The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-11
The Marvellous Story, Hitherto Unpublished
From, Which the Pathe Photoplay of
the Same Name Was Mode)

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skylight. Forcing the yielding frame
work gradually upward with her
head and shoulders. she wormed and
undulated her way to the fat tin
roof. Catlike she took the ten-foot
drop to the roof OF the adjoining
house, landing lightly on her feet,
and. scudding through a door open
ing upon a stairway. made her way
down to the street.
A few moments later the meditative
Red Eagan. walking slowly across the
narrow strip Of shadowy park. felt
light tap on his shoulder. He wheeled
sharply in his tracks. his hand reach
ting instinctively toward his empty
gun pocket. He quickly realized he
had nothing to fear from this yelled
woman who stood quietly confronting
him. and who in no way resembied an
emissary from that domed building
known as headquarters. She silently
motioned him toward a secluded
bench near by. Prompted by a vague
curiosity. Eagan warily followed her.
1t was not until they were seated that
the woman Of mystery spoke.
Never mind how I know, but you
have a heavy score to settle with
one-armed man calling himself Jules
Legar-1 can help you in this-that is
If you are not afraid"
There amt no livin' man has got
my number" retorted Red.
AT that moment this strange con-
ference was augmented by third
person. who, slipping noiseiesslv
across the intervening grass plot, took
up his stand behind a thick boiled
maple, where he could hear every
WORD spoken. Legar, surmising the
mutinous gunman was in a mood to
stir up trouble. had promptly dis
patched the adroit One-Lamp Louie
to shadow his former pal.
The plan Is simple one-your
Master has made ii appear that a
number OF terrible crimes were ner-
petrated by his enemy. the Laughing
Mask. Even the police have been
persuaded to take that view, But
you know. and / know, the real guilt
lies with Iegar. This man must be
brought to justice and the name of
tho Laughing Mask cleared, even
though he be dead. This can, be done
only by showing in detail how these
crimes were committed-if you will
write out those details tonight and
place them In my hands tomorrow
/ will see that your score with Jules
Legar is paid in full" The woman
paused. and then continued-evident-
iy trying different tact. 'If you
do what / ask faithfully will also
make good your share of the loot
and vanished from Legars safe. But
remember have the power to pun
ish as we'll as to reward"
II amt much on the pen pushin'
stuff. lady, but ! guess / kin sling
enuff ink to send that Iron Claw
hound o hell to the stool. But say,
how d. / know yuh're on the level
yer line O. chatter sounds like one
of them SPIRIT MEDIUMS what does
the vanishin' act right under yer
lamps. where'n meet yer to turn
over the doclsyment yuh're iookin' fer
and collec' the mazuna git fer the
job?"
'It will be safer to meet me out
side the city," she replied decisively.
as she rose from the bench; take the
Lackawanna to a place in Jersey
called Rosedale-when you get off the
train turn to the left and follow the
highway until you sec a big white
house standing on a hill-a little
way down the road you win see an
old barn on the edge OF a deep gully
at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning
will meet you just outside that old
barn. i will have your money and
shall expect you to have the written
statement disclosing Legar's crimes"
Again she hesitated, and then, hop
ing to play on Fagan's apparent Gre
dulity, added, "The spirit OF the dead
Laughing Mask is working with me.
He Will watch your every move, I'M
til that paper is In my hands!"
For Gawd's sake, call off the spir-
rit, lady. I give yer me dyin' oath
an affydavft t. do what yer axed
me, but l don't want { go up against
no spooks."
"Obey my commands and you have
nothing to fear-otherwise-b
One-Lamp Louie. who had been
drinking in this artfully staged fun
merry with avid ears. his one good
optic almost starting from it's socket.
now precipitately rushed to his chief
AS he reported in detail his filched
version Of the conversation between
Red Eagan and the yelled guardian
of departed spirits, II was apparent
he shared In no light measure the
superstitious fear of his traitorous
confrere. But these vaporish fancies
were quickly dispelled by the crafty
minded master schemer.
You're as bad as some half-witted
old woman. falling for that spirit
bunk" snapped Legar. II suppose
you'll want some one to hold your
hand In the dark after this
IF there ain't no spirits mixed I'D
in this deal, gov'nor. who tipped off
that bunch O. Grape to all this inside
gossip che handed Red?" solemnly
queried the wide-eyed thug.
Unless miss my guess. there's
a dictaphone planted in this room
and I'm going TO find 1t II II takes a
week." said Legar.
He lost no time in making good this
declaration. fishing under tho fur
niture. along the holdings ana in
the dark corners Of the room with
that prehensile iron hook which
seemed almost endowed with human