Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-03-23
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Imply to the floor, where he lay for
a moment in dazed uncertainty. Then
with vindictive oath he tugged loose
his automatic and fired point-blank
at the sardonic face bending over him.
A purple mist clouded the gunman's
aim and the bullet spent itself with a
soft PUNK in the plastered ceiling.
Before Eagan could fire second time,
that terrible iron proiectile attached
to the stump of Legar's arm descended
again with lightning speed and sent
the revolver spinning to the other side
Of the room.
At the staccato bark of the pistol
the statuesque eavesdropper In the
storeroom had stiffened with rigid ex-
pectation, but when Legar's fncisive
tones again broke in on her ears she
displayed a sudden and startling &C
tivity. Throwing of her metallic
headgear. she quickly appended an
oblong packing case and, balancing
on this shaky pedestal, worked loose
the rusty hasp securing the heavy
skyiight. Forcing the yielding frame
work gradually upward with her head
dulated her way to the fiat tin roof.
Catlike she took the ten-foot drop to
the roof of the adjoining house, land
ing lightly on her feet, and. scudding
through a door opening upon stair
way, made her way down to the street.
A Io@A 10 20 two
Red Eagan. walking slowly across the
narrow strip of shadowy park. felt a
light tap on his shoulder. He wheeled
sharply in his tracks, his hand reach
ing instinctively toward his empty
gun pocket. He quickly realized he
had nothing to fear from this yelled
woman who stood quietly confronting
him, and who in no way resembled an
emissary from that domed building
known as headquarters. She silently
motioned him toward a secluded
bench near by. Prompted by a vague
curiosity. Eagan warily followed her.
II was not until they were seated that
the woman of mystery spoke.
Never mind how I know. but you
have a heavy score to settle with a
one-armed man calling himself Jules
Legar-I can help you IN this"
At that moment this strange con-
ference was augmented by a third
person, who took up his stand behind
thickboled maple, where he could
hear every word spoken. Legar, sur
missing the mutinous gunman was in
a mood to stir up trouble, had dis
patched One-Lamp Louie to shadow
his former pal.
"The plan Is q simple one-your
master has made It appear that mum
Der of terrible crimes were perpe
trated by his enemy. the Laughing
Mask Even the police have been per.
suaded to take that view. But you
know, and I know. the real guilt lies
with Legar. This man must be
brought to justice and the name OF
the Laughing Mask cleared. even
though he be dead. This can be done
only by showing in detail how these
crimes were committed-if you will
write out those details tonight and
place them In my hands tomorrow
I will see that your score with Jules
Legar is paid in full" The woman
paused, and then continued-evident
ly trying a different tact. eff yor
do what I ask faithfully, I will also
make good your share Of the loo
which so mysteriously took wings and
vanished from Legar's safe. But re
member have the power to punish
as well as to reward.
"Come to a place in Jersey called
Rosedale-when you get OF the traiI
turn to the left and follow the high
way until you see big white hous,
standing on a hill-a little way dow
. the road you will see an old barn OF
the edge Of deep gully-at 10 o'clocl
Just outside that old barn. will hav
your money and shall expect you t
have the written statemSpt disclos
ing Legar's crimes"
Again she hesitated, and then. hoI
fng to play on Eagan's apparent ere
dulity, added, "The spirit of the dea'
,, Laughing Mask is working with me
He will watch your every move, ur
til that paper is in my hands!"
This chance shot told heavily, 70
the superstitious yeggman, Will
fearing no corporal enemy. possesse
an unreasoning dread for anythin
savoring of the supernatural. Castin
an apprehensive look about him, b
bleated out in terror:
: For Gawd's sake. call OF the spil
rit, lady. / give yer me dyin' oat
!, an affydavit { do what yer axe
3 me. but / don't want c 60 up agains
i no spooks."
One-Lamp Louie. who had bee
drinking in this artfully staged nun
D merry with avid ears, his one goo
optic almost starting from its socke
b now precipitately rushed to his chic
3 As he reported in detail his filche
version of the conversation betwee
8 Red Eagan and the yelled guardia
of departed spirits, 1t was apparer
he shared In no light measure th
q superstftfous fear of his traitorou