Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-04-06

with a vindictive oath he tugged loose
his automatic and fred point-blank
at the sardonic face bending over him.
A purple mist clouded the gunman's
aim and the bullet spent itself with a
soft PUNK in the plastered ceiling.
Before Eagan could FIRE a second time,
that terrible iron ~projectile attached
to the stump of Legar's arm descended
again with lightning speed and sent
the revolver spinning to the other side
Of the room.
At the staccato bark OF the pistol
the statuesque e~avesdropper in the
storeroom had stifened with rigid ex-
pectation, but when Legar's incisive
tones again broke in on her ears she
displayed a sudden and startling ac-
tivity. Throwing of her metallic
headgear. she quickly appended an
oblong packing case and, balancing
on this Hhaky pedestal, worked loose
the rusty hasp securing the heavy
skylight. Forcing the yielding frame
work gradually upward with her head
and shoulders. she wormed and I'M
dulated her way to the fiat tin roof.
Catlike she took the ten-foot drop to
the roof Of the adjoining house, land
ing lightly on her feet. and, scudding
through a door opening upon a stair
way. made her way down to the street.
A few moments later the meditatIve
Red Eagan. walking slowly across the
narrow strip Of shadowy park, Felt a,
light tap on his shoulder. He wheeled
sharply in HIS tracks. his hand reach.
ting instinctively toward his empty
gun pocket. He quickly realized he
had nothing to fear from this yelled
woman who stood quietly confronting
him, and who in no way resembled an
emissary from that domed building
known as headquarters. She silently
motioned him toward a secluded
bench near by. Prompted by a vague
curiosity. Eagan warily followed her.
II was not until they were seated that
the oma of mystery spoke.
Never mind how I know, but you
have a heavy score to settle with a
one-armed man calling himself Jules
Legar-I can help you in this"
At that mr.uent this strange con-
ference was augmented by a third
person. who took up his stand behind
a thick-boled maple, where he could
hear every word spoken. Legar, sur
missing the mutinous gunman was in
a mood to stir up trouble, had dis
patched One-Lamp Louie to shadow
his former pal.
THE plan is a simple one-your
master has made It appear that a num-
Der OF terrible crimes were perpe-
trated by his enemy. the Laughing
Mask. Even the police have been per-
suaded to take that view. But you
know. and l know, the real guilt lies
with Legar. This man must be
brought to Justice and the name Of
the Laughing Mask cleared, even
though he be dead. This can be done
only by showing in detail how these
crimes were committed-if you will
write out those details tonight and
place them In my hands tomorrow
l win see that your score with Jules
Legar is paid in full" The woman
BauoNuf anu AnEn
ly trying a different tact. "If you
do what ! ask faithfully, l will also
make good your share of the loot
which so mysteriously took wings and
vanished from Legar's safe. But re-
member have the power to punish
as well as to reward.
Come to a place in Jersey called
Rosedale-when you get of the train
turn to the left and follow the high
way until you see a big white house
standing on n hill-a little way down
the road you will see an old barn on
the edge of a deep gully-at 10 o'clock
tomorrow morning I VIII meet you
Just outside that old barn. I will have
your money and shall expect you to
have the written statement disclos-
ing Legar's crimes"
Again she hesitated. and then, hop
ing to play on Eagan's apparent Gre
dulity, added. The spirit OF the dead
Laughing Mask is working with me-
He will watch your every move. I'M
I'll that paper is in my handsl"
This chance shot told heavily, for
the superstitious yeggman, while
fearing no corporal enemy. possessed
an unreasoning dread for anything
savoring OF the supernatural. Casting
IN apprehensive look about him, he
bleated out in terror;
For Gawd's sake, call on the spir-
rit. lady. l give yer me dyin' oath
an ahydavit Z do what yer axed
me. but l don't want Z go up against
no spooks."
One-Lamp Louie. who had been
drinking in this artfully staged hum-
merry with avid ears. his one good
optic almost starting from It's socket.
now precipitately rushed to his chief.
AS ne reported In detail his hlched
version Of the conversation between
Red Eagah and the yelled guardian
OF departed spirits. II was apparent
ne shared in no light measure the
superstitious fear OF his t~raitorous
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