Tensas gazette., 1917-03-09
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He cOlHe DICK tO you.
Then he slowly took from his pocket
a folded square of note paper.
81 had almost forgotten to give this
to you," he said, extending the paper
to the wondering girl. Il found it
fastened on the thorn bush near the
great bowlder on Seven Oaks hill. 1t
Is addressed to you and think it must
be from the Laughing Mask, for he
has been seen around there q number
of times"
AS Margery hastily glanced at the
penciled note she saw that Davy was
right in his conjecture, and he re-
gained much that he had lost in her
affections as she realized what a
struggle it must have cost him to act
as message bearer for his masked
rival.
"I'll trouble you to hand over that
letter, Miss Golden" demanded Cap
tain Brackett in authoritative tones
as he stepped from his place of con-
cealment. 1--WE had my doubts about
your wantin' to land that masked
criminal in the cell where he belongs
ever since you steered us wrong the
time he made his last getaway, an
perhaps this little dOckyment will help
throw some light on the subject"
His beefy paw suddenly shot out
and firmly clutched her slender wrist.
But the resisting girl found a timely
ally in the person Of David Manley,
who perceived that for reasons Of her
own Margery did not wish to surren-
der the note, and, with quick move
ment snatched that object of cOnten-
ton from her fingers and stuffed 1t in
his pocket.
The belligerent captain now ad-
vanced threateningly upon the new
factor of this unexpected resistance to
the majesty Of the law.
| "Come across with that paper, young
man." he beloved furiously, cor I'll
show you what it means to interfere
with an officer performin' his duty"
Then as the calm-faced Davy ex-
hibited no indications of complying
with this demand. the irate policeman
attempted to decide the issue by physi-
cal force. Roughly throwing a pin
ioning arm about the defiant Manley,
he made a vigorous effort to extract
the much-coveted paper from his pris-
Oner's pocket.
AS the struggling figures thrashed
and tramped over the orderly flower
beds, Enoch Golden and two of Cap
tain Brackets men, who had heard
the sounds Of the unequal combat
came hurrying upon the scene. The
sight Of these enemy re-enfOrce-
ments acted upon the nearly ex.
hausted Davy like q rOwelled spur
upon the flanks Of a jaded horse
With a supreme effort, he wrenched
loose from the grasp Of his heavy.
handed captor and darted across the
stretch Of velvet lawn toward the
spacious countryhouse, with the de.
termined officers close at his heels
Up the steps and through the open
door he scurried, and, gaining the
gunroom at the end Of the hall
slammed and bolted the heavy door
Of that sanctuary in the very face OF
his pursuers.
"Don't be foolish, Davy," called out
Golden sharply, "you are making q
grave mistake in resisting the law and
you will have to suffer the consequen
ces unless you open this door imme
diately."
AS though in compliance with this
stern warning, the key grated In
the lock and the door swung slowly
inward. With a quick rush the be.
sieging forces catapulted into the
gunroOm, only to find it apparently
empty. Then, with a gasp Of amazed
CONSERVATION they beheld a figure
which silently emerged from the
space between the swung-back door
and the wall. For that figure wore
an enshrOuding mask Of yellow
cambric and gripped in one hand
heavy caliber revolver, which wa
vered In disconcerting fashion ovel
that startled group.
81 think Davy must be we'll beyond
recall by this time," he said as hi
slowly backed toward the door, "ant
will now leave you to your own de
vices"
AS he spoke the last word HI
stepped into the hallway, and will
almost simultaneous movement!
pulled the door shut after him ant
locked 1t from the outside. TheI
came a clamor of wrathful voices a!
the Gagged detectives. smarting under
the indignities to which they had beer
subjected, hurled themselves in un
availing fury against that sOut oh
struction which barred their pursuit o
the boldly impudent masker.
But with the exception Of a fair
haired girl waiting anxiously in tn
rose garden there was no one II
sight about the well-kept grounds
AS in response to her eager inquiries
her father told her d their humiliat
ing encounter with the masked inter
loper, who had miraculously taken tn
place of the harried Manley, Mar
gerry became conscious of the openl
suspicious gaze of the russet-faced pc
lice captain.
II don't know what your motiv
is, Miss Golden" he said resentfully
"but for some reason you have trie
/ all along to discredit my theor