The Yale expositor., 1916-12-21

- NhAo Ntaig 6ON hOAt NAO NAPPNN 49,
that bunch o. crane to all this inside
gossip she handed Red?" solemnly
queried the wide-eyed thug.
Unless l miss my guess there's O
dictaphone planted in this room and
I'm going to find 1t II 1t takes a week," "
said Legar.
He lost no time in making good this
declaration, fishing under the fur
niture, along the holdings and in
the dark corners OF the room with
that prehensile iron hook which
| seemed almost endowed with human
intelligence. Suddenly he gave a gut
tural bark of triumph-under the
heavy iron safe backed against the
wall he found the object OF his search
and a few moments work sufficed to
trace the tell-tale thread of wire back
to the storeroom, where the up
ended packing case and unlocked sky
! light told their own story.
THAT ought to answer your raw
ings," was Legars quiet-toned COM
ment to his bewildered lieutenant,
and then he added maliciously,
there will be some unlimited guests
at the next seance of your high
priestess friend, and somehow l have
feeling that she and Red are going
to join those departed spirits inside
OF the next twenty-four hours"
The unsuspecting object of Legar's
levity, with her features still heavily
shrouded as on the preceding night,
stepped out of the sagging doorway of
weather-stained old barn which clung
dizZily to the brink of precipitous
and rock-toothed ravine. AS she ap-
preached the formal Italian garden
centered about a musically cascading
fountain she perceived a golden-haired
girl seated on one of the rustic
benches.
Presently an elderly, white-haired
man, whose deep-lined face and trou-
bled eyes bore mute witness of past
mental strife, came slowly down the
graveled walk and stopped beside the
disconsolate figure on the rustic
bench.
You mustn't take this so to heart,
Margery-if Davy could speak from
the grave he would tell you to be
brave for his sake-and as for the
Laughing Mask - that unmitigated
scoundrel and hypocrite isn't worth
one of your tears"
The reply trembling on Margery's
lips remained unspoken, for at that
moment a young woman whose fea-
| lures were hidden by heavy folds of
black yelling stepped out from be-
hind a vine-covered trellis.
You are doing the Laughing Mask
grave injustice, Enoch Golden" she
cried in a clear and ringing voice,
'and even now if you and your daugh-
ter will accompany me but a short
distance l will place in your hands
indisputable proof of what l say"
A suddenly terminated Margery
sprang to her feet She turned to the
unknown intruder and cried impetu-
ously: Can you really show that
the Laughing Mask was innocent Of
all those terrible charges? II you
can, please, please take us quickly to
where you have the proof"
wait, Margery," cautioned the ex-
perience-saddened banker. First let
this yelled person tell us who she is
and where she wants to take us.
This may be one of Legar's tricks, for
all we know"
Il am a well-wisher of the Laugh
ing Mask. Beyond that cannot dis
close my identity" came the guarded
reply. Il am unarmed and ask you
to go only as far as the old barn on
your own estate"
this dubious venture, the stern-faced
millionaire finally yielded to Mar
gery's earnest importuning, and, fol-
lowing the black-garbed figure of their
swiftly moving guide, they presently
stood before the dilapidated old build
ing tottering on the brink OF the ra-
vine. At that moment a thick-set,
flat-footed individual shuffied into
view along the dusty road, the visor
of his cap pulled low over his malev-
olent blue-jowled face and his beefy
fists Jerking uneasily as he walked.
The woman in black turned to her
companions, and, indicating this un-
calmly figure, spoke rapidly.
II have every reason to believe that
man has kept faith with me, and If
am right shall be able in few min
utes to place in your hands the proof
of which spoke. But IL there should
be treachery wish to face 1t alone.
You will find that the harness room in
the loft of the barn has strong door
with heavy bolts. Please wait for me
there, and at the first sound of trou-
BILE, barricade yourself until help
comes from the house.
This sounds like a trap returned
the millionaire, with emphatic disap-
proval. Come, Margery, come back
to the house at once"
But Margery Golden proved to have
a will of her own as well as surpris-
ing faith in that mysterious defender
of the Laughing Mask. Taking her
fathers arm she half coaxed, half led
the protesting master OF finance into