Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-03-02


Guilty, had not q trace OF his older OBJ
session Of hate implnged on his clear
~ outlined purse Of action.
He war once more himself, By this
time, walking with q limp that was
scarcely discernible. But as he stole
down from the higher ground and
made HIS waS back towards the West
ingham chimney flares he became
nee more conscious Of the whittier
glare along the roadside he was 80
cautiously skirting. This, he remem-
bered, as he stole nearer, came from
the headlights OF q stalled limousine.
Then he made q second and a more
startling discovery. He knew, even
before he caught sight Of Train work
ing over his helpless car, that It be-
longed to Enoch Golden. But what
actually drew him closer to the spot
was a glimpse Of Margery Golden her
self, in a gray fuS motor coat, as she
stepped from the body Of the a and
came full into the glare Of the head
lights, closer beside her STOPPING
chauffeur.
"Are we stalledF" he could hear the
girl ask.
Wen be OF again in a minute or
two, Miss Margery," vas Trains pre-
occupied reply.
But l can't stand here helpless"
protested the girl. Il can't walt. I
must know what has happened to Da-
vid Manley."
Whatever It was, It's over and
done by this time"
But he may be dead. He may be
lying crushed under those fallen pill
lars. / must go on. Tell father
couldn't wait, that I've gone ahead
on footl"
Legar, %crouching back in the shaw
ows, heard these hurried words and
as hurriedly acted on them. Sinking
back through the bushes. he swung
about and followed the girl through
the darkness.
Yet It was not until the girl had
passed we'll out Of haillng distance
Of the headlighted car that LegaT
circled even more hurriedly forward
and swung in again to intercept her.
She was trudging, a little breath
lessly, up a sandy slope, with her
straining eyes still fixed on the NOV
ing lanterns about the ruined mauso.
leum.
Then, swinging apparently out oil
the empty air about her, q circle Of
steel, suddenly encompassing her arm
brought her to an abrupt stop.
With one quick movement LegaI
tore the motor veil from her head
twisted 1t into a coil, and flung II
about her neck. And all the while the
Iron Claw, graphing at her arm, held
her as a steel trap might.
She was already dizzy with pair
when she heard the sharp crack Of
revolver shot close over her shoulder
This was followed by a quick shout
and a muttered oath. She felt herself
forcibly flung from Legar's arms int
the arms of another man painting
breathlessly up the sandy slope. Sh'
could see this man, even as he helt
her from falling, stop to level his guI
at the fleeing figure Of Legar. Sh'
COulu bb0 uAAh nnDOI abuAhg aAu pNAA
again at the same moment that TraiI
and the plunging automobile cam'
throbbing and painting up to the scene
the electric lamps throwing out thei
waverlng, long columns Of white ligh
as they came. Then the stranger, ar
rested by certain gasping and gur
Cling sounds from the throat of th,
half-garroted girl in his arms, stoope'
down and tore the constructing vel
away from the slender, white column
Of her neck. And Margery, opening
her eyes, saw that II was the Laugh
ing Mask bending above her.
1T was Legar!" she gasped a
! Train, followed by her father, cam
painting up to where they stood.
: "And there he goes now!" cried tn
: Laughing Mask, pointing down tn
long lane of light columning out fror
the cars lamps. Across that narroV
river of light they could catch
glimpse Of q tall figure skulking Of
into the darkness.
8 Follow that man with your car,
. the Laughing Mask suddenly cried on
o to the chauffeur.
mo car could travel through coul
o try like that" protested Train.
9 "Then keep your lights on the mai
Q road to the west here, sc as to pic
9 him up II he tried to break throug
r on that side. I'll swing around by III
9 foundry yards and head him OF in tn
n east!"
And the next moment the man l
the yellow mask had disappeared 1
the darkness. Golden and his daugl
Q ter stood staring after him.
o Two minutes later the blacknes
Q that had swallowed him up we
t stabbed by a series of flame iashe
g followed by the repeated bark OF
6 revolver. From the gloom still neart
the shadowy piles of the Westinghal
9 foundry came an answering series {
shots.
g THAT means he's making for III
foundry, siri" cried the excited Trai