Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-03-30

threaded the narrow mazes Of Jersey
City, and finally swept out on to the
broad highways of the open country.
Like greyhound coursing a clumsy
rabbit, the high-powered limousine
chung to the lurching taxi, and then as
the two dust-enveloped vehicles struck
into the uplands their speed perceptt
bly, slackened.
Among these rolling upIands were
the stately summer mansions of a
millionaire colony which migrated
here annually from the sweltering me-
tropolis. It was in this abiding place
OF wealth that Enoch Golden had
erected great rambling manor house.
The aged banker now stepped out
OF one Of the French windows open
ing on the broad veranda and stood
thoughtfully surveying the peaceful
landscape glimmering In the June sun
light.
What Is troubling you, Enoch?"
his gentle-faced wife inquired tender
ly; do you think we may still be In
danger from that man who already
has caused US so much suffering?"
1T isn't that I fear for myself"
Golden replied. fondling the hand that
lay in his, but that human monster
seems bent on striking at me through
harming Margery. He Is capable of
anything. but 1 hardly believe he will
dare remain in this vicinity with both
Captain Bracket and Lieutenant
Kirby on his track" -.
Even as he spoke those two redoubt-
able, IL somewhat heavy-featured, po-
lice officers turned In at the graveled
driveway.
IT'S all right. Mr.. Golden" called
out the red-jowled police captain as
soon as he got within hailing distance,
mot a trace of that bunch of yeggs.
They must have been tipped Off was
workin' on the case"
That's fine," called out sweet girl.
ish voice from the house, now father
can't refuse to let me have that gallop
Major and 1 are both longing for"
1T would be hard for me to, refuse
you anything, Margery," responded the
affectionate father, and If Captain
Bracket thinks it will be safe, l GER
tainly don't want to spoil your pleas
ure"
Your daughter will be in no dan
ger while I'm around" pompously an
nounced that officer, and now the
Iron Claw bandit has cleaned out,
I'm goin' on a still hunt for that
masked gum-shoe artist That paper
your secretary got off Red Egan leaves
lot of bad jobs that need explainin'. :"
A few minutes later a groom ap-
preached the veranda leading a spirit
ed black horse. Margery leaped into
the saddle and the thoroughbred swung
into the lake road. She became SO
absorbed in the hquid-noted duet of
two mating song birds that when Ma
jor suddenly pricked up his ears and
SHE'D to one side of the road her equi.
hbrium was seriously threatened for
the moment. AS she regained her pre-
carious balance and quieted her high
strung mount Margery discovered the
object of his fright was a black. dust
coated limousine standing halfocon-
cealed in the thick shrubbery. A mo-
tionless figure sat In the drivers seat,
his visored cap pulled low over his
face.
She urged the skittish animal past
the troublesome black specter and
continued down the road, every sense
keenly on the alert for possible dan
ger. Presently her horse reared again,
and this time more violently. as
hawk-faced chauffeur wearing a
greasy duster Jumped up from the
grassy bank where he had been smok-
ing his pipe. Near this disreputable
figure stood an equally disreputable-
looking taxicab with yellow trimmings.
With a light touch Of her whip, Mar
gerry swept past this leering harbinger
of evil.
A few hundred yards farther on
Margery sharply refined in her mount
and sat, intently staring into a clump
Of alder bushes growing close to the
lake. In thx- clump of bushes she
saw the back of thick-shouldered
man. who. by his impatient move
ments, appeared to be waiting for
someone. AS the puzzled girl watched
that vaguely familiar figure, startling
development took place. A second per-
son, whose features were concealed by
a derisively smiling mask of yellow
fabric, stepped out OF the dense foil
age and abruptly confronted the wait
ing figure, whom Margery now placed
the one Of Legar's scoundrels known
as One-Lamp Louie.
Apparently the newcomer was max
ing some urgent demand upon that
one-eyed miscreant. a demand which
he emphasized by sundry prods with
the muzzle Of q heavy blue-metaled
revolver. After casting = furtive
glance about him, the willy gangster
appeared to weakly surrender, for he
drew from his inner coat pocket
sealed envelope. which his masked
opponent hastily seized and ripped
open.
Even as he rapidly scanned the strip
of paper he found In the envelope.
the silent girl on horseback saw
creeutu0 fhrou~h the huohas <vo