The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-01-13

man finished setting the signal the
Laughing Mask saw the group of de
tectives at the head of the street at
right angles to the tracks, dashing to-
wards him. In another minute they
would reach the car
He slipped his revolver from his coat
pocket and ran through the car. With
a bound he was upon the front plat
form and slipped the catch of the door
behind him. AS the motorman faced
about. the Laughing Masks revolver
was thrust into his face.
Start the car-now," cried the
Laughing Mask.
Instead, the motorman lifted the con-
trOller handle from the box and would
have struck the Laughing Masks re-
volver hand, but the latter stepped
back and thrust the mOtorman off the
platform with a terrific shove of his
foot. The motorman tumbled over in
the dust of the roadway and before he
could regain his feet the Laughing
Mask had the spare controller handle
out of the tool box and had started the
car at full speed.
Leaving the controller box for an
instant. he gazed backward. The de-
detectives had stopped a passing au.
tomobile and were piling into it. The
car gained momentum, and soon it
careened along the rails. swinging
around curves with two wheels in air
and ever lettering its speed
Nevertheless, the automobile, now
driven by one of the detectives, could
not be outdistanced. II was now
scarcely more than hundred yards be-
hind. The car was approaching another
slight upgrade. preparatory to dash
ing across the highest bridge on the
road. AS the car struck the level
stretch of track at the entrance to the
bridge abutment. again its momentum
drove 1t at fresh speed. Now 1t was
gaining on the automobile as the car
full of detectives, in its turn. struck
the upgrade. A new plan flashed
through the Laughing Masks mind.
He looked back to measure the dis
lance between the car and the automo-
bile. The car gave a lurch as it struck
the bridge switch-frog, in another mo-
ment 1t had left the rails and then It
hurtled against the guard rail. smashed
1t and plunged downward.
AS the car disappeared from the
sight of the detectives in the pursu.
ing automobile, Golden gave an invol-
untary cry.
Drive on over the end of the
bridge" commanded Golden, and let
us go down below"
The searchers went down the de-
clivity to the watersde and there lay
the wrecked trolley car, smashed to
splinters. The detectives scattered
along the bank of the river, hunting
for some sign of the Laughing Mask
but there was none.
I'VE have hunted all along the
shore" reported one Of the detectives
to the captain, but there is no sign
of the Laughing Masks body. 1t must
have been carried on down the river
and over the falls"
For the policemen and Golden, the
quest was ended. They drove back
to the Golden mansion and then the
captain and his men took their leave
Golden. still somewhat unnerved al
the fate that he believed had at last
overtaken the Laughing Mask-for the
ness of what the ears would record
only a meager Golden
mounted the stairs of his home.
Margery, wide-eyed, stood at the
stairhead. What Golden had Just seen
was still pictured. in some sort, on his
face.
Father" she cried out. what is II
what has happened?"
The Laughing Mask" he said, has
met terrible death"
And then he told her what he had
seen. She looked into his face. In
credulous, amazed, horror-stricken.
mo. No. 1t can't be."she gasped
out, like one in frenzy.
81 saw it with my own eyes," said
her father
She gazed at him vacantly, and ther
fell into his arms. her limp figure
shaken by convulsive sobs.
(TO BE CONTINUED