Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-04-13


still form as indifferently as though
II had been a fallen tree-trunk. Then,
as he was about TO enter the shanty,
he paused for moment on the thresh-
old and flung a quick look over his
shoulder. What he saw brought q
snarling execration to his lips, for
tearing down the PERCEPTIONS hilE-
side toward the quarry came an an.o-
mobile driven at a death-cOurting pace
On the running-board of that madly
lurching car precariOusly chung a man
wearing a yellow mask. AS In a
swirling cloud of dust the car struck
the foot of the hill that masked fg-
ure leaped wide to the side Of the
road and. miraculOusly retaining his
footing, dashed into the quarry. shout
Inc frantic warnings as he e6me-
Then it was that Legar res Iized his
prey would escape him unless he act
ed without the loss Of a second. he
swung about and darted through the
door of the shanty toward the pump
like electrical continuance from which
creeping wire tendrilS extended to the
mined cliff. But before his lean
fingers could jam down the handle
and make the connection which would
produce the jumping blue spark Of
deadly power Margery Golden and
the astounded detectives had leaped
from their place of cOncealment and
hastily advanced to meet the masked
fugitive for whom they had been
lying Ia wait
"Legarr he painted brOkenly.
"Legar is here-he's firing a blast
half the cliff will fall-hurry-hurry-
in Gods name-hurry -
His words and manner carried in
slant and fearsOme conviction, and
that startled group about him. madly
| plunging for safety. barely reached
| the highway when a deafening. rever-
berating roar split the air and rocked
| the very ground under their feet
| For moment the little group stood
in spellbOund silence, gripped by the
suddenness Of that mighty cOnvul-
/ sion, and shaken by their own near
1
dust clouds accompanying the chaotic
upheaval gradually settled Ii came TO
| the scattered sense Of the ungratefil
police captain that the much-wanted
| Laughing Mask was standing close be
side him. With a quick movement he
clutched the wrist of tina. elusive fvgt-
tive in his strong stubby fingers.
I've got you this time" he ytilec
out in triumphant tones.
But instead of replying to this
somewhat premature statement tn
| masked prisoner made a quick an&
dexterous tripping movement with HE
/ foot, at the same time giving hts
/ red-faced captOr a violent shove thai
sent him ludicrously sprawling on his
/ back. Then he darted into the quarry.
threading his way amid the great piles
of rock, with the police captain, who
had now recovered his equilibrium
and the two detectives In full cry at
! his heels.
| Margery Golden breathlessIy await
( ed the outcome of that chase. for shs
realized that If this man, who had
/ just saved her from terrible death.
was captured she would be respon-
sible in large measure. The running
figures were lost to sight, but pres
emily the Laughing Mask broke from
/ the cover of great rectangular rock
and, dashing past her to the opposite
side Of the road, threw himself @aee
| downward among the sheltering
bushes. The next moment his pursuers
emerged from behind the rock and
came pounding toward Margery
Golden
(which way did he goY' the gasp
ing police officer demanded Of the girl
who held the fate Of the Laughing
imperceptible hesitation, she pointed
silently toward the bend Of the road.
Hardly had the detectives, trailing
this fake scent at top speed. disap-
peared around the turn than there
Slipped out Of the bushes a masked
figure bearing evident traces Of ex-
haustion. Slowly he approached the
girl, into whose eyes crept a look of
stern reproach. Taking her hand ha
raised 1t tenderly to his lips.
"Won't you try to believe In me
just a little while longerT he asked
:! a low. pleading tone.
Then without waiting for her an
swer he relinquished that soft, whits
hand and ran up the road In the cp
posite direction from that taken -
his pursuers.
| (TO BE CONTNUEDS