Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-12-22

the company there assembled. This
figure wore dust-stained motor coat
and cap. But the most conspicuous
feature Of his attire was the yellow
mask which covered his face. Equally
conspicuous was the huge blue-bar.
relied revolver which he firmly held in
his right hand. This weapon, in fact.
giinted menacingly in the strong light
as the strangers left hand was sud.
denly lifted for silence. .
Ladies and gentlemen" he pro-
claimed In clear voice, this intru.
sion, l fear, may shock you. But you
are about to be shocked in a much
more serious way. On the stroke of
twelve there is to be an accident here.
perhaps something much graver than
an accident, in which 1t is my great
desire that you should not participate!
SO l mus> ask each and every one Of
you to leave this room, and this house,
as quietly yet as quickly as possible!
Every one" repeated that authorita-
tive-voiced intruder as Da Espares and
the tall man In the Arabian burnoose
rose to their feet. except these two
gentlemen here"
Out of the silence that ensued on
that declaration arose q small muir.
muir OF wonder, a stir Of nervousness,
and one shrill laugh from a woman
holding a wine glass. Then Enoch
Golden himself called out an angry ex.
postulation, followed by q sharp word
or two of command. But the company
had already risen. For the masked
stranger. stepping still closer to Da
Espares and the figure in the flowing
burnoose, had coolly intercepted them
as they moved in unison towards a
side door.
Get back, both Of you," the clear
voice behind the yellow mask had
called out, cor before God I'll shoot
you down where you stand!"
That sudden threat Of violence was
the spring which released the TEN
sion. There were mingled shouts of
resentment and fear, followed By .
quick and unreasoning rush for the
door. courtiers and nuns and peas
ants and Apaches and Geisha girls In
furry of fnery and fright.
ened faces.
For a minute or two the master of
the house struggled in vain to stop
them. Then his attention was directed
towards the Laughing Mask. for the
latter. advancing with a quick stride
to the man In the burnoose, jerked
aside that flowing garment and re-
vealed Legar himself, Legar with q
scared face and an iron claw
1t the end of his right arm. And the
same moment that this movement was
taking place. Da Espares himself, with
his eyes always on the Laughing Mask
stole quick step by step towards the
ioor on his left. He had reached that
loor before his enemy detected him.
The man with the revolver wheeled
lbout and fired 40 the Spanish knight
n silk and lace dived through the open
ng. Legar. seeing his chance In that
iivision of interest. charged bodily
through the damask-laden table, scat |
ering silver and glass and flowers - |
le went. In another breath he had |
cached the conservatory, where, q
'econd or two later, his iron-shod arm
'ould be heard failing through the fra- |
'ile barrier Of glass between him and |
he outer world. And BY the time
cnoch Golden reached the spot his
nemy had vanished.
Yet In almost the same breath the
laughing Mask had leaped In the Cd
'osite direction. in pursuit Of the lee
ng Da Espares. But that flight. wher.
yer 1t led or might have led, was IN.
errupted by q sudden defamation that
hook the great house to its founda-
lon. There was q roar of falling Rir.
ers, the splintsring of wood. the rum.
lie Of a great avalanche, 40 q seven
On steel vault, deprived of its sup
orts, crashed down through the finn
y flooring. carrying dust and debris
nd tumbling pieces of household fur.
iture as 1t went. Nor did that mas
I've thing Of metal stop until It bedded
self In the broken cement flooring
I the cellar below. Then above the
attle of falling plaster and echoing
howers of scattering bric-a-brac rose
,e quick cry Of human voices calling
,r help.
Golden. staring dazed at the great
,om through which sudden ruin had
-upted. was scarcely conscious of the
ightened girl clinging so forlorhly
} his arm. He was scarcely conscious
the throng Of servants and watch
en- who ran back and forth through
10 dusty rooms. He quaveringly
slped his daughter to q chair. She
AIRED wide-eyed at Wilson % the lat
2 led David Manley, limping q little
ID much disordered a. to apparel. l
to the room.
"Is anybody hurtr asked the white
ced girl.
The ever dependable old butler look.
At Mauley, who In turn looked
ray.
I'm sorry. Miss Margery," Wilson =,
'sitatingly explained. but Il b the {
,unt Da Espares!"
You mean he is'-
The old butler nodded.
I'm afraid %. Miss Margery. The,
we Just found his body. crushed I'M
2 the vault!" |,
tTo Bn coNTDpzD,