The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-11

name, shot out into the lake. enc
the chase was on.
From the scar-markcd man who
stood with his field glasses focused
on the pursuing Arrow came . low
laugh OF derision.
They can never cut down ou
lead" he announced with evident at.
isfaction. as no lowered his giaasea
He leered evilly at tho listening stn
lying bound and gagged on the shall
like flooring OF tho narrow craft But
the next instant his look Changed 70
one OF savage concern. Tho deaicata
mechanism Of the Mercury had r.
volted at the unskilled handling OF
her clumsy-f1ngered engineer. ahs
began to miss badly, while her speed
perceptibly diminished. Legar caught
up his glasses and for = moment IN
tently studied the on-comfng Axruw,
which was evidently gaining.
Then, with q quick twist of TN
steering wheel, he sent the racdna
power boat heading directly for tn
nearest shore. Even A. her GkAx1
PROV grated over tho shelving beana
Legar and his villainous crew
swarmed over the side, carrying TIL
fettered girl and tho buriap aanA
with them. They scrambled hastily
up the emhankment Of tho railroad
track skirting the lake, tust a. thu
stern faced father Of the abducted
girl beached the pulsattng Arrow and
sprang hastily ashore.
Hampered by his captive and ths
heavy sack of loot, the master
schemer realized he could not hope TO
outstrip his opponents by ordinary
methods of fight. But the evil genius
of the man was equal to tho occasion.
At little distance down the track
dozen Italian laborers were busy re-
pairing the roadbed. under the super
vision of q burly Irish foreman. The
handcar on which these men weat to
and from their work had been set on
to one side of the track near where
Legar was standing.
Get that handcar back on the rails
and be quick about it." came his sharp
command.
An automobile OF ancient vintage,
driven by stupid rustic. came
wheeling up the highway, which par
alleied the railroad. Almost before
he knew what had happened the sur
prised driver of that decrepid titney
had a double load OF clamorous pas
sengers. In the general confusion OF
voices. Fnoch Golden managed to
make himself heard by putting his
mouth close to the ear of the deaf
countryman.
I'VE want to catch handcar that
Just went up the track" he shouted.
II will pay you 800 to help US"
Legar had congratulated himself
too soon on the ease OF his escape.
AS the handcar started toiling up
long. gradual grade, he looked back
and saw the automobile loaded with
armed men In hot pursuit. But he
checked his muttered oath as the
suffering car struck the hill. slowed
down and finally came to a dead stop.
The heavy load had proved too much
for the time-worn engine. Legar
could see his opponents getting out
of the balky automobile. which. re-
lieved of its burden. started crawl
ing up the hill. with Its passengers
hurrying behind 1t.
At that moment there beat In upon
his ears the long drawn screech of q
locomotive whlstling for a crossing.
With a look OF fiendish hate, LAgar
stopped and lifted Margory Golden
from the rough flooring OF the 3oating
handcar
For moment Legar balanced thu
fettered girl in his arms, then with
n parting malediction, he dropped
that helpless figure sQuarely between
the glistening rails.
= \ =
At some distance beyond the foot oi
the incline the rails, sweeping In q
wide curve around q bend In the
road, were lost to sight. 1t 90 hap.
pened that Just around this bend the
switching apparatus used to throw
freight trains onto a siding was I'M.
dergoing certain repairs at tho hands
Of a blue leaned track-walker. This
man, all unconscious OF threatenins
tragedy, had finished his labors and
was wiping his grimy hands On .
piece Of cotton waste. Suddenly he
became conscious of a motionless AZ.
uie standing beside Mp.
AS he glanced up he saw tho stran
gers face was covered by q mask
slit by a grotesquely laughing mouth
Without a word this strange flgurs
bent and grasped the long lever con.
trolling the switch. The railroad en-,
ploye. resenting this unwarrante6
intrusion. attempted to shove tia
masked intruder aside. but 4 heavy
blow on the jaw sent him staggerfna
down the embankment, while his op
ponent frantically threw over TIA
switch lever. So It was that whsn
that nre-breathing avalanche o.
metal had Numbered down within :
few feet Of the huddled white figurs
it suddenly swerved, with it, wheel
fianges screaming against the switch
curve, onto the long siding parallel.
ing the main line.
The half-conscious girl felt hersel.
lifted by tender arms and laid on
soft bed of grass. A hazy figure bent
over her, cutting away the cruelty
biting thongs and gently channg hen
wrists. Then she felt kiss imprint.
I'd ON her aching hand. but when she
opened her eyes the stranger was
gone. In his place came tho figures
u her tortured father. tho anxious
Davy and the solemn-faced police
captain.
what you say II Impossible"
Enoch Golden said soothingly. THE
man Il dead"
but II was the Laughing Mast, /
tell you," Margory wearily answered.
II saw him plainly. and besideA he
Kissed my hand before he went away.
Go b continued nsxt week,