Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1917-04-13
SEVENTEENTH EPISODE
The Vanishing Faker

The staid Wilson. who in his many
years of faithful service rs butler in
The Golden household had seen many
strange aud unusual happenings. was
at that moment decidedly perpleNed.
Unless his beloved young mistress had
been suddenly bereft of her senses why
was she INDUCING in such queer ana
childish antics out there in the rose
garden.
As Wilson turned from the window
sadly shaking his old head the object
of his Solicitous anxiety turned to her
red faced companion.
Il think understand the code fairly
well now" she said with quiet salts
factyou "uud YOU certainly have been
a ycr! efficient teacher
Don't mention it, Miss Golden" an.
sWcr,d her battered companion.
The man speaking in this jocular
Vein was the redoubtable Captain
Bracket of headquarters. who had
taken upon himself, To the exclusion
of an other duties the Self-assigned
tasA of rounding up that mOcking and
elusive parsonage known as the
Laughing Mask.
\ thick-set detective now came brisk
~ down the grass-bordered path and
respectfully saluted his chief. After
n luN-tuncd conference with this man.
Captain Bracket excused himself and
hurried away Left alone, Margery
sat down on rustic bench close 10y a
towering bush of fragrant IilacS, her
hands toying idly with the mirror AS
she gave herself up to her not alto
gether pleasing Thoughts. For these
thoughts, in large measure, concerned
her fathers secretary, David Manley,
and of late she had been greatly disap-
pointed i'm that young man.
The silycr-backed mirror slipped
from the fingers Of the distracted
girl and dropped with II little clatter
on the graveled walk at her feet.
Reused from her reVcrie she stopped
10 pick it up, and as she did 50 a
curious thing happened. Reflected in
u circular hand glass was the
PC of man, peering out through
aaNSening i'm the lilac bush Covering
his face was the familiar yellow mask
with the laughing mouth-slit, More
determined than ever TO ascertain the
identity of her mysterious protector,
Murgery quickly lodged around the
lilac bush, hoping by this flank move
mcnt 10 take the intruder by surprise.
But Margery herself, was the one sur
prised. for no trace of that masked and
evaSive figure rewarded her thorough
search.
70 her further bewilderment she
suddenly saw David Manley, dressed
in his motorcycle toys, standing on
the other side of the strangely pro
duclive bush.
what are YOU doing here?" she In
quired Jelly. You seem to have ac-
CURED Il rather impolite habit OF
startling people by springing out OF
the ground quite unexpectedly"
As David Redeemed under the sting
Of this cutting remark he realized
that Margory's faith in him was de
cidedly shaken.
Gin awfully sorry annoyed you
Nrufgery,' he stammered apologetical
~. but Aunty Kicks over at the old
homestead telephoned could have one
of the litter of collie pups-they'r,
prlze-winnng stock, you know. Before
pick one out | thought I'd ask you II
you had any particular preference fol
markings"
Margery promptly and ungratefullN
rejected this proposed peace offering.
But despite her cool treatment %
Davy. Margery sent a look of tendel
concern after his detected figure hur