Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-04-27

lCt on tne Watcnman'o SKULL
still form as indiTerently as though
It had been a fallen tree-trunk. Then,
as he was about to enter the shanty,
he paused for q moment on the thresh-
old and flung a quick look Over his
shoulder. What he saw brought a
snarling e%xecratiOn to his lips, fof
tearing down the precipitous hill
side toward the quarry came an auto
mobile driven at a d-eath-cOurting pace.
On the running-board OF that madly
lurchlng car p~recariously chung a man
wearing a yellow mask. As In a
swirling cloud of dust the car struck
the foot Of the hill that masked 1g-
ure leaped wide to the side OF the
road and, mlraculously retaining his
footing, dashed into the quarry, shout
Inc frantic warnings as he came.
Then 1t was hat Legar realized his
prey would escape him unless he act
ed without the loss Of a second. He
swung about and darted through the
docg of the shanty toward the pump
like electrical continuance from which
creeping wire tendrils extended to the
mined cliff. But before his lean
fingers could jam down the handle
and make the connection which would
produce the jumping blue spark Of
deadly power Margery Golden and
the astOunded detectives had leaped
from their place Of concealment and
hastily advanced to meet the masked
fugitive for whom they had been
lying Ia wait.
"LegarF he painted b~rokenly.
"Legar is here-he's firing a blast
half the cliff will fall-hurry-hu=ry-
In Gods name-hurry~
His words and manner carried in
slant and fearsome conviction, and
that startled group about him, madly
plunging for safety, barely reached
the highway when a deafenlng. rever-
berating roar split the air and rocked
the very ground under their feet.
For a moment the little group stood
In spellbound silence, grlpped by the
s%uddenness Of that mighty convul-
sion, and shaken by their own near
approach to death. Then as the fine
dust clouds accompanying the chaotic
upheaval gradually settled 1t came to
the scattered sense of the ungrateful
police captain that the much-wanted
Laughing Mask was standing close be-
side him. With a quick movement he
clutched the wrist Of that elusive fugi-
tive in his strong stubby fingers.
"rve got you this time" he yelled
out in triumphant tones.
But instead Of replying to this
somewhat premature statement the
masked prisoner made n quick and
dexterous tripping movement with his
foot, at the ame time giving HIS
red-faced captor a violent shove that
sent him ludicrously sprawling on his
back. Then he darted into the quarry,
threading his way amid the great piles
Of rock, with the police captain. who
had now recovered his equilibrium,
and the two detectives in full cry al
his heels.
. .
Margery Golden breathlessly await
ed the outcome of that chase, for she
realized that If this man, who had
Just saved her from a terrible death,
was captured she would be spo
sible in large measure. The running
figures were LOST to sight, but pres.
emily the Laughing Mask broke from
the cover OF a great rectangular rock
and, dashing past her to the opposite
side Of the road, threw himself face
downward among the shelterina
bushes. The next moment HIS pursuers
emerged from behind the rock and
came pounding toward Margery
Golden.
(which way did he goT' the gasp.
ing police officer demanded OF the girl
who held the fate OF the Laughing
Mask In her hands. After an almost
imperceptible hesitation, she pointed
silently toward the bend Of the road.
Hardly had the detectives, trailing
this fake scent at top speed, disap-
peared around the turn than there
slipped out OF the bushes a masked
figure bearing evident traces OF er.
haustion. Slowly he approached the
girl, into whose eyea erept a look OF
stern reproach. Taking her hand he
raised It tenderly to his lips.
wont you try to believe in me
Just a little while longer7" he asked
IL a low, pleading tone.
Then without waiting for her an
swer he rellnquished that soft, white
hand and ran up the road in the op-
pOsite direction from that taken b.
his p%ursuers.
CTo Bn CONTMUEDJ