The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-02-17
Even as the Knife Was Raised &c
Strike, the Miracle Happened.

the fields toward Seven Oaks hill,
looming across the valley. y f." mo-
mcnIS later the stalwart pole cap
tain and his two men came pouudIn-
over the same course. hut at some
what slower and heavier gait.
Far down in those buried chambers
under the hill, for which those striving
figures were headed. wolfiSh-faced
man desperately clawcd nj the pile of
rock and debris choking the tunnel.
suddenly with an crllike movement
he wriggled through the narrow pas
sage he had effected. and staggered
like a drunken man toward the ladder,
his scar-ravaged face livid with dread
apprehension.
He made his way through the open
ing and stood confusedly blinking in
the bright flood of sunlight. The next
moment a running figure bore down
upon the outlaw from the other side
of the rock. There was Il sudden i'm
pact of ColIiGiug bodies and Jules Lee
gar and the Laughing Mask stood in
dazed uncertainty, staring into each
others eyes.
BY warily evading the menace Of
! that terrible claw of iron, the masked
mystery, with sudden trick of Jap
ancSe origin. sent his heavier onpo-
nont topping over backward. Then,
before LeGar could regain his balance,
| the Laughing Mask slipped through
| that still open passage into the bowl
der, the panel closing sharply as he
| stepped on the platform. The next in,
| slant Lcgar found himself face 10 face
with Captain Bracket and the two de.
tectivcS. who had been hot on the trai,
of the Laughing Mask.
Before Lcgar could draw his gun
those three heavy and rcSOlute officers
avalanchcd themselves upon him, bury.
| ing him under their combined weight
as he crashed To the ground.
To Margcry Golden, still lying on
that narrow rocky ledge, expecting
every moment an attack from out of
the dark. the passing time had seemed
like fearful eternity. She had heard
Black Tony creeping about below her
in an apparently futile search for his
flaShlight.
| Then came q low cry Of triumph and
thin streak of light wavered upon
her. She saw the sinister, leering face
of the swarthy Italian as he came
steadily nearer. She shrank back
against the rough wall as long, Ia
pering knife. Clutched in Sinewy fin
gers. came reaching toward her. II
seemed certain that nothing short OF
a miracle could save her. But even
as the knife was raised TO strike, the
miracle happened.
The apparently solid wall behind her
suddenly gave way and Margery felt
herself quickly pulled through an open
Ing by strong, tender arms. She was
vaguely conscious Of being borne up
ladder and presently n gentle breeze
famed her cheek. When the fresh air
had revived her and she became ac'
cuStomed to daylight she saw the
Laughing Mask bending over her.
Il had feeling up to the very last
that Won would save me, she muir
INJURED gratefully.
at was lucky I knew about the old
ventilatiug shaft connecting all the
galleries in the mine" he mOdcStly re
piled: lit will be quite safe for you tc
go home now. for l happen to know
that Legar himself is captured and his
men have all met the final punishment
they so richly deserved
But Margery fixed a pleading looB
upon her masked savior.
, Cant You see how l am tortured b!
, this terrible uncertainty she said IL
supplicating tones, 'if you really love
me, YOU will tell me who you are
For a moment the Laughing MASK
1 heSitated. then he slowly raised the
! yellow visor which 50 long had pre-
= served the secret of his identity
! TranSfixed with wonder, MarSerS
stood gazing upon the face OF hei
| companion. \ little cry broke from
= her lips. cry that might have signl
= fed either joy or sorrow.
CTO BE CONCLUDEDD