Mount Vernon signal., 1917-04-20


the fields toward Seven Oaks hill,
looming across the valley. A few mo-
ments later the staIwart police cap
tain and his two men came pounding
over the same course, but at a 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 clawed at the pile OF
rock and debris choking the tunnel
Suddenly with an eellike 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 sudden i'm
pact of cOlliding bodies and Jules Le-
gar and the Laughing Mask stood in
dazed uncertainty, starirg into each
others eyes.
By warily evading the menace OF
that terrible claw of iron. the masked
mystery, with n sudden trick Of Jap
anese origin, sent his heavier oppO-
nent 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 Legar found himself face 10 face
with Captain Bracket and the two de-
tectiveS. who had been hot on the trHp
of the Laughing Mask.
Before Legar could draw his gun
those three heavy and resOlute officers
avalanched themselves upon him, bury
ing him under their combined weight
as he crashed to the ground.
To Margery 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 a low cry of triumph and
| thin streak Of light wavered Ipon
her. She saw the sinister, leering fac
of the swarthy Italian as he camG
| steadily nearer. She shrank back
against the rough wall as a long. ia.
pering knife, clutched in sinewy fin
gers, came reaching toward her. II
seemed certain that nothing short OF
| 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 wao
vaguely conscious Of being borne mp q
ladder and presently a gentle breeze
famed her cheek. When the fresh air
had revived her and she became &c
customed to daylight she saw the
Laughing Mask bending over her.
81 had a feeling up to the very last
that you would save me-" she mur
INJURED gratefully.
''It was lucky knew about tho old
ventilating shaft connecting all the
galleries in the mine," he modestly re-
piled; at will be quite safe for you tc
go home now, for 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 looh
upon her masked savior.
"Can't you see how am tortured by
this terrible uncertainty" she said In
supplicating tones, 'if you really love
me, you will tell me who you are"
For a moment the Laughing Mash
hesitated, then he slowly raised tho
yellow visor which so long had pre-
served the secret Of his identity
Transfxed with wonder, Margcr;
stood gazing upon the face cf hS
companion. A little cry broke fros
her lips, cry that might have <a1
4 Al zf& 1r~~