Bisbee daily review., 1916-11-26

were what seemed to be tiny tentacles upon it.
 The clicking levers were beginning to work more rapidly. In another mo ment the great vault door would swing cpea-to what?
 Quick, MaTgery." he whispered, what I have just given you is what I have called the octopus bomb. It viii save us. if the need should be dire. if there should be no other manner of escape" As the man in the mask finished the rapidly spoken words the door Of the vault swung outward Margery stepped forward.
 The detectives. with whom the room swarmed, paid no heed to Margery. Their quarry emerged from the gloom of the vault moment after her. He glanced aboUt-from revolver muzzle to revolver muZzle, all leveled at him. Margery glanced back at the Laughing Mask as he stood thus. facing this des- perate denouement. Then she cried out invOluntarily, for one of the detec- tives had approached the Laughing Mask. raised his hand to the mask t.
 self and was about to tear it off. But
 the Laughing Mask stepped backward and with a gesture cOmmandingly stopped him.
 One moment. if you please, gentle men. There is no need for this. My
 mask stays where it is. As for the crimes which you seem to think are matter for these reyOlvers-I believe this confession of the Iron Claw ac- counts for the chief of them and. therefore, for the rest" The captain was about to glance at it, but turned to Golden for a word of instruction. The next moment there was a crash at the other side of the room. Legar had heard every word
 from his hiding place behind the an- tique screen and he knew that this was the most desperate case for his for tunes that had yet befallen. As tho captain stretched forth his hand, ex- tending the confession to Golden, Ee- gar. with a rush. dashed past him. grasped the confession from his fingers and made for the window Snatching his cap down over his eyes, he plunged head first through the glass, shattering it to splinters.
 Legar had flashed across the room like missile from a catapult. Three of the detectives were knocked from
 their feet. The others gaped at the shattered window. The captain was the first to recover his wits. He shouted an angry command, one of his men threw up the battered sash and
 the rest leaped out.
 Inside the Golden library. the detec- tive who had triod to disclose the iden- tity of the Laughing Mask was again ! intent upon solving this mystery. That
 is why he had remained behind.
 Its no use. your times come. Of with the mask. tell you." I The Laughing Mask looked straight into the beady eyes before him and he
 saw that their gaze was not of the sort that is open to argument or per suasion. Then ne looked steadily on
 beyond to where Margery stood, be
 hind the detective.
 Narsery understood his glance and ] interpreted his gesture alright. She deftly slipped the octopus bomb from her handkerchief. in which she had held it. ciUtched tightly within her fingers, ever since sine and the Laugh ing Mask had left the vault As the
 Io.,1f--.r -#-,I, r,---,-S to r,o,- 4r,c more closely at what he expected to see revealed MargCry hurled the Domb to the floor.
 The next moment the room was filed with an impenetrable cloud o' black smoke. Completely it envelopeG everyone and every thing in the library.
 Gradually the black, sootiike pail rose to the high ceiling or the library. disclosing 1iargery. her father and the detective to one another. But the Laughing Mask had vanished. The de- tectiye dashed to the door leading tc | the adjoining reception hall and flung ! it open. Golden followed and both ran 1 through this spacious chamber and on ! to the stairs. Tarsery. still appreEen- sive for the safety Of the man in the | yellow mask. ran after the searchers, | who were fairly talIied.
 As soon as all three were clear Of | the reception hall the Laughing ! Masks head emerged from a large | ancient Roman vase: swiftly. he | climbed from out its great sheltering bowl and stepped noiselessly back to ] the library.
 silently the Laughing Mask lifted | the window and climbed over the sill 1 Tn another moment he had leaped to | the ground below. But he had not | reckoned upon the quick discourage ment that overtakes that limp arm of the law known as a central office de tective. The half dozen of the type. with their chief who had pursued Le- gar when their revOlyers failed to stop him. had quickly given up the chase. They were walking briskly when the captain quickly motiOned to his men to hug the wall of the house. Some