The Raymer enterprise., 1917-02-01


q look aroun'. an the switch explod
In the big blast is In that shanty just
up the way. seen II when took a
peek In the winder. That dago watch
man Is sittin' right over 1t. but I've
got somethin' here that ought to put
him to sleep for a while"
He produced from one of his pock.
cts a heavy blackjack. and this ef-
fective method Of disposing Of the
quarry guard meeting with Legar'f
approval. the two consplrators moved
In the direction Of the nearby shanty
But even at that moment fate or.
dained the happening Of a certain In
cident which tended to give Legar's
proposed victims. crouching at the
foot Of that great wall Of granite. q
barely possible chance for their lives
And in that unexpected Incident the
Laughing Mask took the leading part
Az, completely exhausted from his
first burst Of speed. he stumbled fal.
teringly- along the dust-choking road
toward Wharton's quarry. he had al.
most relinquished hope of being In
ttme to warn the imperiled girl, whose
self-appointed protector he had been
Then Laughing Mask In his despair
heard the hoarse and repeated cough.
Ing of an automobile horn az the i'm
patient driver Of a car rapidly ap.
preaching from behind signaled for
a clear road. But instead Of heed.
Ing those raucous notes Of warning
the Laughing Mask swung about and,
planting himself in the middle Of the
highway. resolutely faced the oncom.
Ing automobile. With sudden grind.
Ing Of brakes the surprised and
highly incensed driver of that car
brought It to q jarring stop within
few scant feet Of the determined
figure disputing its passage. As the
man at the steering wheel caught
sight Of the yellow mask covering the
face Of that figure he quickly Hshed
under the seat and produced heavy
wrench.
You can't pull this hold-up stun
on me and get away with It." he
growled angrily.
I'm not holding you up" came the
quick answer, 'but I've got to get to
the stone quarry down the road and
get there in hurry. It's a matter OF
life and DEATH"
Il don't fall for that bunk" the
driver retorted sharply; get there
II you want to, but not In this car"
The Laughing Mask realized every
second was precious and that the
other obstinately believed him high.
way robber.
"Perhaps this will help persuade
you to change your mind" he cried
az he drew black automatic and
sprang upon the running board of the
automobile. Thrusting the muzzle Of
the revolver against the startled man
he raped out In tones that precluded
further argument. "Now drive like the
devil for Wharton's quarry or I'll emp.
ty this gun into you!"
There was no disputing that insist.
emily prodding revolver. and the cal
shot forward as the overawed driver
realized the desperate man In the
mask meant business. II would bs
but q matter of a few moments be.
fore that speeding. swaying car Gov
cred the remaining distance, but ever
in that brief lapse Of time Jules Legal
might succeed In carrying ont his ter.
rble plan Of revenue. For at that
instant the SCARED outlaw knocked
sharply on the sagging door Of the
watchman's shanty with his iron hook
while Dutch Frank slipped out oi
sight behind one side of the roughly
boarded structure. There came the
sound Of stunning feet and then the
italian pushed open the door ant
stood interrogatively blinking at biz
sinister caller.
I'm on my way back to town.
Legar said in . smooth voice. "ant
somehow l got switched of the mair
road. I thought maybe you could &c,
me straight"
As the obliging and unsuspectin,
foreigner advanced a few steps be
yond the shelter Of his doorway Il
order to point out the proper direc
ton inch BY inch there crept up be
hind him q savage-faced gangster
holding poised and ready to strike I
murderous-looking blackjack. Sudden
" that bludgeon descended with ter
rife impact on the watchman's skull
sending him heavily to the ground
where he lay inert and motionless.
Az Dutch Frank stood with erue
smile surveying the result Of hi
handiwork Legar stepped over th,