Tensas gazette., 1917-03-09

the fields toward Seven Oaks hill,
looming across the valley. A few mo-
ments later the stalwart police cap
tain and his two men came pounding
over the same course, but at some
what slower and heavier gait.
Far down in those buried chambers
under the hill, for which those striving
figures were headed, wOlfish-faced
man desperately clawed at the pile OF
rock and debris choking the tunnel.
Suddenly with an eellike movement
he wriggled through the narrow pas
sage he had effected, and staggered
like q drunken man toward the ladder.
his scar-ravaged face livid with dread
apprehension.
He made his way through the open
ing and stood cOnfusedly blinking In
the bright flood of sunlight. The next
moment a running figure bore down
upon the outlaw from the other side
of the rock. There was sudden i'm
pact Of colliding bodies and Jules Le-
gar and the Laughing Mask stood In
dazed uncertainty, staring into each
others eyes.
By warily evading the menace OF
that terrible claw of iron, the masked
mystery, with a sudden trick of Jap.
anese origin, sent his heavier Oppo-
nent topping over backward. Then,
before Legar could regain his balance,
the Laughing Mask slipped through
that still open passage into the bowl
der, the panel closing sharply as he
stepped on the platform. The next In
stant Legar found himself face to fact
with Captain Bracket and the two de
| tectives, who had been hot on the trai
of the Laughing Mask.
Before Legar could draw his gun
those three heavy and resolute officers
avalanched themselves upon him, bury
ing him under their combined weight
as he crashed to the ground.
To Margery Golden, still lying or
that narrow rocky ledge, expecting
every moment an attack from out OF
the dark, the passing time had seemed
like fearful eternity. She had heard
Black Tony creeping about below hel
in an apparently futile search for hi
flashlight.
Then came a low cry Of triumph ant
a thin streak Of light wavered upor
her. She saw the sinister, leering fac'
Of the swarthy italian as he came
steadily nearer. She shrank bacl
against the rough wall as q long, ia
pering knife, clutched in sinewy fin
gers, came reaching toward her. /
seemed certain that nothing short o
miracle could save her. But evel
as the knife was raised to strike, tn
miracle happened.
The apparently solid wall behind he
suddenly gave way and Margery fel
herself quickly pulled through an open
ing by strong, tender arms. She wa
vaguely conscious of being borne up
ladder and presently a gentle breez
famed her cheek. When the fresh al
had revived her and she became &C
customed to daylight she saw tn
Laughing Mask bending over her.
II had q feeling up to the very las
that you would save me-" she mul
j INJURED gratefully.
I "It was lucky knew about the oil
ventilating shaft connecting all tn
galleries in the mine," he modestly RI
piled; "it will be quite safe for you t
60 home now, for I happen to kno'
that Legar himself is captured and hi
men have all met the final punishmen
they so richly deserved"
But Margery fixed pleading loo
upon her masked savior.
"Can't you see how ! am tortured b
this terrible uncertainty" she said !
supplicating tones, ''if you really lov
me, you will tell me who you are"
For q moment the Laughing Mas
i hesitated, then he slowly raised th
! yellow visor which SO long had PR
served the secret Of his identit,
! Transfixed with wonder, Marger
stood gazing upon the face Of he
companion. A little cry broke froI
: her lips, a cry that might have sign
, fed either Joy or sorrow.
(TO BE CONCLUDED)