The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-05-27

Ecgar J ook Up rvs TosltlSu az
Window. s-.-.
ponent clear of the deck boards and
ningiug him hoadforcmost into tho
black water Then he turned and
braced himself for the charge Of the
second man. This second man he met
BY dropping quite fat and unexpected
ly on tho deck itself He felt tho
charging body 80 over his own, caught
az one still kicking foot as he twisted
quickly about, and before his opponent
could recover from that fall the patri-
archal beat owner had assisted his UNI
welcome guest over tho deck-lip after
his c0mpani III.
But, oddly enough. in that struggle
tho howhiskered old boatman had un-
lergone a sudden ANA startling change.
The clutchng fingers of his enemy in
the second contest along the buatdock
had buried themselves In the thick
white beard decorating that launch
owners chin And when this enemy
went overheard that fringe OF whis-
kcrs went with him leaving at tho
wheel q somewhat altered and consid-
erably younger looking man And that
this unknown amender OF destinies
was still intent ON nursing the secret
of his identity was further evidenced
by the fact that, before turning his
boat about and facing the ebb-tide cur
rent Of the North river. he carefully
adjusted over his nose a narrow band
of yellow cloth, with It's little apron
of an inverted crescent Still later,
as he closely watched the light-span-
glcd shore line he caught sight OF
two small winging eyes OF green and
red Accepting this apparently az a
signal. he swung in close under tho
shadow OF coal barge and made fast
az the slip end where high above him
n waiting taNcab stood close beside
the strngpiecc set. hurried as tho
man in the mask seemed 20 be, no took
time 20 sit under ono OF tho cabin
lamps and indite Q short opistle This
epistle. addressed TO "Enoch Golden
and his friends, read as follows. :
The Funds Of the Third National
bank vault are now In my possession
and Will be duly returned 20 the right
fui owners. But that ! may enjoy the
luxury OF the game as we'll as the
name, am withholding from those re
turned funds the fifty thousand dollars
in gold which was formerly the prop
erty Of the man who, by depressing
the poor, has compelled this action.
When that man looks into his own
heart and returns 10 the paths OF wis
dom, this gold will be returned TO him
by
THE LAUGHING MASK
Still later that night while Dayie
Manley and Margory Golden and her
father were arguing aud wondering Az
to the origin and full meaning OF this
strange message. Iegar and his men.
emerging like water rats from the
riverfront rendezvous close beside tho
Owls Nest, piled into a harbor launch
with a mufiled kicker and silently
made their way for oyster Joes.
Crowding into the dimly ne sail loft
OF Oyster joe they found themselves
confronted. not by the millions m
stolen treasure. but by a stir Iolnted
and basphemous old man ia white
whiskers. tied and dashed 10 one OF
his own shack beams
Don't yelp at me about your
damned gold cried Oyster Joe. with
a sulnhurous string Of oaths. when
he was able 20 speak II never saw
any gold All saw was that chain.
lightning gink IN mask. the gink
who's doublecrossed me twice at the
same game"
Legar staggered back into broken
chair
80 its the Laughing Mask again.
he said with an oath
(To BE CoNTINUEnl