The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1917-10-12
THIRTEENTH EPISODE
The Face of the Stranger.

Peters adventure with the girl who
had taken part in the practical joke,
and led him q merry chase with the
lure that she was the bearer Of the
Double Cross, caused him no little
chagrin. After he had parted from
her he spent some time trying to rea-
son out the why's and wherefores OF
his strange pursuit. Naturally he
could make neither head nor tail Of 1t
for he could not possibly know that
Annessley had photographed the gown
Philippa was wearing, and so enabled
Philippa's acquaintance to secure an
exactly similar dress.
Peters experience made him only
the more eager to discover whether
Philippa was really the mysterious girl
he was seeking. and as she consistent
" refused to enlighten him, he decided
he would have to take strenuous meas
ures to discover the truth.
When he arrived at the Brewster
house, having studiously seen the
young lady who had fooled him into q
taxi, he saw Philippa on the veranda
saving goodnight to Annessley in q
manner that excited his utmost indig'
nation. It was evident that this was
no ordinary leave taklng-the actions
of both testified to this-and Peter was
as angry now as he was puzzled be-
fore. without q word he stood and
watched until AnnesSley. aware OF his
presence, looked up and met his angry
eyes.
He tried to carry it off lightly. "Oh
is that you, Peter? Well, If you will
chase will O. the wisps someone must
look out for Miss Brewster"
This pleasantly was lost on Peter
SLOW do you know anything about
will O. the wispsT he demanded.
"Oh, I don't; but perhaps th'
Masked Stranger does" replied hi
friend: whereupon he bowed II
Phillppa, who ran inside.
| Mr.. Annessley nodded with the great
est good will, and Peter decided tina
discretion was the better part OF valo
and watched him go his way.
He was too fond Of Annessley T
come TO an open rupture with him
and, after all, he argued, what RICH
Ind he to tell Philippa on whom sh
should bestow her attentionsf
So Peter, feeling greatly annoye
and exceedingly mystified, went home
lit his pipe and sat down to 90 owe
in his mind for the nth time tn
apparently unsoIvable puzzle OF tn
Double Cross.
Meanwhile. Mr.. Bentley, furious 8
having been checkmated, was using q
his evil ingenuity in a scheme to .
avenged on Peter. He paid a visit
one of the haunts where he was we
known, and there set forth to an Of
man upon whom he had hold pic
J for the elimination Of Mr.. Hale no
This worlds affairs. This old ma
known as Daddy Helms, had no obje
= tIon to the plan save that 1t involve
+ the employment Of his son, the kio
/ in an adventure which might well
+ fatal.
With all his faults, he had one
! deeming quality and that was his 6
/ lection for this boyle made excuse
I Int In vain-Bentley insisted and It
j Kid" WIS enlisted greatly to his {
/ light.
/ Bentley's idea was carefully work
! out-accordlng to all the laws OF av'
[ ores II should have carried through.
i actuallty 1t evolved itself into a SER
I of startling Incidents, the tnale
i which no one could have foreseen
6 Blissfully ignorant of any atten
on his life, Peter the following e
ming called on Phllippa to remind
of the promise Of the evening befo
when she had assured him that
loved him and told him he would me-
/, doubt 1t.
J As he was passing up the roadW
$ a slender figure thrust note into
hand. In the dusk this man looked
. the Masked Stranger, but he dis
reared rapidly, and Peter moved
- the nearest light to read the u
1t was short and to the point
read:
nYf you would learn the secret o.
Double Cross meet me at once at Rato
nc 1.-THE MASKED STRANGER
nal - q ..aixa ylakan alosin