The Raymer enterprise., 1917-02-15

nlm over got an dWIul SHOCK. dis
face was all twisted up with sufferin'
and full Of deep lines and wrinkles.
Then I seen his hair was oil streaked
with gray. When he spoke to me he
was healthy young feller, but when
I found him he was like some old man
about 10. what had died Of some awful
disease. That's about all an I don't
see how"
But Margery did not wait to hear
the concluding remarks Of the detec-
tive, for at this point she abruptly
hung up the receiver. Here was news
Of q startling character which must
be impaired to the masked guardian
Of her safety without loss Of time.
Without stopping to even catch up a
hat. she slipped out of her room and
down the stairway. As she tptoed
softly past the liying-room, the door
suddenly opened and Captain Brack-
EFT and Walters stood on the thresh-
old. The stern-faced officer watched
the slender girl as she went out Of the
front door and closed 1t behind her.
Then he turned to his crestfallen sub
ordinate.
"Never mind doln' what was tell
in you. Walters" he tersely command
ed. II want you to shadow that young
woman. Don't lose sight Of her for
O minute" b.
So 1t happened that when Margery
Golden paused by the mysterious lone
bowlder on Seven Oaks Hill a hawk
faced detective was hidden not ten
PAGES distant behind one Of the great
trees from which the ridge took Its
name. He saw the girl glance fur
lively about her, and then from her
pursed lips came low. thrilling call
like that Of a bird. After a brief In
terval she repeated this signal, and
presently a yellow-masked man came
stealthily around the side Of the
great bowlder. The hidden listener
caught enough Of what Margery Col
den was saying to become aware that
she was recounting, almost word for
word, his own story Of the escape Of
Jules Legar.
Il have q theory Of my own as to
what was used to kill Jenkins In
that fearful manner" the Laughing
Mask was saying, "and am going
to find out tonight whether am right
or wrong. Legar's followers have all
been wiped out with the exception Of
a man calling himself Skldmon. He
was known as brilliant scientist un-
til he contracted the drug habit, and
then. when he was down and out, he
fell in with Legnr. He lives In a
tumble-down old house at the foot Of
the blind alley south OF Washington
square.
At that moment tile detective,
burning with zeal to make up for the
escape Of Jules Legar by the sudden
capture OF the Laughing Mask, sud-
denly emerged from behind the oak
tree and rapidly advanced upon the
startled pair. As the Laughing Mask
darted around the bowlder toward the
secret door leading into the subterra-
mean retreat, Margery planted herself
directly In the path Of the oncomlng
Walters.
you've about gone the limit this
time, young woman" he snarled as
he seized her slender wrist In his
powerful grasp. "an' we'll see what
the chief thinks of your helpin' that
criminal make getaway"
A little later the burly Walters
hailed his frail prisoner into the living
room, where her father and the de-
tectives were still gathered. Captain
Bracket, fuming with anger, tried
his utmost to wiring from her the
secret of the bowlder, bat his rapidly
volleyed questions failed to break her
sphinxlike silence. Finally her loving
but sorely tried father locked her In
her bedroom to prevent her further
interference. Hastily going TO her i'm
promptu dictaphone. Margery heard
the voice Of Walters repeating what
the Laughing Mask had said about
Skidmon, the last Of Legar's hench-
men. When he had finished. the blat-
ant tones Of Captain Bracket came
over the thread Of copper.
"Our best move will be to watch
the house of this Skidmon." he an
nounced declsively. "an' when our man
comes along We'll nab him. II we're
playin' In luck we might get Legar in
the same dragnet."
As Margery replaced the receiver
. she realized the Laughing Mask was
threatened with grave danger. In
some way she must warn him. But
there seemed no possibility Of escap-
ing from the bedroom. Then sudden
scheme flashed Into her mind. which
she hastened to put into execution.
To mislead her father she tied the
bed sheet to the window sill. and when
that gentleman discovered the sup
posed escape, he ran to the shrubbery
beneath the window. Then Margery
stole out of the closet and silently
went her way In her car.
As Margery paused In front Of a