davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-02-09

no~nchalantly about, crossed TO a door,
swung 1t wide, and saw that Il opened
into a closet.
Throw that grizzly in here until he
learns how to keep quiet!" was their
leaders crisp command.
And now, my girl, l guess it's your
turn again!" was his next sinister ex-
clamation.
At the same moment that these
words were spoken still another unex-
pected intruder entere the room.
Only this time It was the oddly inter-
ruptive figure of that man of mystery
known as the Laughing Mask.
mot a move from any man here!"
he cried out as he faced that threaten
ing circle, gun In hand.
It was Legar himself who stepped
back a pace or two, closely watching
the automatic.
Before we start any shooting
around here" the Laughing Mask
calmly suggested, Il want Just a word
CT two, Legar, with you. / know what
you're after. You want Golden's por-
ton Of a Windward Island chart.
Well, l have that chart, and / have it
with me. But there is no reason why
women should be dragged into this
fight. So the first thing you have to
do, II you want that chart, is to al
low Margery Golden and her mother
here to return quietly to the city with
my chauffeur, and return tonight"
Legar's lip curled.
And then you'll as quietly hand
me over the paper, / suppose?" he
scoffed.
III hand you over the paper"
agreed the Laughing Mask, for above
all things he knew 1t was necessary
to play for time.
The gun and the map together"
was the prompt demand.
And then what?" inquired the
Laughing Mask.
Then you wait in this closet until
l make sure it's the map I've got" an
nOunced the ~audacious Legar.
81 await your decision, gentlemen,
in the jury rBom," mockingly an
nounced the latter as he stepped into
the closet.
Quick as a shot Legar shut and
locked that door.
We've got him, whatever his game
isl" he announced as he darted across
the TO the green-shaded lamp
and placed the sheet OF yellow paper
down on the card table close beside a
second piece which he had already
drawn from hA pocket.
by God. I've got iti" exulted Legar.
Let out that driver in the bear
skins first hS commanded. and II
Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-02-09

ing ~prorerenco7 IN the nght On .
Heen-shaded reading lamp. But the
man IN the mask, preferrinB to leave
that peaceful game undisturbed. stole
quietly in through the back OF the
house. locked himself in q small room
above stairs, and there adroitly but
quickly made a facsimile Of the map.
Before that map could be completed
though, strange events were already
transpiring directly beneath where he
sat. For Margery Golden, glancing up
from her game, stared idly into the
o~ld-fashioned mirror Of bevel plate
facing her from the opposite wall.
And peering in at the window reflect
cd In that mirror she saw a bearded
face scanned with an unmistakable
scar.
She did not scream aloud, as her
first impulse had prompted, but she
sat staring down at her cards, trying
to study out the dilemma which con-
fronted her. For the face she had
seen was Legar's.
The move she quietly decided upon
was to call the strangely reticent
chauffeur Of her strangely elusive de-
liverer and ask him to make ready for
an immediate flight to the city. She
watched that chauffeur as no threw
on a heavy bear-skin coat and cap,
wound a muller about his neck, and
started for the garage. She watched
him as he stepped out into the dark
ness. Then the bsar-skinned figure
became the center Of strange and UNI
looked-for activities, for Il was plain
that several men, lurking there in the
darkness, had sprung upon him. It
was equally plain that they lost little
time in overpowering him, for before
the startled women could rise from
the card table they found that home
CT peace invaded by a group OF au-
dacious-eyed rufians headed by Le-
gar himself.
The latter bowed Ironically to the
white-faced girl as he confronted her.
His advance towards her, though, was
interrupted by the suddenly renewed
struggles Of the chauffeur, who, as he
tried to break away from his captors,
called loudly for help. Legar, looking
Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-02-09

not once graced his own ancestral
halls, had at least been conscientiously
made, on the far side Of the Atlantic,
after models bearing every earmark Of
the authentic. And one Of the treasures
which he had succeeded in d~isposing Of
to, Enoch Golden was a full suit of
medieval Japanese armor, complete
even to the long-bladed Kagisaki dag
ger and ~grotesquely fashioned metal
face mask.
That leering metal face David Man
ley had hated from the first moment
he saw 1t in position at the far side Of
the somber Golden library. The ugli-
ness of that metal mo~nstrosity, in fact,
seemed accentuated by the soft-toned
canvas painting which stood immedi-
ately behind 1t.
"yust what do you see to like about
that thing2" he somewhat b%rusquely
inquired. The girls face grew seri-
Gus.
That leering metal face makes me
think az the Laughing Mask, and now
I'm almost certain l know who this
Laughing MASK iB.
"Who?"
Count Luigi da Espares himself"
Il don't believe it,"
Eyes, but listen: Quite by accident
yesterday, when we were having tea
together, a yellow domino dropped
from his pocket. He was confused and
seemed unwilling to make any real ex-
plantations about It,"
Even a count could afford to invest
in a ten-cent domino" was Manley's
Tetort.
Isn't It beautiful" she asked as she
swung the about. you see It
is quite open In the back. The count
says they we're made that way because
they were worn only by heroes. And
a hero must always be brave enough to
stand facing his enemies!"
"Well, swing It round then, for I'm
its enemy all right / hate the
thingl"
Three hours later he was peremp-
torily summoned to the billiard room,
where he found Enoch Golden in slip
pera ana dressing gown teVeriBhly
pacing the floor. Marley stared In
terrogatively down at the paper which
the older man held in slightly tremu-
lous singers.
TITS another Of Legar's Spotted
Warnings!" explained Golden, In q
voice heavy with apprehension.
did you speak to Dc Espares about
thisf" Manley asked.
mo. Da Espares went to bed an
hour ago"
"And Margeryf"
"MargerV iS with her mother"
Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-02-09
SEVENTH EPISODE
~THE HOODED HELPER"

Margery Golden's serenely self
willed Aunt Agatha disllked animals
almost as much as she disliked mys-
teries. And about her tranquil Ce-
dar home she felt were %transpiring
events altogether too inexplicable to
remain long to her liking.
So when Hannah, the plump but less
practicalminded caretaker OF that
erstwhile abode Of tranquility, trem-
ulously announced that a stranger in
a yellow mask had left a bright-col-
ored parrot, answering to the name OF
Tito, at the door for Miss Margery,
the bird in question was viewed with
open disfavor. and Margery was sub
jected to many disturbing i%nterroga-
lions.
None OF the girls answers proving
satisfactory. however. her irm-willed
maiden aunt proposed that they pro-
coed with their interrupted game Of
Preference" But a green parrots In
stinct and enigmGtic cry Of Look
out for the Iron Claw proved in no
way consistent with SO tranquilizing
a game, and the owner OF the house
finally and qrmly commanded the de-
parting Hannah, who slept out" to
carry the disturbing creature of to
her own cottage for the night.
This Hannah did. with much num-
bling, and deposited 1t in her chicken
coop.
There Tito would have spent a quiet
and %uneventful night. in all likelihood.
had not a certain INTERPRETATIONS
negress answering to the name OF
Jemima Watson, returned all but
empty-handed to her suburban home.
For one OF the ~by-products of this
dusky lady's activities as a scrub
woman was the gathering OF those
trifes which find their way to the
waste baskets and refuse car Of Of
fee buildings. And her only harvest,
on this occasion. was a half portion
Of q time-yellowed code chart and
map. which had blown from the dizzy
balcony of the Central Tower building.
Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-02-09
AUTHOR OF "THE OCCASIONAL FENDER
THE WIRE TAPPERS." -CUN RUNNERS" ETC.
NovELIzED FRor1 TIE PATEE PHOTO PLAY OF THE sAr1H MAIZE
synopsis.

On Windward Island Paiidori intriFues
Mrs. Goido into an appearance Of evil
which causes Golden TO capture and tor
ture the Italian by branding his face n
crushing his hand. palidori openl the
dyke gates and floods the island and Ia
the general rush TO escape the food kid
maps Golden's Eix-year-Oid daughter Mar
gerry. Twelve years later in New York a
Masked One calling himself "the Hammer
Of COD rescues an ei"ghteen-year-old girl
from the cadet Caaavanti. 70 whom Jules
Legar has delivered her. and takes her TO
the home OF Enoch Golden, millionaire.
whence she is recaptured by Legar. Legar
and Stein are discovered by Marley. Col
denis secretary, setting IRE to Golden's
buildings, but scape Margery's mother
fruitlessly implOres Enoch Golden 20
hnd their daughter. The Masked One
again takes MargerY away from Legar.
Legar loots the Third National bank, but
again the Laughing Mask illustrates his
plans. Legnr sends Golden THE Spotted
Warning" demanding a portion or a chart
Of the Windward island. Margery meets
her mother. The chart Is lost during n
fight between hanley and one OF Legar's
henchmen.
Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-02-09

one glimpse at the sleeve Of me sorv-
ice-coat from which a button had
clearly been torn away, convinced him
that ali his vague suspicious OF the
past week had been only too well
founded. And he wasted no words on
argument
He loaped to that startled figure.
thrust HIS automatic against the waist
line Of the service coat and command
ed Wrench to back up against the waIl.
As be did so a sudden shout sounded
from the doorway behind him and In
stinctively he glanced about to ascer-
tain the meaning of this shout
Wrench, seeing his chance, knocked
Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-02-09

Rastus Watson, Jemima's lord and
master. flung the sheet Of paper down
on their kitchen table In disgust when
Il was placed before him as the
extent Of a days "%pickin's."
Now, RaBtus, who was OF much port
lier frame than his spouse. was a firm
believer in the efficiency OF forced
feeding. And since the days harvest
had been a lean one. and the larder
showed disturbing signs Of emptiness.
that plump-bodied negro possessed
himself OF a worn gunnysack and an
nOunced his determination OF acquir-
ing q few pullets while hunger ran
high and the noe swung low. In
Gtinct combined with fate to lead Ras-
tuB by the nose, take him s%tealthily
ever the backyard fence OF the afore-
mentioned Hannah. and from there 10
ne door Of the padlOcked coop.
n ~ sh0 excitement OF the moment the
ngAnsas q enc bird tossed into the
Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-02-09


that tool IN fho mask tries TO move,
plug him one"
He handed the automatic 70 n Of
the men and motioned 20 him TO I'M
lock the closet door. Then he or
dered the chauffeur to step out.
Now. you beat Il with these ribs,
and beat II quickI"
That chauffeur had not taken six
steps across the room before q sud
den cry broke from n OF the men
standing close beside the card table.
your maps gonel" was the be-
wildering message that fell on Legar's
ears as he leaped to the table side.
The man in the bear skins at the same
moment stepped out through the door.
THAT guy gave you q copy, q fake
copy done in disappearing ink"
Legar gave one glance. Then, with
an oath, he leaped for the closet door,
flung It open, and sprung bodily on
the masked figure, dragging It out to
the light as he tore away the band Of
yellow that covered the latter's face.
That's the chaufeurl" cried one Of
the men. They switched makeups
in that closet, and the main guys got
awayl"
Then came Q sudden trample Of
feet, a chorus Of shouts and the
charge OF armed officers of the law
through the house. For the sheriff had
at last arrived.
Legar, knowing what that meant.
with one sweep Of his hooked arm
flung the g~reen-shaded lamp from It's
table, jumped through q window and
vanished from sight.
The Shell Of Deceit.
Margery Golden, all things consid-
cred, was once more in very excellent
spirits. There were even moments
when young David Marley considered
those spirits as both deplorably and
disturbingly excellent.
For the girls happiness, he felt as
sured, was due TO the presence OF young
Count Luigi da Espares.
He had come, as more than one i'm
poverished young nobleman had come
to America, to dispose of those can
vases and curios which, II they had
Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-02-09

A1A h0 AGnAaAlu0As
Il saw Wrench in the upper hall,
sir, two minutes ago." was Wilson's
prompt reply.
But monsieur, what has happen to
my beautiful armor?" demanded the
softly-speaking Da Espares.
"TTl tell you that when we lind
Wrench" was Manley's curt reply.
Wilson, you guard the front door,
and you. sir" added Marley, turning
to Golden, I'D advise to watch the win
dows there"
"And /. monsieur, what may l do to
be Of assistance?" inquired the imper-
turbable Da Espares.
you go up those front stairs and
stop anybody who attempts to come
down. And mind you stop them! I'nA
going up by the servants stairs. And
somebody watch the eleVator!"
He was on the next moment, run
ming with all his speed through the
house. with his automatic in his hand
as he went.
Il was not until he had mounted a
second and then a third flight Of stairs
that he came to a stop. That was
close beside the door Of Wrench's own
room. And listening there he heard
the sound OF movement within.
He did not even try the door. Back
ing quickly away, he shouldered
against the wooden panels with all his
weight. The lock gave way and he
went staggering into the room.
There, bent over a suitcase, he
caught sight Of Wrench himself. One
! glance at that startled and paIlid face.
El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-08-23
500 MEN
IN B~ERNALlLLO
\, TO SUPPLY l2o

Albuquerque, N. NJ, Aug. 21.-The
county selection board has started
on the task of filling the county's
quota of 1879 men for the army. OF the
25S men summoned on the first call
from the draft list approximately %
will be finally enrolled in the ranks.
Almost an eqaa1 number will have
to be obtained by the board to make
up the county's quota.
lit is expected that the list Of tnose
summoned in the second call will be
ready for publication today. The
procedure will be exactly the same as
in the case of the first list. About
200 men will be summoned for medi-
cal examination, divided in groups to
be examined on different days. They
will have the same privilege of ex-
emption claims and appeals, as far as
is known now, although It rs possible
that the experience with the cloud OF
claims in the first call throughout
the country may lead to a sudden
modification Of the regulations by the
adillant general. There has been q
hint of possible action along those
lines in statments given out recently
by Adjutant General Crowder.
El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-08-23
TRAIN NUMBER 9
BADLY IN NEED OF
A SELF-STOPPE

Las Vegas, N. NJ, Aug. 21.-A pc.
culiar experience was the lot of the
passengers On train No. Q last night
when they stopped in this city for
supper at the Harvey house. When
No. Q pulled in the brakeman gave the
engineer on No. 0 the signal to pull
up so that the other passengers could
get TO the dining room. The engineer
misinterpreted, the signal and kept
on going after he had pulled up the
required distance. The train reach
ed Ojeta before the officials could
stop it. m
ALI of the passengers, the brake
man, conductor and Pullman conduc-
tor were left in this city. The train
was forced to back into Las Vegas
from Ojeta and it was not until $3.50
O'Clock that It returned, an hour and
a half late. The travellers enjoyed
the sights of the city near the station.
Troop X of the South Dakota nation
al guard was ON No. Q travelling in
three coaches. The troopers made
things merry around the depot during
the time that they were temporarily
informed here. Songs, cheers and an
imitation Of a circus band and cal
Hope served to amuse the passengers
and the citizens of Las Vegas who
were at the station.
El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-08-23
AGAIN
CHOSEN PRESIDENT
OF STATE TAXPAYERS
ASSOCIATION TODAY
J. NJ. RAYNoLDS, VICE pREsI
DENT; LUcERo AND VAN Hou-
TEN, SECRETARY and TREAS
URER; OTHER SELECTIONS

Former Governor Herbert j. Hager-
man was reelected president of the
Taxpayers Association of New Mexico
at the annual meeting in the supreme
court room at the capitol here this
morning. J. M. Reynolds of Albu-
querque was elected vice president,
succeeding Harry W. Kelly, of Las
Vegas. Secretary Of State Antonio
Lucero was reelected secretary, and
j. Van Houten, Of Ration, was reflect
ed treasurer.
The members of the new executive
committee are President Hagerman,
State Senator John H. Clark, of Las
Vegas; State Senator R. G. Bryant, of
Portales; Attorney James G. Fitch, of
Socorro, and James M. Sully, general
manager of the Chino Copper com
pany.
The new advisory council, made up
of a representative from each county,
is as follows: Bernalillo county, A. B.
Stroup; Chaves, H. M. Dow; Colfax,
George H. Webster, Jr.; Curry, Chas.
A. Scheurich; Dona Ana, F. d. Les
ter; Eddy, Francis G. Tracy; Grant.
Percy Wilson; De Baca, o. B. Ear
ickson; Luna, Ia. Mahoney; Lincoln,
J. v. Tully; Mckinley, C. N. Cotton;
Mora, Chas. U. Strong; Valencia, Eu-
gene Kempenich; Guadalupe, Hugh
Reilly; Otero, d. ]. Wolfinger; Rio
Arriba, L. Bradford Prince; Quay, M.
B. G%oldenburg; Roosevelt, w. o. Old
ham; San Juan, William Butler; San
Miguel, c. M. O'Donnell; S%andoval,
Marcos c.. de Baca; Santa Fe, B. f.
Pankey; Sierra, Max Kahler; Socorro,
Powell Stackhouse, Jr.; Taos, P. v.
Deickman; Torrance, G. v. Hanlon;
Union, H. B. Woodward; Lea, Oscar
Thompson.
The officers, committee and council
members were suggested by a nomi-
mating committee composed of George
A. Kaseman, of Albuquerque; Frank
Owen, Of Santa Ire, and James Corey.
of Denver, tax agent Of the D.& r. G.
railroad, and the election was by
unanimous vote.
El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-08-23
Expression Teacher
Valuable Acquisition
to State Norma

Arrangements are being made by
President e. l.. Enloe of the Silver
City State Normal School for a series
of public programs by Miss Olive Mac
Beth, the talented new teacher of EX-
preston and English who will join the
Normal faculty the first Of September,
Miss Macbeth has filled prominent en-
gagements successfully as reader and
second soprano and her training both
in the universities of this country and
abroad is such as to fit her for dis
tinctive work'in her chosen field. Dur
ing the past year she has given over
seventy recitals for clubs. high schools
and colleges throughout the middle
west. These entertainments included
miscellaneous programs as well as lee
ture fecitals Of Riley, Shaw, Yeats,
Wagner and other moderns.
AS director of school plays and con
tests Miss Macbeth will find al i'm
portant place in the work of the. Nor
NAL. She has put on amateur dramas
with particular success in her service
as head of the department of Express
sion in the State Normal of Wayne,
Neb. She has been able to combine
the popular element with a discrimin-
ating regard for the best standards Of
dramatic art. Miss Macbeth has made
a special study. of W~agnerian drama
and during the past year has studied
voice with Walter Wheatly, former
tenor OF the San Carlos Grand Opera
company.
The Silver City Normal School
opens September 4 and a large en-
rollment is anticipated for the winter
session.
El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-08-23
SAM IS NOW,
GIVING ATTENTION TO
BABY CONSERVATION
ANNOUNCEMENT MADE or CIVIL
SERVICE EXAMINATIONS FOR
EXPERTS AND ASSISTANTS I'M
MORTALITY PREVENTION

The United States government is
paying particular attention now to the
important work OF conserving the ba-
bies.
The mortality Of infants is great,
particularly in summer, in many local
tiles, and Uncle Sam is DESTROYS of
knowing what to do about it. For this
reason the civil service commission
has announced two examinations to be
held on September Is here and in
other cities. The first is for assistants
in the prevention of infant mortality
and is for ONE only, the salary to
be $180o to $4,000 a year. 1t is to fill
vacancies in the Children's Bureau.
department of labor, and the duties of
appointees will be to assist in conduct.
ing in rural and urban communities in
yestigations into the causes of infant,
child and maternal mortality and into
community measures for their proven
tion, especially into infant, parental,
and obstetrical nursing and care. Re
ports are to be made which will likely
be Of help to various communities
where children have been dying for
lack of proper attention. The appli-
cant for the position must be a gradu-
ate nurse.
The second examination is for ex-
perts in the prevention Of infant NOR
tality and is open to both men and
women. 1t is. to fill vacancies in the
Children's Bureau, Department Of La
Dor, at salaries ranging from $2400 to
$1,000 a year. Graduation from a medi-
cal school of recognized standing and
at least three years specialization in
the hygiene and diseases Of childhood,
or in, the prevention of infant and
child mortality by public or private
agencies, are prerequisites FOR consid-
GRAFTON for these positions. In view of
the scarcity of doctors in this country
since the declaration of war it may be
extremely difficult for the government
to obtain the proper persons for this
important work. aoeHRtsl vHR9 81
El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-08-23

cages were two matters to be taken
up. Certainly Investigations and re-
ports can be made" he declared.
The annual meerng of the Tax
payers association opened at 10
o'clock this morning, and continued
until after ~ O'clock, when adjourn
ment was taken. After opening the
meeting, President Hagerman read his
annual address, which is reported
elsewhere in this issue, and Director
A. II. James, who acted as secretary,
presented a financial report showing
the receipts of the association during
the two-year period 1915-17 to have
been 1872, 5.04, and the expenses
$~2O,5S0.91. A budget for 1918, pre-
pared by the executive committee,
and calling for $13,500, also was pre-
sented. ~
The meeting failed to develop any
complaints or friction.
Among those in attendance at the
meeting were President Hagerman, d.
rector A.. r.. James, Governor Lind
sey, Chief Justice Hanna, Attorney
General Patton, Senator John s.
Clark, Secretary of State Antonio Lu-
Zero, Judge Reed Holloman, Judge
John r. McFie; George @. Tunell, e.
7. Cartilage, C. E. Jewett, Capt. W.
G. Reid, and Avery Turner. of the
Santa Fe railroad; w. A. Hawkins
and H. d. Harding, Of the q. p. &
s. W.; James Corey, of the D. & r.
g.; r. v. Cowden, of the Southern
Pacific; J. A. Israel, of the Colorado
& Southern; Senator G.. %. Kaseman,
J, Van Houten, R. F. Asplund, Frank
r. L. Baca, Fred Fornoff, By
o. Beall, Major w. H. H. Lew
allyn, Frank Owen, Col. r. Il. Twitch-
I'll. A NJ. Hove.