Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-02-09
IRON
yrAG|LI|
)byAkhuf

pectation, but when Legars incisive
tones again broke in on her ears she
displayed a sudden and startling &C
tivity Throwing off her metallic
headgear. she quickly appended an
oblong packing case 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 wormed and I'M
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 few moments later the meditative
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
T, emissary from that domed building
known as headquarters. She silently
motioned him toward a secluded
bench near by. Prompted by vague
curiosity, Eagan 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-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
thick boiled maple. where he could
hear every word spoken. Legar. sur
missing the mutinous gunman was in
, 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 1t appear that num-
Der of terrible crimes were perpe-
] trated by his enemy, the Laughing
Mask. Ever the police have been per-
|
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
| will see that your score with Jules
Legar is paid in full" The woman
paused, and then continued-evident-
ly trying a different tact. III you
do what / ask faithfully, 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 we'll as to reward.
Como 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 big white house
standing on a 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 I will meet you
| Just 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
dul,ty. 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 of the spir-
rit, lady l give yer me dyin' oath
an affydavit t do what yer axed
me, but don't want t 60 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
he shared In no light measure the
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. govnor, who tipped off
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 IL it 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 a gut