Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-02-09

a IeeilnS tHdt sHc anu iNOo oiS Do
to join those departed spirits inside
of the next twenty-four hours"
The unsuspecting object Of Legars
levity, with her features still heavily
shrouded as on the preceding night,
stepped out of the sagging doorway OF
a weather stained old barn which chung
dizzily to the brink of a precipitous
and rock-toothed ravine. AS she ap-
preached the formal Italian garden
centered about a unsteady cascadlng
fountain she perceived golden-haired
girl seated on one Of the rustic
benches.
Presently an elderly. white-haired
man. whose deep-lined face and trou-
bled eyes bore mute witness of past
mental strife, came slowly down the
graveled walk and stopped beside the
disconsolate figure on the. rustic
bench.
You mustn't take this so to heart
Margery-if Davy could speak from
the grave he would tell you to be
brave for his sake-and as for the
Laughing Mask - that unmitigated
| scoundrel and hypocrite isn't worth
one of your tears
The reply trembling on Margery's
lips remained unspoken, for at that
moment a young woman whose fea-
lures were hidden by heavy folds OF
black yelling stepped out from be-
hind a uncovered trellis.
You are doing the Laughing Mask
grave injustice, Enoch Golden" she
| cried in q clear and ringing voice,
land even now If you and your daugh-
ter will accompany me but a short
| distance l will place in your hands
indisputable proof of what l say"
A suddenly terminated Margery
sprang to her feet. She turned to the
unknown intruder and cried impetu-
ously: Can you really show that
the Laughing Mask was innocent Of
all those terrible charges? If you
can, please. please take us quickly to
where you have the proof"
Wait. Margery," cautioned the ex-
perience-saddene banker. First let
this yelled person tell us who she Is
and where she wants to take US.
This may be one of Legar's tricks. for
all we know"
Il am a well-wisher of the Laugh
ing Mask. Beyond that l cannot dis
close my identity" came the guarded
reply. Il an unarmed and ask you
to go only as far as the old barn on
your own estate"
Still questioning the outcome OF
this dubious venture, the stern-faced
millionaire finally yielded to Mar
gery's earnest importuning. and, fol-
lowing the black-garbed figure of their
swiftly moving guide, they presently
stood before the dilapidated old build
ing tottering on the brink of the ra-
vine. At that moment a thick-set.
flat-footed individual shufiied into
view along the dusty road, the visor
of his cap pulled low over his malev-
olent blue-jowled face and his beefy
fists Jerking uneasily as he walked.
The woman in black turned to her
companions, and. indicating this un'
calmly figure, spoke rapidly.
81 have every reason to believe that
man has kept faith with me, and II
am right shall be able in few min
utes to place in your hands the proof
of which | spoke. But If there should
be treachery l wish to face it alone
You will find that the harness room In
the loft of the barn has a strong door
with heavy bolts. Please wait for me
there, and at the first sound of trou
BILE. barricade yourself until help
comes from the house."
This sounds like a trap" returned
the millionaire, with emphatic disap
proval. Come. Margery. come bacl
to the house at once"
But Margery Golden proved to have
a will of her own as well as a surpris
ing faith in that mysterious defender
of the Laughing Mask Taking hel
fathers arm she half coaxed. half lee
the protesting master Of finance into
the ramshackle old structure which
bore little semblance to a citadel Of
defense.
So far everything had gone in &C
cordance with the carefully laid plans
of the muffled strategist, and with g
feeling that victory was within hel
reach. she quickly approached Red
Eagan, who was waiting near by with
undisguised Impotence.
Sure, ! got what yer lookin fer
lady" he answered in reply to hel
look of interrogation, but between
them spirits an a cramp in me mitt
I've had enc ell of night"
Reaching into an inner pocket Rel
Eagan drew out grimy ink-splashet
paper.
This ere dockyment will put tn
bug on that iron claw gorilla al
right. Now, If yer ready t com,
across wild"
The gunman's words were suddenly
clipped short by the sharp crack OF {
pistol. A look of surprised consterna
ton came into Red Eagan's face-fo
moment he swayed unsteadily OF
his feet-then slowly crumpled init
heap of inanimate clay. Into tn,
startled vision of his companion cam'
a black limousine furiously racing
along the highway. the evil face o
Legar plainly discernible as he Leaned
far out from the swaying vehicle
emptying his automatic in their direC
ton. There was not a moment t.