Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-03-16
TWELFTH EPISODE
The Haunted Canvas.

Inc OF Ian MhFb was y
very happy girl. SO happy. in fact,
was the -freckled-nosed Peggy that
there were times when the sheer
city OF her good fortune somewhat
frightened her. For the tide had
turned. The O'Mara family, as Peggy
put Il, was at last in clover. That mys-
FERROUS Fighter Of wrongs known as
the Laughing Mask had interested
himself in getting honest work for
Dan O'Mara- And that gracious-eyed
lady known as Margery Golden. once
she had realized the true position OF
the family, had become equally inter
ested In doing what she could for the
spindlelegged Peggy.
II Is true, none the less, that this
aforementioned young lady's benefac-
tress had been momentarily nonplused
by Peggy's choice OF a vocation, when
this choice was placed before her.
what would you like to do most?'
Margery had asked at the end Of her
second trip to the O'Mara cottage
with a bundle Of clothes for the all
but breathless Peggy.
"Be a artists model" promptly an
nounced the rapt-eyed factory girl.
"But why a model2" asked the
amazed Miss Golden.
"To doll up in glad rags and get
meself painted" explained the dream
or Of the dye watts. And odd as that
choice seemed to her. Margery Golden
did not depart from her promise. She
sought out her artist friend, Frank
Aimick, and inveigled him to expert
ment with a new and somewhat un-
tried model.
Frank Aimick, however, o found
the ardent-eyed young Peggy more Of
a help to him than he had anticipated.
Some OF her unctuous yet uncouth at
titudinizing, in fact, brought a smile
20 the face Of the busy artist.
But that smile wal never broader
than when he noticed her standing
Wide-eyed before the large canvas
above the fireplace at the end Of his
studio. For this painting. which bore
the title OF "The Vigilante," was a re-
markable piece OF work, in more ways
than one. II showed the life-size fig
ure of a frontiersman staring out into
the room. with a leveled carbine at
his buckskinned shoulder. But the ar
resting feature Of the painting lay
in the fact that both the ayes OF the
figure and the barrel OF the leveled
rife seemed always to be directed at
the spectator. no matter what position
the spectator might take.
"That guy gives me the willies!"
Peggy protested as she made her way
back 70 the model throne.
"Why2" asked the smiling man at
the easel.
He keeps such q bead on you. no
matter whore you get In this room!'
was the girls reply.
But destiny. In the form OF n Jules
Legar, had secretly ordained that
Peggy's happiness should not be a last
ing one. For Peggy O'BIara was no
longer a trivial factor In the activities
OF the Iron Claw. This slip OF a girl
had brought defeat to his plans when
success seemed we'll within his hand,
And for these humiliations Legar de
clded that the girl should pay, and pay
10 the full.
The modest home Of the o'Maras
however. had no inkling OF this deci
sion until Dan O'Mara himself, wan.
dering about his combined kitchen and
living room IN search OF his pipe, was
somewhat startled to see a square OF
paper pinned 10 the faded door panel
Peggy herself. Joining her father, was
equally mystihed by this slip OF paper,
for It's surface showed nothing but q
round blot or two Of black ink on Q
square Of white. Neither Dan O'Maru
nor his daughter had any eason Ia
know the meaning OF the spotted
warning. any more than they knew
that one Mauld. the 5tealthy emissary
Of the Iron Claw. stood hidden behind
ne walls OF q Of the three cottages
commanding q clear view OF the
O'Mara homo.
They had ~ way Of knowing thai
ais same Mauh iurked there behind Z
suffered window. patiently watching
hour aftaF hour. the house across the
~ Ooas hoaids him ~ be watched