Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-01-12

With a Bed-Ridden
I'll be back in a minute. ma 'am," the
girl replied, only too glad of any rea-
sonable excuse for disappearing.
Margery, in the meantime. peered
doubtfully about the somber building
in which she found herself so unex-
pectedly visitor. Along one side of
the room in which she stood she could
make out dark masses of dye wood
piled as high as her head Beside this
she saw, in the uncertain light. an
open pit filled with water Into one
side of this pit ran a cement-walled
sluiceway. stained almost black. with
watergate set in the upper part of
its channel. The opening in the far
side of the pit. which was guarded by
heavy iron grill as big as a park
gate. led into a high-walled cavern
across which stretched a number Of
huge steel drums. Set in these drums
were rows of knife-edged cleavers.
The polished surfaces of these great
blades of steel shone ominously in the
half-light
Margery was still staring at the
great drums bristling with cleavers
when with a suddenness that startled
her the electric lights were thrown on
across the roof of the chamber. She
wheeled about quickly to discover the
cause for this AS she did so. an invol-
untary gasp escaped from her lips For
standing beside the door, with his fin
| ger still on the switch. the Iron Claw
himself confronted her.
why are you afraid of me?" he con-
fidently purred. For the girl drew
slowly away while he as slowly fol-
lowed after her, step by step. Then,
with a movement that was feline in its
quickness. he flung out an arm and
seized her. Then he turned her DELHI
erately about until she faced the black
walled sluiceway. But the girl shrank
back.
Don't be afraid of 1t. my dear" he
Knocked as he led her forcibly. step by
step, to the lip of the channel through
which the mill water was curling and
eddying. in fact. want you to look
at 1t closely and understand 1t fully
It's wonderful, wonderful for many
reasons. At the end of this sluice, you
see, is a log mangle. have seen those
knives shred a six-inch timber in less
than a minutes time"
He turned and stared down at the
white-faced girl. drinking to the full
the dizzy wine of her terror, wringine
voluptuous delight out of her word
less cape of horror. Then the look or
his face suddenly altered, and hi
wheeled about. still clutching the cir
close to his side. He stood staring al
the door which he had locked but &
minute before. And his face sudden
ly hardened as he saw the heavy iror
latch of that door move.
Margery, following his glance. also
watched that door. And when SHIT
heard the thump of a heavy timber OF
its panels a new hope sped through
her That hope equipped her will
fresh strength. It prompted her t.
struggle against the Iron Claw will
the utmost power Of her desperate
young body. But her enemy. for al
her efforts, was too much for her. Foo
by foot he forced her back towards
the open sluiceway. Then. with a NUT
tered gasp of finality and a sudden up
ward heave of his shoulders. he fun
the girl headlong into the water.
As he did so the door burst open
For the heavy-hearted Peggy O'Mara
after slipping guilty. away from tn
sluiceroom where she had left ne
quite unsuspecting victim. awakene'
for the first time to the full enormit
of her offense. AS she stood there Il
the darkness. staring back at the darl
mass of the factory walls. the aches o
remorse lay heavy on her young hear,
She was standing there, with tear
of helplessness in her eyes. when
figure stepped up to her. She woul
have fed, incontinently, at the az
proach of that intruder. But tn
stranger held her with a gently r.
straining hand And as she peered u
at his face she saw that 1t was tn
man in the laughing mask.
THE righting Of wrongs is a part Q
my business in life. Can help you?
The girl hesitated.
yes" she finally confessed. with
burst Of tears. And through her sob
, she brokenly recounted as much a
she dared of that nights proceeding!
But she continued to weep.
? And me father'll be goin' to tn
pen for what I'm tellin' you" sh
, walled out in her misery.
He will not" avowed the Laughin
Mask. with decision. He'll hav
, more than help before this night
, over, and a better job and a clear col
science before another one comes
But ten me first where you left thi
girl you brought out from the city,"
Inside the door O. the sluiceroor
! there"
Good Cod" gasped the man in th
mask. Then he caught the spindl,
I legged Peggy O'Mara by the hand an
started for the shadowy pile Of the ia,
/ tory on the run. Quick" he said a
he ran, SHOW me the door!"
r The half-breathless girl pointed
2 out to him. But as he ran up to 1t b
J found It locked. He stopped and fra
} tically caught up q piece Of timber q
most a. long and heavy az his ow