The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1917-08-24
the floor Of his rooms In a deep study


to iuStiCe?"
"You bet l WILL" said Peter
heartily.
Meanwhile Bcntley's messenger ar.
rived at the house which his master
used as a rendezvous for his less pre-
sentable henchmen, and gave lurid
account Of the manner in which he
had lost the note for "The Weasel"
Bentley recognized at once the hand
of the Masked Stranger and sending
duplicate note he set himself to take
care of the man who had dared to
interfere.
After completing his plans he left
with his chief lieutenant and making
directly for the house of the Masked
Stranger, which he remembered only
too well, waited outside to see how
best to act.
Whatever scheme he had was simpli-
fed by the appearance of the man he
sought SilhOuetted against the win
dow curtain. Fitting a maxim silen-
Ger on his pistol, Bentley pointed and
fired. The man who was seated by the
window toppled over and Bentley, with
grin, turned to his assistant.
"Well, he's done for, and not much
trouble at that" and the two proceeded
toward the Brewster house, where
"The Weasel" was in waiting.
But Mr.. Bentley had reckoned with
out his hostile had in reality put a
bullet hole through dummy figure
posed by the Masked Stranger near
the window.
Unaware of this, and exulting In
having so easily got rid Of man dan
gerous to his schemes, Bentley dis
missed the lieutenant and betook him.
self to Philippa's side, where he passed
the balance of the evening.
True to his instructions, "The
Weasel" hid beneath the window wait
ing for the moment Of action.
So intent was he on looking toward
the lighted pane that he had no chance
to cry out when he was seized by
strong hands and gagged and bound
Only his eyes showed his terror, fol
the face that bent over him was par
TALLY covered by a small black mask
The Masked Stranger turned to Pc
ter and smiled and the two took up tn
vigil that had been kept by their pris
oner.
Inside the house Philippa was play
ing a little thing of Chaminade's, Will
Bentley stood beside her, his eye
upon her, but his thoughts elsewhere
When the hand of his watch reache
1925 he informed her that he mus
1 keep an important appointment ant
4 in spite of her efforts to keep hin
i kissed her goodnight and departed
4 saying he would let himself out. Phi
4 ippa heard the door slam and settle
/ back with a sigh, while her fianc
i stole to the library and Immediate
4 set to work to open the safe hidden
Il the wall.
Il Having done this, he passed to tt
= window, and, whispering to "Tf
Weasel" "Are you ready?" receive
10 an affirmative answer and began
hand over the Brewster jewels. The
IN were all passed out, and Bentley can
NJ to the documents, Of which there we
a number. His eyes fell on an e
10 velope which bore the words: "Furt
~ err facts relating to the mystery Of t
birth Of Philippa."
~ Mr.. Bentley paused and was abo
~. to open the envelope when he was co
=, fronted by the Masked Stranger, vi
had stolen In through an open windo
.o Bentley's face took on an ashen nj
for it seemed to him that here was O
h. back from the dead.
But dead men do not hold plstC
in steady hands and Bridgey was r
on long in sizing up the situation
NV made a spring for the stranger, q
90 the latter, stepping back, slipped a
dropped the revolver. 1t was d
or charged with a crash that echo
through the house and brought F
bert Brewster running in his Dire
W. ing gown, pistol in his own hand
CO. "What's this mean?" he demal
ed, as he faced Bentley and
-0s stranger-and his son-in-law.to-be |
,a no time in turning the situation to
ca own advantage.
:, -" 81 discovered this burglar ransa
m ing the SAFE" he said quickly.
nm. Appearances bore out Bentle
words. Brewster saw no reason
VOC doubt their truth.
! Holding the gun at the Masl
hat Strangers head he advanced 81
biIe "Deliver that paper to Mr.. Bentle
nro he commanded; "and you, Brid{
ew- pick up his gun"
the There was nothing for it but to G
,xes ply, and Peter Hale's accomplice
ans Jail staring him in the face.
in It was then that bluecoat r
the bell and demanded to know
Pc. anything was wrong
OBJ you're just the man we want
as GER" said Mr.. Brewster. ARREST
man man." and he pointed to the suppt
burglar.
"Aha," said the policeman, &c
y along with me, young fellow-so
+bot would rob safes, would your An
and seized him by the arm and unceren
anly ously dragged him out.
wa. = Outside taxi carried the po
into man and his prisoner rapidly q
4 n from the house. Only when the
OK. coat chuckled did the Masked Stra