The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1917-10-12

urged her to reveal to him whether she
was indeed the girl Of the Double
Cross.
You must wait, Peter have prom
ised to marry you. Surely you can't
ask more than that, can you" And
Peter kissing her admitted he could
not
He fingered over his good night and
on his way out met Annessley. Now
Peter had almost forgotten the incl
dent of his friends gOod-by to Philippa
and he greeted him cordially, secure
at last in the belief that Philippa was
soon to be Mrs. Peter Hale.
While he stood talking with AnncSs.
ley he was startled by cry from the
second story. Annessley pointed. ut
sounds like Miss Brewster's voice, Pc
/ ter, what's wrong?" and they both
dashed forward.
The cry was repeated, and while the
young men were hurrying toward the
door there was q sound Of q falling
body-and stiffness.
Philippa's cry was one Of real ter.
ror. She had just entered her room
after leaving Peter. She turned down
the light and lay down for a moment.
Scarcely had she closed her eyes than
she became aware of hand closing
on her throat, and trying to rise saw
the malignant face of Daddy Helms
glaring at her.
you're coming with me-" he whis.
pered "do you hear? You're response
BILE for the death of my boy-you and
Bentley"
The strange mans persistence and
his strange words only terrified Phil
ippa the more. She felt sure he was
some mailman who had Surreptltious
" entered the house and, haunted by
Illusion had determined to kidnap her
She struggled and his grasp tight
ened; his eyes became like cleaning
sparks. "If you do not come with mi
/ will kill you" he muttered.
Help cafne from an unexpected
source. Before Annessley or Pete
. could reach the second floor masked
figure slipped into the room and wit
strong hands seized the old man b,
the throat. Daddy Helms loosened hi
, hold on his victim, wrenched himsel
' free, saw the face hidden by the blac
cloth, uttered a cry of terror, and max
e ing for the window, leaped out, riskin
the breaking of his legs in his vii
!. dash for freedom
Then, and only then Philippa, strul
e Cling to her feet realized that tn
Masked Stranger had saved her. A
:, the same moment footsteps were hear
:. rushing toward her door.
|, Glide me, Philippa-hide mel" erie
t, the Masked Stranger, in supplica
n ing voice; but Philippa shook HI
, head.
| There was no time for parleying. t
| advanced closer and seized one OF h
| hands; then, bending near, he viii
II pered few words. The effect WI
Il Observation-Disclosures started back.
Il "Oh, 1t can't be true--it can't
81 truew
Il eft Is true" said the Mask,
3 Stranger. II had not thought to tt
Il YOU this now; but I must not be foul
here. You can easily see why"
4 Unto the closet quickly" sa
Philippa, as Peter knocked on her dot
The Masked Stranger, giving her
grateful look, slipped into the clos
softly closing the door; and almost
the same moment Peter, Annessley a
Hubert Brewster came dashing In
the room.
'What is it?" cried her father.
"a terrible old man got into
room and tried to choke me-" said
y terrified Philippa. HE jumped fr'
the window"
Peter and Annessley waited to he
ng no more, but dashed out with
Jet vain hope that they might be able
tn run philippa's assailant to earth. TIL
ed efforts were futile, and they return
Inn to find Hubert Brewster trying to co
to from his daughter description
ed the intruder.
he (END OF THIRTEENTH EPISODl