole gang OF
these underground workers. Take
of their masks and let's have q look
at their faces"
In compliance with the order. the
detectives tore of the yellow cover
ings of their prisoners and disclosed
tho straightforward and unfamiliar
features OF four young men Of about
the same age as David Manley. With
q puzzled exclamation the police
captain approached the remaining
Laughing Mask standing by tho side
of Margory Golden. That man OF
mystery silently extended Skidmon's
confession TO the police captain. who
glanced hastily through 1t.
We'll, / guess that lets you OIL"
he muttered with evident disappoint-
ment, "but now you're clear of the
law. what's the use OF hidin' under
that mask" u.
with a quick and decisive move
ment the Laughing Mask stripped
off that grotesquely smiling piece Of
yellow cambria. revealing the hand
some and boyish face OF the young
secretary. David Manley.
Now that Legar In dead. my dis
guise has served It's purpose" he ak
planned in quiet tones, as he glanced
around that circle Of intent listeners.
HE knew / would try to protect my
employer and his daughter from his
evil purpose OF revenge, and by act
ing in a double role I was able to
fight him to better advantage. ]
finally organized four OF my friends
into a sort Of secret order Of Laugh
ing Masks, but they always kept In
the background except on one or two
pressing occasions. Miss Wilkene,
my stepsister, made our masks, and
we used her garden as a meeting
place. Miss Golden has known all
this since we worsted Legar in tho
coal mine, and think she will Join
me in inviting you all to come to .
little affair which is going to be held
in a church In the very near future"
As Margory turned away to hide
her tears and her bushes. her father
warmly grasped his former sscre-
tary's hand. and after q moment the
solemn red face of Captain, Bracket
slowly cracked into q sheepish grin
as he extended his beefy paw to
David Manl0y Alias tina Y.AuHhin~