Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-03-23


A Terrific Combat Was Taking Place.
kempt appearance might indicate. And
its driver seemed possessed Of a sur
prisingly intimate knowledge Of subur
ban side roads, for as the blacb
limousine drew up on It the dust-cov.
cred open a suddenly swerved to the
left, dipped into a narrow valley, and
took the rise to- the railway track like
o swallow rounding n clif head.
Then the man IN the yellow mask
stood up in his car, with an invOlun-
tary gasp Of horror on his lips. For
laundering along the curVfng track
as the dusty touring car rose to the
crossing came an even swifter-mOvins
through freight, whistling its frantic
warning as II came.
But that warning was too late. The
pilot Of the locomotive seemed to root
like q boar's snout under the himsy
body Of the automobile and then toss
1t and it's human freight high over its
shoulder. There was q momentary
cascade OF bodies and metal through
the air, a sudden discontinuance OF the
whistle blasts, and the grind Of steel
against steel as the startled engine
driver threw on his brakes.
Did they striker" asked the Laugh.
ing Masks chauffeur over his shoulder.
yes, they struck! But don't turn
back. Keep goingt For there's an
other car from that hotel following US,
and we've still got to get to Golden's
house first"
1t was some twelve minutes later
that Margery Golden, as she sat dis.
consolately in the %quietness OF her
room, found herself confronted by an
unannounced visitor.
TITS yout" she gasped, as she rose
to her feet and found the Laughing
Mask standing, a little breathless, Just
inside her door.
I'm sorry to startle you" he ok
planned, but as usual, they didn't give
me any too much timel"
But what has happened?"
The same thing over again. There
are FIVE men downstairs persuading
your father the Laughing Mask is .
criminal, and those five men are deter
mined to make me q prisoner"
"But why should they keep saying
this 2" asked the bewildered girl.
because they don't understand"
mo, they don't understand" she re-
peated. Then she turned and stared
at the masked face. Nor do ] alto
gether understand"
gfn..A -.-.r.r -...~ga A-.,a - N-.Nvak
to hide me away here until / can es-
cape from themr'
How can you ask me to trust you
when you refuse to trust mel"
but do trust you. 1 always
havel"
yet not enough to remove that
mask"
"And you insist that / unmask2"
mo, ] do not insist. But II you be-
lieve in my honesty / also want to be-
lieve in yours"
Again there was a moment OF silence.
"You are right" said the man In
the mask. Then he crossed the room
to the door Of the white-tiled bath
room, laughing az he went. But since
/ my hands are clean. / also insist that
| my face shall bel"
The girl stood puzzled as she heard
the sound of a tap being turned and
4 the splash of water.
4 What are you doIng7" she de-
: manded.
, Washing my face" answered a
r somewhat altered voice, land I'm
afraid I'm rather spelling your towel
+ with my makeup"
{ The next minute the Laughing Mask,
o denuded Of his domino. stepped back
Into the room.
"Will you trust me enough now to
y help me get away2" he asked.
Q The girl stared rOund-eyed into the
Q smiling face above her. She started "a
Q lift her hand, as though in wonder, 70
3 her brow. But the man In the door
n way imprisoned that hand In his own
o and drew her a little closer to him.
WIN you trust me now2" he re
peated.
YES" she said. in 8 voice hushed
10 with wonder, as she felt his arms close
about her. Il will always trust you'll"
10 tTo BIZ CONTINUITY