Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-02-09


He lay there watching as the water
from the overlooking tub trickled to
the floor, pooled in the worn undula-
lions of the boards, and crawled on
again. in search of some avenue Of es-
cape. And he watched 1t as 1t moved.
FIR on it's sinuous back, he remem-
bered, 1t carried his message Of deliv-
erance, his hope of life. Finding an
unused ventilator fiue, the water foun-
tanned joyously down on the head of a
long-haired artist hard at work on a
canvas
That artist, after speechlessly con-
templating the deluge, ran shouting to
the hallway, where he was joined by
his model and by fellow artists from
neighboring studios.
When they found their investiga-
lions barred by locked door, they
broke 1t in. While they were smiling
suspiciously about the outer room,
however, their efforts to reach the
source OF that deluge were being an
ticipated by a more stealthy figure.
which. clambering monkeylike up the
narrow iron fire escape, climbed still
! higher to the small window and
promptly broke II In.
Manley, rousing himself at the
sharp sound of the breaking glass.
turned about to behold the face of
narrow-eyed and dark-skinned stranger
in the square Of light about him. Even
as he stared up at this exotic face
with its uncanny fringe of jet black
hair he saw the unknown intruder
draw a slender tube from under his
coat. To this tube the stranger rtted
a small arrow scarcely longer than a
| darning needle. Then, placing the tube
to his mouth, he sent the slender dart
whistling down through the air. where
| it fixed itself in the wooden flooring
not three inches from Margery Gold
ems head.
Instinctively. as Manley witnessed
that incomprehensible attack. as he
vaguely awoke to the meaning of the
strange performance, he crawled to
the girls side. There he tried to
shield her helpless body with his own.
But after that he remembered little.
l He awakened later to the sound OF
a womans soft sobs close beside his
aching head. And he knew, even be-
fore she spoke, that it was Margery
Golden.
Its no use, DOCTOR" she was for
lornly crying out to the figure nearer
the foot Of the bed. Il saw that man.
and | know it was Mauki. And as
soon as saw him knew Legar had
sent him, had sent him with the same
poisoned arrows that once killed az
informer in the Owls Nest!"
But this man isn't dead" protest
ed the doctor.
mo, but he will die"
Now, young lady, this won't do. you
know" the man Of medicine tried to
reassure the quietly weeping girl
"And if you leave me with him for
few minutes I'll make another exam.
nation. And then wen know the
worst"
I'D rather stay with him-to the
last" said the white-faced girl
"But IL you'll come back. in ten min.
utes!" quietly announced the man who
. was not used to having his sugges-
lions crossed. And he held the door
for the unhappy girl as she passed I'M
, steadily out.
Manley, the next minute, lifted his
, head from the pillow.
Say, doctor, what's this about me
dying?" he demanded.
THAT all depends on one point"
; was the doctors reply as he gingerly
took up one Of the slender arrows, no
longer than a darning needle. "And
the point is whether or not we can
find an antidote for the poison that
was smeared on those outlandish blow
gun darts. But the next point is, how
, do you feel?"
81 might feel worsei"
The man of medicine looked puz-
zled.
"Well, that seems to be the strange
part of this case. The infection must
J be a very insidious one. Even the
wounds themselves show no signs of
toxication. So you wait here min
| ut, until get my instrument bag!"
When that somewhat bewildered
: man of medicine returned with his bag
he found David Manley sitting up in
bed, porting frowningly over sheet
Of paper which he held In his hand.
"Who threw this note on my bed?"
, demanded his patient, with a vigor
that was unlocked for in the dying
It was the doctors turn to frown az
he took the sheet Of paper from the
, others hand.
.'I drew the fangs from Maukfs
blow gun read the message there In.
, scribed, his arrows held no poison.
and you are safe. The Laugh
ing Mask"
ITO RE CONTINUEDl