The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1917-09-14
Gated Tho door through which he had


fed on his prcviml> visit. Mr.. Bentley
was forced to walk on. The door
opened and he found himself inside,
wondering what fate was in store for
him.
When the party was inside Peter
released Philippa and, facing Bentley,
observed that gentleman with satisfac-
ton.
"NOw, my fine fellow" said Peter,
"what do you think we're taking the
trouble to break Jail for? Why, just
to get a signed confession from you,
showing you up for the scoundrel you
really are. You are going to stay right
here till you do sign"
Mr.. Bentley sneered. "And what
good do you think my confession will
do when it's found out that you've
broken jail?" he asked.
ooh, WE'LL" said AnneSsley, 1--WE
won't discuss that. Here, Peter, keep
this bird covered" and he produced a
fountain pen and a sheet of paper
! from an inside pocket. '"Here you are,
dear old chap, sign here" and he held
the paper before the scowling prisoner,
while Philippa stared from one to the
other.
"This is an outrage, Peter Hale, and
you shall suffer for it."
Peter winked at her. She stamped
her foot and ran to the barred window,
while the furious Bentley refused even
to touch the pen.
"TIe wants to stay here q little long
err" said Peter, and Selling the social
pirate as he fastened an iron chain
about his wrist and padlocked 1t.
"Now, Bentley, We'll see how you
feel about signing tomorrow night.
There's chain enough for you to sit
down, so think it over. AS for Phil
ippa. there's nice, cosy room for her
upstairs, with plenty to eat and drink,
and a reliable servant to see that she
has everything she wants. Well be
back tomorrow night"
With this warning the two men,
each taking the protesting young
lady by an arm, ushered her to the
room prepared for her, and, having
introduced the servant, assured her
that she would find everything to make
her comfortable.
) Twenty-four hours later Annessley
and the Masked Stranger entered the
castle. 1t was very different Bentley
: they found. The social pirate had lost
' all his bravado. He begged for food
; and water, and so pitiful were his
pleas, that Peter was for giving then
l to him. It was the Masked Stranger
who held him back. "The confession
4 first" he said tersely, and Bentley
crazed and in despair, wrote and signed
: the following:
I, Bridgey Bentley, of my own will ant
D volitiOn, wish to state that the offens
4 for which Peter Hale and Dick Annessle
are held awaiting trial, was inspired b.
! a lawful desire to prove me the crlmlna
| that | am. l have made repeated at
tempts on Hale's life. and would MARI
Philippe Brewster for purely mercenar
| reasons. 1t was I who broke into tn
Brewster safe last week and planted tn
evidence of my theft on Peter Hale.
BRIDGEY BENTLEY.
| "That's ALL" said Peter, "and nov
Bentley, you may eat and drink" An
81 assisted by Annessley, he removed tn
III chains that bound the prisoner.
II When the social pirate had salts
II fed his cravings, and still under tn
4 escort of the Masked Stranger ha
made himself presentable, Philip
4 was ushered from her place of captl'
ity and the two were shown to tn
a car and driven back to the city.
Only the Masked Stranger RENAME
q Mt the castle, and upon him Bentley b
Il slowed q look of hate that BODIED
q for the self-appointed guardian
q Philippa Brewster.
! Several hours later Philippa recoun
n ed her remarkable adventure to HI
B friend, Therese Traver. "But yc
q were with me yesterday, Philippa."
3 "Don't be silly, Therese."
= "Silly, my dear, why here is gov
p YOU ordered sent home-one "
picked out when I was with you
IA the afternoon"
", ooh, dear, Therese, I-1-there
a something wrong somewhere. VIII
n has happened to me? I feel there
.ol some mystery about my life that
as cannot fathom."
Is, And she fell into q fit OF weepl
TX and refused to be consoled.
But Bridgey Bentley lost no time
MS idle repining. He marched straight
He the office of the district attorney.
lie "Have you received any commune
ter ton about met" he asked.
ed The district attorney looked a
nodded. "You are just the man We
y" to see." He picked up the contest
I'VE Bentley had written. "This paper "
I'VE sent to me only few minutes ago.
aid ~ thought So" said Bentley. "
you happen to know that the men "
nil rot 1t from me chained me to a fl
Mr. all night, and that they themsel'