Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1916-05-20

OdGO Vi NnC Laughing AhaShs
would have been brought promptly
home to that somewhat puzzled police
lieutenant had he been able to give
less attention to Enoch Golden and
more TO the puzZled-eyed girl who had
stood momentarily arrested at the en-
trance to her fathers library. Fol
as she moved on down the shadowy
hallway she found herself confronted
by that interruptive but all too IA
miliar figure of the Laughing Mask
himself He made a gesture for 81
lence as she started back in alarm
Then he nodded his dominoed head in
the direction of the library door.
Now, perhaps, you will understand
why it has not been easy for me tc
explain Just who l ami"
But you must explain gasped the
bewildered girl They are saying
terrible things about you, things which
l know to be untrue"
do you trust me?"
81 want to-" was the whispered an
swer.
Then will you continue to trust
me?" asked the man in the mask.
Il don't think can," was the girls
hesitating answer, until you can trust
mel"
You mean that must unmask?"
But Margery Golden's reply to that
question was never uttered. For as
she was about to speak, her volatile
maid, Celestine, stepped into the hal
behind her, beheld the mysteriously
masked figure, and promptly filled the
house with a ringing Gallo scream.
Mon Dieu, it is the Laughing
Mask!" she shrilled as she ran dowr
the hall, giving the alarm.
And her alarm, unreasoning as II
seemed, was fully shared by the
Laughing Mask himself. He swung
about, darted through a doorway, ant
his retainers and his official visitor!
came focking out to the scene o.
that disturbance.
Two minutes later Margery Golden
hearing a shout from Kibby's mer
above stairs, followed that officer Il
the scene of the sudden tumult. There
to her alarm, she saw three men strug
Cling with a figure which she prompt
ly recognized as the Laughing Masl
himself.
We've got him!" gasped one of hi
captors as Lieutenant Kibby confront
ed him.
"What1l we do with him?" asked hi
other captor.
First thing, tear that fool masl
Off" commanded the lieutenant
But that command was not carried
into execution. For Margery Golden
catching sight of the Laughing Mask
fallen revolver, ran to where it la,
and took possession of it. The mex
moment 1t was leveled straight at th'
heart of the detective whose hand hat
been lifted to the yellow domino Gov
ering his prisoners face.
Stop" commanded the girl
Put down that gun, you!' prompt
iy commanded Kibby, purple with in
dignation.
mot until your men release tina
prisoner" was her deliberate response
YES, you, both of you" she continued
mcnacing the officers of the law witt
the revolver. Stand back from
him! Still further back Now you,
she added turning to the Laughing
Mask, walk out taroug't that door
Go out. and &C at once!"
So intently did she watch that dis
appearing figure that the movement
OF the adroit and much-experiencet
Lieutenant Kibby. siding stealthil.
along the wall beside her. entirely es
capped her attention. When he leapet
for Margery Golden's tense figure, b.
made sure of his distance and sure o
his mark in doing so. He prompt.
and none too gently wrested the re
volver from her grasp. at the sam
moment that Enoch Golden himsel
came painting through the open door
II hope you understand now VIII,
you've never got your Laughing
Mask" was the irate officers cry a.
he swung the girl about so as to fac,
her equally irate father.
We'll, weIl get him." thundere,
the grim-willed old millionaire, 20
he'll never walk out of this hous
alive."
Even as he spoke the renewed soun,
OF shouts came to them from above
It was Wilson the butler who calle
to Golden and the group at his heel
as he went f1oundering up the stairs.
He's gone into Manley's room, siri
cried that vastly disturbed old sery
ant "And he locked the door as b
went!"
Well, Manley himseIfs in there,
painted the owner of the house as b
hurried on to his secretary's dool
Hes tipping my international diret
tors reports"
But the sounds that came fror
within the room in no way suggeste
such sedentary pursuits as typewri
ing.
They're fighting, sir!" called on
Wilson, with his old ear cooked clos
to the door panel. MY word, sir, bu
they're at II, 'ot and 'eavyl"
BY the time one of Kibby's detet
.ives bad caught up chair and bal