Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-02-02

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 it is my great
desire that you should not participated
So must 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 a small muir
muir of wonder, stir of nervousness.
and one shrill laugh from a woman
holding a wine glass. Then Enoch Z
Golden himself called out an angry ex-
postulation, followed by sharp word.
or two of command. But the company
had already risen. For the masked
stranger, stepping still closer to la
Espares and the figure in the flowing
burnoose, had coolly intercepted tfem
as they moved in unison towards a
| side door.
Get back, both of you," ts~ clear
voice behind the yellow mast. had
called out, cor before God I'll shoot
you down where you standi"
That sudden threat of violence was
the spring which released the :en-
sion. There were mingled shouts Of
resentment and fear, followed 5y a
| quick and unreasoning rush. for the
door, courtiers and nuns and peas
ants and Apaches and Cessna girls in
contending furry Of finery and fright
ened faces.
For a minute or two the master q
the house struggled ia vain to step
them. Then his attention was directed
towards the Laughing Mask, for the
latter, advancing with a quick stride
to the man in the burnoose, terked
aside that flowing garment and To
vealed Legar himself. Legar with
sinisterly scared face and an iron cav
at the end of his right arm. And , q
same moment that this movement Nss
taking place, Da Espares himself, VIA
I
stole quick step by step towards the,
door on his left. He had reached TIA t
door before his enemy detected tssl.
The man with the revolver StosNsi
about and fired as the Spanish I,ailJlt
in silk and lace dived through tie .T!J n
ing. Legar, seeing his chance - II At
division Of interest, charged k.j lily
| tbroTob tho dornocI-Iodop fohyH -
tering silver and glass and flower a as
he went. In another breath he had
reached the conservatory, whs re. a
second or two later, his iron-sho arm
could be heard failing through fhe frs-
gile barrier of glass between i'm ana
the outer world. And by Fne TINA
Enoch Golden reached the spot his
enemy had vanished.
Yet in almost the same breath the
Laughing Mask had leaped. in the op-
posite direction, in pursuit.: of the fiee-
ing Da Espares. But that flight, wher.
ever 1t led or might hav led, was In.
terrupted by sudden defamation that
shook the great house., to its founda-
ton. There was a TO ar Of falling Cir
ders, the splintering of wood, the rum
!: BILE Of great avala nche, as a seven
: ton steel vault, de- prived of its sup
ports, crashed dow n through the
: sy flooring, carryf ng dust and ~
, and tumbling piee ,es Of houset
, niture as 1t went. Nor did I'll
sive thing Of met al stop until 4
itself in the b. oxen cement
of the cellar b. slow. Then al
rattle Of fallir ig plaster and
showers Of sc altering tric-a-
/ the quick cry of human voted
/ for help.
Golden, 81 airing de,Zed at the
room through which, sudden ruin
I erupted, wis scarcely conscious
frightened girl clinging so forl
to his arm. He was scarcely consc
Of the tn rong Of servants and W.
men who ran back and forth third
the dusty roonis. He quaveriI
!, helped his daughter to a chair.
stared wide-eyed at Wilson as the
: ter led David Ma nley, limping a hte,
! and much disor dered as to apparel
into the room.
3 "Is anybody lrurt?" asked the white
t faced girl.
5 The ever dei pendable old butler look
' ed at. Msnley, who In turn looked
= away.
: ~Tm sorSy, Miss Margery," Wilson
a hcsitatingiy explained, but It Is tho
!, Count Da IEspares!"
You me- AN he is
+ The ola butler nodded.
I'm al raid so, Miss Margery. Thej
: have jus found his body, crushed ~
+ der the Vault"
u ,(To BE CONTNUEn