Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-04-06

youu want someone 70 mold your
hand In the dark after this"
IT there amt no spirits mixed up
in this deal. gov'nor, who tipped OF
that bunch O. Grape 70 all this inside
gossip she handed Red7" solemnly
queried the wide-cyed thug.
Unless I miss my guess there's a
dictaphone planted in this room and
I'm going TO End Il II Il takes . week.
said Logar.
He lost no time IN making good this
declaration, fishing under the fur.
niture, along the holdings and in
the dark corners OF the room with
that prehensile iron hook which
seemed almost endowed with human
intelligence. Suddenly he gave a gut
tural bark Of triumph-under the
heavy iron safe backed against the
wall he found the object of his search
and a few moments work suficed to
trace the tell-tale thread Of wire back
to the storeroom. where the up
ended packing case and unlocked sky
hBnt tOld their own story.
That ought 10 answer your raw
ings," was Legar's quiet-toned com
ment TO his bewildered lieutenant,
and then he added maliciously,
there will be some unlimited guests
at the next seance Of your high
priestess friend, and somehow l have
a feeling that she and Red are going
to Join those departed spirits inside
Of the next twenty-four hours"
The unsuspecting object of Legar's
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 r~ock-toothed ravine. As she ap-
preached the formal Italian garden
conferred about a unsteady c~ascading
fountain she perceived a golden-haired
girl seated on n Of the rustic
benches.
Presently an elderly. w~hite-haired
man, whose deep-lined lace 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 80 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
a grave injustice, Enoch Golden" she
cried in a clear and ringing voice,
"and even now If you and your daugh-
ter will accompany me but q short
distance l will place in your hands
in~disputable proof Of what / 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? II you
can, please, please take US quickly to
where you have the proof"
wait, Margery." cautioned the ex-
perience-saddened 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"
81 am a well-wisher Of the Laugh
ing Mask. Beyond that / cannot dis
close my identity" came the guarded
reply. Il am unarmed and ask you
to go only as far as the old barn on
your own estate"
sim 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 lettering on the brink of the ra-
vine. At that moment a thick-set,
f~iat-hooted individual shufled into
view along the dusty road, the visor
OF his cap pulled low over his malev-
olent blue-joyled face and his beefy
fists Jerking uneasily as he walked.
The woman in black turned to her
companions, and, indicating this I'M
calmly figure, spoke rapidly.
81 have every reason to believe that
man has kept faith with me, and II /
am right I shall be able in a few min
utes to place in your hands the proof
OF which ! spoke. But II 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-
bic, barricade yourself until help
comes from the house."
This sounds like a trap" returned
the millionaire, with emphatic disap-
prevail. Come, Margery. come back