The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-30
1.-THE Marvellous Story, Hitherto Unpublished
From Which the Pathe Photoplay of
the Same Name Was Made)

died OF some awful disease. That's
about ali an don't see how"
But Margory did not wait TO hear
the concluding remarks of the de-
tective, for at this point she abruptly
hung up the receiver. Here was news
of startling character which mus;
be impaired to the masked guardian
of her safety without loss Of time
Without stopping to even catch up n
hat. she slipped out OF her room and
down the stairway. AS she tiptoed
softly past the living-room, the door
suddenly opened and Captain Brack-
EFT and Walters stood on the thresh-
old. The stern faced officer watched
the slender girl as she went out the
front door and closed IL behind her.
Then he turned TO his crestfallen sub
ordinate.
Never mind dom what was tell
in YOU, Walters" he tersely COM
manded II want you to shadow that
young woman. Don't lose sight or
her for minute"
So 1T happened that when Margory
Golden paused by the mysterious lone
howlder on Seven Oaks I'm hawk
faced detective was hidden not ten
PAGES distant behind one of the great
trees from which the ridge took its
name. He saw the girl glance fur
lively about her. and then from her
pursed lips came n low, trilling call
like that of bird. After q brief in
teryal she repeated this signal. and
presently the yellow-masked man
came stealthily around the side of the
great howlder. The hidden listener
caught enough Of what Margory Col
den was ga wing to become aware that
she was recountinE. almost word for
word. his own story of the escape OF
Jules LeEar,
AS he wondered from what navs-
FERROUS source she had learned II the
incisive tones Of her hooded compan.
ion reached his ear.
"T have n theory Of my own as e
what wns used to Kill Jenkins ii
that fearful manner" tho Laughing
Mask was SAYING. and / am COINS
to find out tonight whether l an
right or wrong. Legars follower
have all been wiped ont with the ex
ception OF a man calling himsel
Skidmon. He was&-nown as bril-
liant scientist until ne contracted III
drug habit, and then. when he wa
down and out, he fell in with Legar
He lives in a tumble down old hons'
at the foot OF the blind alley souu
OF Washington Square. He still ha
some sort Of laboratory where IT
pottors around. always on the verg'
of making soIffe wonderful n@TN dis
covery. It's my idea that he FUR
nished Legar with
But that sentence was Clipped
short, for at that moment the de
tective. burning with zeal to max
up for tho escape of Jules Legar b,
the capture of the Laughing Mask
suddenly emerged from behind tn
oak tree and rapidly advanced upol
the startled pair, AS the Laughing
Mask darted around the bowlder to
ward the secret door leading into HI
subterranean retreat, Margory plant
ed herself directly in the path OF tn
oncoming Walters. 1t took that eS
asperated officer several minutes +
shake off the olinging girl, and wheI
he reached the other side OF the grea
rock the Laughing Mask had dlsap
peared completely. The detectlV
turned in sullen rage on the calmi'
smiling girl standing beside HIM
You've about conc the limit TIM
time. young woman" he snarled a
he seized her slender wrist in hl'
powerful grasp, IAN Wen see VIVA
the chief thinks of your helpin tina
criminal make a getaway,
A little later the buriy Walter
hailed his frnil prisoner into the liv
'ing-room, where her father and tn
detectives were still gathered. Cap
tain Bracket. fuming with anger
tried his utmost to wiring from he
the secret of the bowlder. but his rap
idly volleyed questions failed to breal
her sphinxlike silence. Finally he
towing but soreiy tried father LOCKED
her in her bedroom to prevent he
further interference. Hastily goinI
30 her impromptu dictaphone.' Mar
cory heard the voice Of Walters re
peating what the Laughing Mask ha'
said about Skidmon, the last of lie
CARS henchmen. When he had fin
ished, the blatant tones of Captain
Bracket came over that thread o
copper.
Our best move win be to watc'
the house of this Skidnon," he an
nounced decisively, "an' when on
man comes along we'll nab him.
we're playin' in luck we might &c
Legar in the same dragnet."
Then came the scrape of chair
being pushed away from the tabl
and the hasty shuttle of feet as IN
men prepared to start on this mission
AS Margory replaced the receiver sh
realized the Laughing Mask wa
threatened with grave danger. i
some way she must warn him. Blu
there seemed no possibility of escap
ing from her bedroom. She knew
would be futile to try to force TIL
locked door, and the sheer drop from
her third-story window prohibite,
that method of egress. For q momen
she stood in hopeless detection. Thei
a sudden scheme flashed into he
mind, which she FASTENED to put int
execution. When her father un
locked the door and went into tina
room to speak to Margory before h.
started for the city with the detec
tives be gave an incredulous gasp o
amazement
The heavy brass bed had beer
Co., IL