The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-08-20
FOURTEENTH INSTALLMENT
The Octopus Bomb.

The Octopus Bomb. N EARGORY faced the supreme M dilemma of her life. Dangers.
 mult1fold, she had faced be- fore, or been aided to overcome them through the unfailing help of the man in the yellow mask. But now more than mere bodily peril held her in the thrall of indecision. Yet a decision had to be come at and that quickly.
 The girl walked slowly to the still open window and gazed out, but the mental problem that engrossed her preoccupied her attention to the ex- clusion of everything else. Then 8 voice behind her spoke:
 Gan you see any of them?"
 Margory turned to the man in the yellow mask, who stood close behind her.
 'No," said Margory, in answer to his question. we have @ few min utes' grace. Do you think it surely the wisest thing to do, do you think it necessary beyond all doubt that l go away with you? I know you must realize what that must mean to me I cannot but think of father"
 T have thought of everything you have said-everything you have even thought" said the Laughing Mask gently. But 1t is no longer safe for you to stay here. I must go away it is no longer safe for me, and if am not here to shield you from Legar--"
 "Yes," murmured Margory, father believes so implicitly now that these crimes of Legar were perpetrated by YOU. That police captain has so thor oughly convinced him! And this po- liceman has said over and over again that he will not rest until he has cap- tured you. Indeed, you are in terri ble danger now. Not half an hour ago I heard father telephoning to the captain and planning to find you. You should not have come here.'
 "I had to come. I had to tell you this. And I had to get from your fathers vault the thing that will clear me of some, at least, of the crimes Legar has fastened upon me Legar's confession"
 "Then, come, let us hurry said Margory.
 The two of them then stole quietly down through the shadowy house to the library. She had gathered up g. heavy veil and stuffed hurriedly a few things into a handbag-things she might need in her flight with the man in the yellow mask. The thought of this boldest of all the steps she had taken to escape the Iron Claw Of Legar and all that it symbolized to her, made her a bit paler than was her wont, but her lips closed firmly in resolution. And as the man at her side held up the heavy portiere at the library door for her to pass she looked up into his eyes, shining through his mask, and smiled grate- fully into them.
 But the moment of reassurance in the depths of her mind vague apprehension-at what, she hardly knew, except, perhaps, at the im- pending return of the police and her father.
 The Laughing Mask went swiftly to the vault and in a moment it's heavy door swung open. But the next minute, a jingle of alarm swept through Margory's body, for the call bell of the telephone on the rosewood desk suddenly rang out through the room. By this time. the Laughing Mask was within the vault, but the shrill of that bell brought him out into the room.
 Don't answer it!" warned the girl.
 "But Wilson, or another of the serv- ants, will surely come to answer it, ," explained the Laughing Mask, as he moved toward the only door that he had not locked on entering the li- brary.
 'The confession-have you got 1t ?" asked Margory, not needing what he had said, so great was the tension of her mind.
 Tt is where it is safe," quietly re- piled the Laughing Mask.
 Then I'll shut the vault door," she said.
 He stood watching her as she ,,CIOSScQ LIlo TOOul u IlO NdAiI oAAN swung to the heavy safe door. He saw her gloved hand go up to the nickeled handle, to throw on the lock- Then she did an unexpected and a startling thing.
 With an oddly birdlike movement of the head the girl stopped and stared sintently at his figure, clearly out lined against the dark folds of the lportieres behind him. Then. instead ,of locking the vault door, she took four swift steps to the heavily carved lockwood table to her right. In an- other moment she had caught up a Roman lamp of solidly cast bronze, and, with all her strength, hurled 1t at the swaying portiere behind him. "Legar!" was her cry. And at the same moment she uttered a shrill cry of warning.
 It was time. From behind one of the folds of the portiere she had