The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-01-20

f''4 a 9al' gun tttF vt b
Oblong packing cas-" and, balancing
on this shaky pedestal worked loose
the rusty hasp securing the heavy
skylight Forcing the yielding frame
work gradually upward with her head
and shoulders. she wOrmCd and I'M
dulatoG her way to the fat tin roof.
Catlike she took the teu-fOOt drop 10
the roof Of the adjoining house. land
ing lightly on her feet. and, scuddng
through a door opening upon a STAIR
way. made her way down 10 the street.
A few moments later the medi'ative
Red Fagan. walking slowly across the
narrow strip of shadowy park, ;clt
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
emiesarv from that dOmed building
known as headquarters. She silently
motioned him toward a secluded
bench near by. Prompted by a vague
curiosity, EaCan warily followed her.
It was not until they were seated that
the woman of mystery spoke.
Never mind how | know, but you
have a heavy score TO settle with
one-armcd man calling himself Jules
Legar-T can help you in this
cpn-
ference was augmented by a third
person. who took up his stand behind
a thick boiled maple, where he could
hear every word spoken Begar, 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 a simple One-yOur
master has made it appear that num-
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 | 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-ev!dent-
" trying a different tact. "If you
do what | ask faithfully. l will also
make good your share of the loot
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 off the train
turn to the left and follow the high
way until you see a big white house
standing on hill-a little way down
the road you will see an old barn on
the edge of deep gully-at 10 o'clock
tomorrow morning | will meet you
lust outside that old barn. | will have
your money and shall expect you to
have the written statement disclos
ing Legar's crimes"
Again she hesitated, and then. hop
ing to play on Eagan's apparent Gre
dulity. added. The spirit of the dead
Laughing Mask is working with me
He will watch your every move. I'M
til that paper is in my hands,"
This chance shot told heavily, for
the superstitious yCggman. while
fearing no corporal enemy, possessed
an unreasoning dread for anything
savoring of the supernatural. Casting
an apprehensive look about him. he
bleated out in terror:
For Gawd's sake, call off the spir'
rit. lady. | give yer me dyin' oath
an AFFIDAVIT L do what yer axed
me. but | don't want t go up against
no spooks."
One-Lamp Louie, who had been
drinking in this artfully staged fun
merry with avid ears, his one good
optic almost starting from its socket
| now precipitately rushed to his chief
As he reported in detail his filched
version of the conversation between
Red Eagan and the yelled guardian
Of departed spirits. It was apparent
superstitious fear of his traitorous
confrere But these vaporish fancies
were quickly dispelled by the crafty.
minded master schemer.
You're as bad as some half-witted
old woman, falling for that spirit
bunk" snapped Legar. Il suppose
you'll want someone to hold your
hand in the dark after this"
If there amt no spirits mixed up
in this deal, gov'nor. who tipped of
that bunch O. Grape to all this inside
gossip she handed Red?" solemnly
queried the wide-eyed thug.
Unless | miss my guess there's a
dictaphone planted in this room and
I'm going TO find it If il takes a week. "
said Legar
He lost no time in making good this
declaration, fishing under the fur
niture, along the holdings and in
the dark corners of the room with
that prehensile iron hook which
seemed almost endowed with human
intelligence. Suddenly he gave gut
tural bark of triumph-under the
heavy iron safe backed against the
wall he found the object of his search
and a few mOments' work snffced to