The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-06

had escaped injury, his dignity had not escaped hurt.
 Let me at 'em!" he shouted, bran dishing the automobile wrench which he still carried in his hand. Just let me at 'em!''
 Its no use," cried Margory, hold Ing him back. "They have gone, the tot of them. And we've got to follow quickly, or there'll be whole fam fly meet worse fate than yours might have been tonight"
 She had taken the wrench from his hand and was leading him out of the tunnel mouth by this time, explain ing that he would have to bring his taxicab from it's hiding place and at once start in pursuit of the Iron Claw. By this time, with that chauf- feur, discretion had become the bet ter part ot valor.
 Not much!" he announced with de- cision. That guy can blow up tho whole of Long Island for all I care. I've had my fill O. this rough-neck work! I'm goin' t beat 1t back to Broadway, and I'm goin' to do my travelin' where the white lights shine, or know the reason why!"
 She had reached the empty taxicab hidden away under the heavy tree shadows. looked back for a moment. and realized that 1t was worse than useless to wait for help.
 Her thoughts, however. were not on that vanishing taxicab as she raced up the narrow walk and pounded frantically on the faded panel of the cottage door. She was thinking more of the inmates of that house and the death which at any moment might envelop them. So colorless, in fact, was her face as the bewildered Dan O'Mara opened the door that he started back in alarm. And her words were even more disturbing.
 Come away" she called out. Come quick or it will be too late"
 She ran to the window. Lying in the flower box she saw heavy cylin- der of metal. Even before she caught sight of the time fuse which quietly hissed and burned at one end of the cylinder, she knew what 1t was. It was the infeYnal machine which Le- gar's agent had placed there to de- stroy the house. And at any moment the explosion might take place.
 Yet Margory caught the heavy cyl finder up in her hands. She even tried to blow out the fuse. But this was useless. Then she tried to tear 1t away. But the second effort was equally fruitless. And sheer panic took possession of her at the thought of her helplessness Tho bomb dropped from her fingers to the floor She made one instinctive effort to warn poor young Peggy O'Mara away as the girl ran to her side. But in stead of repeating that warning she let her arms close about the slender body as though in mute acknowledg- ment that she knew it was already too late. For the fuse. she could see, was burning down into the end of the cylinder itself. She even closed her eyes, awaiting the inevitable.
 She opened them again at the sound of sudden step. She opened them to see a masked figure dart into the room, catch up the smoking metal cylinder and with one and the same movement hurl 1t out through the open window.
 The next moment great detona- ton shook the walls of that house. rattling the windows and driving a cloud of mingled dust and smoke in through every opening.
 The bomb had exploded. But the house of O'Mara still stood. And Peggy and her father stared open- mouthed at the newcomer, who, in- stead of staring back at them, stood intently regarding Margory Golden.
 ''The Laughing Mask" said that somewhat shaken young lady in little more than a whisper.
 At your service!" replied the man in the yellow mask with a half-hum- ble and half-mocking bow, as he stood for one fleeting moment in the narrow doorway.
 ITO be continued next week.)