davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elbert County tribune., 1916-10-06
NINETEENTH EPISODE
The Cave of Despair.

Margery Golden was naturally OF n
happy disposition. Yet as she sat in
the June fragrance OF the color
splashed rose garden and let her
thoughts dwell on the recent events
which had so rudely shattered her
many cherished ideals, the pensive-
eyed girl could not repress long
drawn sigh which betrayed only too
clearly her distress of mind. From
branch overhead II liquid-noted robin
poured his melody of spring and glad
ness into the unheeding ears of the
silent and preoccupied figure on the
rustic bench.
Suddenly the feathered songster
ceased his joyous carol as Margery
heard the sound of approaching steps
on the graveled walk. The newcomer
stood looking wistfully down at the
sweet-fnced girl whose golden hair
glinted in the shaft of sunlight filter
Ing through the soft spring foliage.
She met his look with one of sur
prised inquiry.
II hardly expected to see you here,
Davy. after all that has happened"
she said In tones of gentle reproof.
IT had to come. Margery," he an
swered quietly. 81 couldn't stay away
from you any longer. Won't you be-
lieve that l am truly sorry for what
1 have done and try to forgive me?"
The silent robin, which had been
regarding this masculine intruder
into its peaceful domain with some
uncertainty. now took wing in sud-
den flutter of apprehension. For at
The Elbert County tribune., 1916-10-06

Manley behind that solitary rock on
previous occasion, and the equally
sudden emergence of the Laughing
Mask moment later. With feel
ing that at last she had stumbled
upon n tangible clue. Margery sped
rapidly across the meadows in the
hope of reaching the undermined hill
before Davy should arrive by the
more circuitous route of the highway.
To her relief, the coast was still
clear when she reached her destina-
ton, but when she had toiled half
way up the steep slope the unsuspect-
ing object of her espionage came saun-
tering lelsurely along the shaded road.
Margery darted into nearby laurel
thlclSet and from this opportune covert
kept an intent watch on the move
ments of the young man. who was now
picking his way along the crest of
the ridge. AS he neared the isolated
bowlder he stopped, and then, appar-
emily satisfied he was free from OBJ
servation, disappeared behind that
great sphere of stone. A moment
later, as the breathlessly waiting girl
half expected, there issued from be-
hind that rocky screen figure clad
in the familiar habiliments of the
Laughing Mask.
But at that instant another person
emerged from behind the bowlder and
descended the hillside within u few
yards of the thicllet where the wide
eyed girl crouched in utter bewilder-
ment. For the newcomer was none
other than David Manley himself and
the solution of that battling mystery
seemed further off than ever.
The Elbert County tribune., 1916-10-06

about Sianley and the Laughing
Mask being the same person. What
has just happened proves am
right. for no two people could have
changed places between the time we
chased Manley into the gunroom and
that masked criminal opened the
door. No one came out of that win
dow and you know it as well as 1
do"
For n moment the puzzled girl took
rapid counsel with herself.
81 am afraid l shall lave to dis
credit your theory again, Captain
Bracket" she said in unequivocat-
ing tones, "for David Bfanley did come
through that window and 1 saw him
with my own eyes"
For q moment the heavy-featured
police officer stared at her in appar-
ent disbelief, but Margery felt she
had twisted the truth in a good cause.
and presently he turned from her
clear, level gaze with the attitude of
man who has completely lost his
bearings.
After lunch she slipped away from
Tic SiOup SilliiiE oh lie DIOuu FtTHlludt
discussing ways and means for the i'm
mediate capture of the Laughing
Mask, and taking n shortcut across the
fields, soon came in sight of the old
gray farmhouse.
or to one side of the weather.
beaten dwelling she saw Davy COM
fortably sprawled in n fringed ham
mock slung between two gnarled apple
trees. Suddenly he sprang out of
the hammock and, after an irresolute
glance toward the house, set Off at an
easy pace down the road in the direc-
tion of Seven Oaks hill. Under the
deserted hammock Margery saw a
folded square of paper, which she con-
cluded was the note Davy had so mar
rowly saved from the ruthless clutches
of Captain Bracllett earlier in the day.
But instead of the penciled lines of
the Laughing Mask she saw rough
diagram of great bowlder with n
star blsecting its base-line. Under this
star We're the words: "Press at this
point until opening appears" The
Significance of the puzzling sketch
suddenly flashed into the mind of the
quick-wltted girl. She knew that at
one time extensive coal mining opera
tions had been carried on at Seven
Oaks hill.
In these forgotten catacombs, an
entrance had apparently been effected
by the construction of n secret door
at the foot of the lone bowlder on
the HILTON. This would account for
the sudden disappearance of David
The Elbert County tribune., 1916-10-06

stopped u short distance down the road.
AT sight of these implacable enemies
the Laughing Mask, with word Of as
surance to his companion, slipped qu!-
etly through the hedge and ran light
ly toward the highway, down which
the detectives were already coming.
But the meaning of this surprising
maneuver was apparent in another mo-
ment, for mingled with the startled
shouts of the officers came the rapid
explosions from a motorcycle, which
now darted away with its masked rider
bending low over the handle bars.
With a quick crash of gean, the au-
tomobile started in hot pursuit.
When the Laughing Mask had estab-
lished a fairly wide margin of safety
he slowed down and, leaping from the
saddle, ran with quick strides over
The Elbert County tribune., 1916-10-06

ures worming their way down the
slope toward her.
She would have been taken entirely
Off her guard had not the heavy-foot-
ed gangster known as Dutch Frank
clumsily loosed a heavy stone. which
went bounding and crashing down the
steep incline past the startled girl.
"Spread out. and be quick about 1t :"
Legar commanded sharply. "Tony. cut
her off from the house; stay where
you are, Dutch, in case she doubles
back; Mack, you watch the road; I'll
get the girl myself"
Then out of her desperation was
born a plan, uncertain and hazard
Gus in Its nature, but worth attempt
ing as last resort. Gathering all
her strength for a final effort, she
headed directly for the lone bowlder
standing on the ridge-top some
twenty yards above her. She cov-
cred the Intervening distance with a
frenzled burst of speed and threw
herself, painting convulsively, at the
base of the massive rock.
Then her bruised fingers came in
contact with n slight projection. on
which she saw painted the faint out
line of red star, She instantly
pressed with all her strength against
this projection and, with a sharp click
of releasing bolts, a slab of wood so
closely resembling the rock as to defy
detection suddenly dropped in its
grooved guides, leaving n narrow aper-
4ttr In, fhs Of fIn
Even as Legar, his cruel face
aflame with evil passion, rushed upon
the defense,ess girl, she slipped
through the strange opening, and
as She stumbled onto rude wooden
platform some ingenious mechanism
sent the heavy panel shooting into
place behind her.
Beneath the platform on which she
was standing the gloom was broken by
Pickering tallow dips fixed against
the wall, and Margery saw, as she ex-
pected, the labyrinthian galleries of
the long-deserted coal mine Then as
she discovered a ladder which led
down into the wavering shadows the
heavy barrier suddenly dropped and
silhouetted against the outer light
she saw the leering face of Legar.
AS he came twisting through the
narrow passage the harried girl
sprang for the ladder and cropping her
way downward found herself in a
sloping tunnel from which opened a
series of exhausted coal pockets.
Margery could now hear rough
voices and the shuflling of feet on the
platform above her head. After a
The Elbert County tribune., 1916-10-06

moments hesitation she darted into
one of the shadowy chambers, hoping
to find some place of concealment in
its dark recesses. But she was sud-
denly threatened by new and unex-
pected dangers, for in the center of
that vaultlike room her hurrying
feet suddenly slipped from under her,
and with a startled outcry she
plunged through hidden trapdoor,
which sprang back into place when
relieved of her weight.
When the badly shaken girl sat up
on the uneven stone flooring where
she had landed with considerable
force, she realized she had fallen into
another of those spectrally lighted
chambers on lower level of the
abandoned mine. But there was this
difrerence-the murlsy cave in which
she now found herself had no outlet.
Against one side of that tomblike
chamber the miners had left an as
cending series of rocky lodges upon
which they must have stood to reach
the higher coal deposits, but this
rough stairway offered no hope of
escape to the apprehensive girl.
Then, with faint flash of light,
the trapdoor swung open, and she
heard startled oath, followed by
the thud of n heavy body as it struck
the rocky flooring. A long silence
followed and the alarmed girl real
lied that her unseen enemy must be
lying unconscious where he had
fallen.
She did not know that the sudden
and mysterious disappearance of
Black Tony had proved too much for
even the iron nerve of those crime
hardened gunmen.
"Touy must have fallen down an
old shaft, but that's no reason for
your throwing a flt," Legar said in n
voice that was a trifle unsteady,
maybe the girls down there, too.
Get one of those lights Off the wall
and we'll take q look ut that man.
trnp."
Spurred on by a curse from his
grim-fnced leader. the heavy-set
The Elbert County tribune., 1916-10-06
At .DaY.

The sadly perplexed girl stepped out
from her place of concealment and
stood watching the fast disappearing
figure OF David Manley. To her fur
ther amazement, he seemed to be
headed directly for the Wilkcns' es-
tate. What did 1t all mean? Deeply
occupied with these distressing
thoughts, Margery was oblivious to the
stealthy approach of four sinister fig
The Elbert County tribune., 1916-10-06
He Slowly Raised the yellow Visor

He Slowly Raised the Yellow Visor.
that moment heavy-featured indi-
vidual had crept up back of the tree
with IN alarming stealthiness of
manner. Unconscious of the pres
ence of the hidden eavesdropper, the
sad-eycd girl, after little hesitation.
answered the impassloned plea of Do.
vid Manley.
81 do forgive you" she said in
voice tremulous with emotion, and
then, as she saw hopeful light flash
into the eyes of her penitent COM
panion, she added in firmer tone.
''but you must not expect too much
of me at first. Davy. You have hurt
me deeply and 1t Is best that you
stny away until the wound is quite
healed"
THAT shall be US you say" he re-
piled tepderlv ''for you have given
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-04-14
Sunday School Entertainment

The Sunday School of Ekalaka
will give a program on Easter
Sunday at 10 o'clock for the ben-
ifit of Orphan children.
Please come and bring US a
goodly contribution for this noble
cause. and so help to swell the
donation for the little orphans.
The Busy Bees are practising
for the occasion and older ones
are helping.
Come promptly at 10 A. M. that
YOU may not miss any Of the pro-
gram.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-04-14
Horsemen

Representatives of the Montana
Livestock Sanitary Board will be
in Fallon County on and after
April 22nd, 1916. for the purpose
OF testing. for dourine, all mares
and stations Of breeding age.
There will be sufficient number
of inspectors in this district to
handle the work in a systematic
and expeditions manner but the
hearty cooperation of the horse.
men will be necessary.
Any inquiries regarding dates
for testing should be addressed
to Montana Livestock Sanitary
Board,
Ekalaka, Montana t.pd.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-04-14
D. B. Humphrey
On Labor Troubles

Declaring that Colorado had
been set back fifty years in de-
enjoyment because of labor dis
turbances, D. r. Humphrey a
widely known Denver newspaper
man on a recent visit here said if
the state had a man like Cover.
nor Stewart at the head, all the
trouble wouldlhave been avoided.
Reviewing the numerous stri-
kes which occurred at intervals.
just when the state was begin.
ming to recover from previous
disturbace, Mr.. Humphrey said
that when trouble threatened in
Butte something over a year ago.
Coloradoans watched with inter.
est and when they saw Governor
Stewart taking a firm yet tachful
hold Of the situation and stamp
ing out the beginning of what
might have been a confagration,
they prayed that God would give
them a governor like Stewart.
People of Montana will, per-
haps, never know just how much
good Governor Stewart did this
state by his prompt and firm ac-
tion against the I. w. w. and
professional trouble m akers."
said, Mr.. Humphrey. AS a result
Montana is growing faster than
any other state in the union.
| More settlers are coming in land
land values are increasing by leaps
and bounds, prosperity is general
and yet it is fair to say if the sit
nation in Butte had gotten away
from the Governor or had been
allowed to drift, Butte would
have been wrecked like Cripple
Creek.
Every property owner who
feels secure in his rights; every
working man who is receiving
his pay check with regularity;
every farmer who watches the
increase in the value of his land;
and every business man who finds
business good and collections easy
should thank Governor Stewart
for saving Montana from the
shame and disgrace suffered by
Colorado simply because it had a
intentioned but weakened exc
cutive.''
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-04-14
New Law Firm

Leon l.. Wheeler and w, w.
Palmer have formed a co-part-
nership and will engage in the
general law and land office pra-
tice.
Mr.. Wheeler, assisted by Mr..
Palmer. will engage in the gen.
eral practice of the law as here
tdfore.
Mr.. Palmer, who was formerly
a Special Agent of the General
Land Office, and also Land Law
Clerk in the United States Land
Office, will have charge of and
personally handle all public land
matters.
The office of the new firm will
be located at what has been here
tofore the office of Mr.. Wheeler.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-04-14
EKALAKA GALLON COUNTY, MONTANA, IA.

guided the nation through the
most troublous period since the
civil war, but has brought the
country to the highest pitch of
prosperity it has ever attained.
The republican party will not
only enter the campaign handi
capped by harmony, no matter
who is nominated, but also desti-
tute Of an issue to appeal to the
people. The tariff issue has been
neutralized by the war, the trust
question is NO longer agitated,
preparedness is being rapidly put
into effect and prosperity stalks
across the land with gigantic
tread. Carping republican cri-
tics may try to make capital out
out of the number Of American
lives lost by submarine attacks
and in Mexico, but the people
who IN the last analysis care only
for facts, can see only that Will
son has kept the nation at peace
under difficulties unprecedent in
American history.
Economic issues will also fall
upon deaf ears, in view of the un-
exampled prosperity OF the coun-
try, and what dissatisfaction was
manifested over the Mexican sit
uation has been dispelled by the
punitive expedition that is now
following the tortuos trail of Villa
below the Rio Grande.
There has been sporadic talk
of a successor to Vice-President
Marshall on the democratic ticket,
and the the names of Senator
Lewis of Illinois and Governor
Major of Missouri have been
mentioned. This talk, however.
has not been taken seriously in
Washington. 1t was pointed
out that it is an unusual thing
to break up d winning combina-
tion and the history of national
conventions shows that it has
been at least 80 years since
winning vice-presidential can
didate has been displaced for
someone else.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-04-14
ROOSEVELT THE 1T"
Romney Says T. r. Will Be
The Candidate.
BY Kenneth Romney.


Woodrow Wilson IF New Jersey
and Thomas r. Marshall Of In
diana. ~
Theodore Roosevelt of New
York. ant. Charles ". Fairbanks
of 1ndiana.
Those are the democratic and
republican tickets respectively
that Washington politicians who
try to take the unbiased view
would not be surprised to see in
the field this November. Senator
Sherman of Illinois or Senator
Harding of Ohio might take the
place of Fairbanks. who has pre-
sidential ambitions Of his own,
but politicians of both parties
here believe that Roosevelt will
head the party which four years
ago he denounced in scathing
terms from sea to sea.
Several plans have been sug-
gested as to just how Roosevelt
is going to force the republican
party to name him as their stand
ard bearer. The latest explana-
tion of the plan is that at the
bull moose convention, which
meet at the same time as the re-
publican national convention, will
organize quickly and nominate
Mr.. Roosevelt before the repub-
lican convention gets straighten-
ed out. Then, with Roosevelt
already in the field prepared to
to make powerful campaign
and with many of his followers
in the republican convention, the
republicans will be forced to
nominate him or face the GER
tainty of two republican tickets
and inevitable defeat. Besides,
with Roosevelt already named by
the bull moose convention, none
of the crowd of the republican
white hopes now mentioned will
care for the worthless nomination.
This is a daring plan but friends
and admirers of the colonel point
out that he is nothing if not dar-
ing, while many former republi
can office holders are hungry .,nC
care for nothing except union
and the prospect of victory.
Meanwhile there is not cloud
On the democratic horizon visible
in Washington. Wilson in the
last few weeks has been increas-
ing his already great popularity
until it is believed that he is al!
but invincible. A recent poll
conducted by the Nation in New
York. gave him as many votes as
all contenders put together anc
indicated that hundreds of repub
licans who voted against him in
1912 are for him now. Many
voters. in marking their ballots,
declared they were republicans
and voted against the president
in the last election, but are fol
him now because he has not onl,
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-04-14
Locals.

Genuine Black Hills gold Jewell
ry at Blaine's.
j. E. Dodd was in town from
his ranch Tuesday and then in
formed US that he will have a
good bunch of work horses and
several head of mules in for the
Combination sale week from to.
morrow, April 22nd.
DIR. 0. j. johnson, deputy state
veterinarian and DR.. j. O. Will
son, B. w. Boyd and Cronin.
acting for the federal authorities
are in Ekalaka preparing to COM
mence an active campaign for
the stamping out of the dourine
among the horses in Fallon Coun-
ty. Elsewhere in this issue will
be found official notices to horse
men concerning the inspection
of their animals. The doctors
expect to complete the testing of
OF horses for the disease this
year, but in order that this may
be accomplished the stockmen
are asked to cooperate in every
manner.
Under the names of the pro-
gressive candidates, for the hon.
or OF attending the bull moose
convention in Chicago, which will
appear on the ballots next Friday
appears these words, "A Vote
For Me is a Vote for Roosevelt
For President. This does not
look as it all of the progressives
are willing to slide back into the
arms of the G. O. ?. leaders.
AS an indication that the bull
moosers do not approve of any
amalgamatlon of the two parties,
IA candidates have filed their
petitions and will have their NAM
es appear on the ballot. each pet
ition being signed by 26l names
in excess of the number required.
Further encouragement is given
the progressives in a message
from that noted Roosevelt leader
George W. Perkins, who dishes
out all kinds of "thank-you" dope
for the manner in which the new
party is sticking together.
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-04-14
Notice

Representatives of the Montana
Livestock Sanitary Board will be
in Ekalaka on Saturday, April %,
1916 for the purpose Of test
ing, for dourine, all Broke mares
and stations brought in on above
date. 1t
The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-04-14

lOuS until Lney Will De on the
market.
Teachers Examinations April
N-28. At Baker, Ekalaka. AL
zada and Elgin.
Swedish Select Oats for sale.
Suitable for seed. 5 miles north
of Ekalaka, E. N. Ballou.
Messers Frank Thompson and
Thos. Colliepriest will commence
the building of a garage in Eka-
laka within a few days. The
new building will occupy the lots
10 the east of this office.
We announce the opening of
our furniture store in the Lang
building at Baker, Montana
which will open about April 10th.
with a complete line of home fur
nishings. m. L. Russell ct.
Representatives Of the Montana
Livestock Sanitary Board will be
in Ekalaka on Saturday, Ayril %,
1916 for the purpose of test
ing, for dourine, all Broke mares
and stations brought in on above
date. 1t
Mr.. and Mrs. w. H. Peck
moved out to their homestead
north Of town. While Mr.. Peck
will have his place farmed this
year he does not expect to do
the work himself as the store
business has increased to such
an extent that his services are
needed there.
G.. A. Baker received official
motto from the State Medical
Boar. Tuesday that he had succ
essfully passed the examination
for The State of Montana. Doctor
Baker will locate in Ekalaka as
is ICED by his professional
card elsewhere published in this
issue.
+. M. Dworshak yesterday sold
his building and property on
Main street to DR.. J. P. Hedges
and DR.. 4. A. Baker who within
few days will take possession.
The building will be fitted up
with an Office each for DR.. He'd
ges and DR. Baker and also a con-
snltation rest room. Mr.. Dwor-
shak will re main in Ekalaka and
will rent an office somewhere on
Main street.
On going to the polls April 21st
for the presidential primary cleo
tion the voters will find the name
of Mrs. E. L. Houstan of Bose
man, on the ballot as candidate
to the Democratic National Con-
ventjon. Inasmuch as this is the
first year that the women of Mon
tana have been allowed to take
part in a primary of this kind,
the democratic party feels that
that woman should be elected
a delegate. Mrs. Houstan is one
of the brainiest women of the
State, a wage Garner, a capable
newspaper writer, a good speaker
and we'll versed in matters politi.
cally. We believe the democrats
should vote for Mrs. Houstan.