Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-02-23

ne lay LuBI6 WuLCuluB as Lu6 WnleE
from the overlooking tub trickled to
the floor, pooled in the worn undula-
lions Of the boards, and crawled on
again, In search of some venue OF ea-
cape. And he watched It as Il moved,
FER on it's sinuous back, he remem-
bered, It carried his message of deliv-
erance, his hope of life. Finding an
unused ventilator 1ue, the water foun-
tanned joyously down on the head of a
l~ong-haired artist hard at work on a
canvas.
That artist, after s~peecnlessly con.
templating the deluge, ran shouting to
the hallway, where he was Joined by
his model and by fellow artists from
n%eighboring studios.
When they found their investiga-
tions barred by a locked door, they
broke It in. While they were smiling
suspiciously about the outer room,
however, their efforts to reach the
source Of that deluge were being an.
ticipated by a more stealthy figure,
which, clambering m%onkeylike up the
narrow iron fire escape, climbed still
higher to the small window and
promptly broke It in.
Manley, rousing himself at the
sharp sound Of the breaking glass,
turned about to behold the face of a
narrow-eyed and dark-skinned stranger
in the square of light about him. Even
as he stared up at this exotic face
with its uncanny fringe of Jet black
hair he saw the unknown intruder
draw a slender tube from under his
coat. To this tube the stranger fitted
a small arrow scarcely longer than a
darning needle. Then, placing the tube
to his mouth, he sent the slender dart
whistling down through the air, where
1t fixed itself in the wooden flooring
not three inches from Margery Gold
ems head.
Instinctively, as Manley witnessed
that incomprehensible attack. as he
vaguely awoke to the meaning of the
strange performance, he crawled to
the girls side. There he tried to
shield her helpless body with his own.
But after that he remembered little.
He awakened later to the sound of
a woman's soft sobs close beside his
aching head. And he knew, even be-
fore she spoke, that 1t was Margery
Golden.
IT'S no use, Doctor" she was for.
lornly crying out to the figure nearer
the foot Of the bed. "I saw that man,
and know it was Mauki. And as
soon as l saw him l knew Legar had
sent him, had sent him with the same
poisoned arrows that once killed an
informer in the Owls Nestl"
But this man isn't dead" protest
ed the doctor.
mo, but he will die"
Now, young lady, this won't do. you
know" the man of medicine tried to
reassure the quietly weeping girl
And If you leave me with him for
few minutes I'll make ancther exam
nation. And then weT know the
worst!"
I'D rather stay with bIm-to the
last" said the white-faced girl.
But If you'll come back, in ten min.
utes!" quietly announced the man who
was not used to having his sugges
tions crossed. And he held the dooI
for the unhappy girl as she passed un.
steadily out.
Manley, the next minute, lifted his
head from the pillow.
Say. doctor, what's this about me
dying?" he demanded.
THAT all depends on one point"
wal the doctors reply as he gingerly
took up one OF the slender arrows, no
longer than a darning needle. "And
the point is whether or not we can
find an antidote for the poison that
was smeared on those outlandish blow.
gun darts. But the next point is, how
do you feel?"
Il might feel worsel"
The man Of medicine looked puz.
zled.
well, that seems to be the strange
part Of this case. The infection must
be a very insidious one. wen the
wounds themselves show no signs of
t%oxication. So you wait here a min.
ut until / get my instrument bag!"
When that somewhat bewildered
mar Of medicine returned with his bag
he found David Manley sitting up in
bed, porting fr%owningly over q sheet
Of paper which he held In his hand.
who threw this note on my bedP"
demanded his patient, with a vigor
that was unlocked for in the dying.
II was the doctors turn TO frown as
he took the sheet Of paper from the
others hand.
II drew the fangs from Mauki's
blow gun" read the message there I'm
scribed. his arrows held no poison.
and you are safe. The Laugh
ing Mask"