The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-04-27

chief of detectives had orders for ~
Sphinx to go at once 10 the CHIEFS or
fee. "Bull' NcQuail. the best head
the detective force had ever boosted,
was On his metal.
I'm going to show you how easy 1t
is to catch this Purple Mask girl" said
McQuail with an air Of superior self
assurance, when Kelly had been
brought before him. lone Of the men
you caught last night has squealed,
and I'm going after her myself"
go to it. boss" said Kelly with
feigned self-resignation. "Tll walt
here, If it's not going to take you too
long" And McQuail. taking four OF
his men, departed for the House OF
Mystery.
AS they entered the grounds sur
rounding Pats headquarters, her
Waterman reported their presence over
the telephone system with which the
place was equipped. Thus McQuail's
men found the runway" that led
through door In the side Of the house
let down to decoy them into the place.
McQuail walked cautiously into the
trap. Leading his men up the rum
way, he walked along the darkened
hall that led directly into large room.
The detective and his men, with re-
volvers drawn, moved stealthily into
the room, looking cautiously about
them as they proceeded. When they
were all inside, the door through
which they had entered was suddenly
barred behind them by an iron graf
ing that fell from above and complete
ly covered the opening.
Hastily glancing around, McQuail
but was dimly lighted by artificial
means. The ceiling was high and the
walls were hung with numerous pic
lures, their frames set In the plaster.
Suddenly one Of the pictures on the
wall slid back and created an opening
through which head and shoulders.
masked by purple hood, appeared,
and voice commanded attention:
you'll find paper and pencil on the
table, Mr.. McQuail. Write an order
to release the two men you hold pris-
oners at headquarters. When 1t Is
written and signed, take 1t to the
barred door, and hand it to our mes
senger."
McQuail looked toward the grating
that barred his passage and saw three
figures standing n The hallway. One
of the men said: Il am the messen-
ger. Give 1t to me-"
The detective consulted with his
men. They moved to the table and
seated themselves. For a long time
McQuail talked with his men In low
tones, but made no move to write the
note, as he had been commanded.
THE longer you delay, the longer
you stay" said the voice from the wall
above McQuail's head. write the
note and you will be out of here as
soon as our man can 60 to headquar-
tiers and bring back our comrades"
McQuail evidently decided it was the
better part of discretion to do as he was
told. He took the pencil and wrote
upon a pad Of paper that was lying
on the table.
Taking the note to the grating he
handed 1t to the masked messenger
The Apache read the note aloud
Send the two men Kelly grabbed last
night"
"Just add to that" said the voice
that had been speaking from the wall
"Say in the note: Let them come
back with this messenger McQuail
complied.
go back to the table and put your
guns on the CLOTH" was the command
that now came in the voice from the
wall. With the guns Of the Apaches
pointed at them, the detectives con
cluded that compliance with the order
was the most discreet thing to be
done.
When they had again seated them
selves at the table and their guns were
placed on the cloth, the voice from the
wall counted them aloud. one by one
Then an entirely unexpected thinl
happened.
While the detectives were in the enc
Of the room, near the door, q trap hat
been silently opened in the ceiling. II
the dimly lighted room the policemen
had failed to notice that four stron,
wires had been let down and the loos
!. ends hooked into each of the four cor
ners of the tablecloth.
When piercing whistle ram
through the room, the cloth on the tn
BILE before them was suddenly lifted
and before the detectives realized IL
their guns had been jerked up to tn
ceiling and through the trapdoor.
: The time dragged slowly enough 70
, the policemen. They cursed and al
gued, bemoaned their tough luck an
amused themselves as best they coul
for quite time. Suddenly the roof
, was brightly lighted, and the gratin
at the door was raised.
"This way out" commanded one a
a dozen Apaches who stood at tn
door.
J And between lines of masked an
] long cloaked men, the detectives wer
: ushered from the House of Mystery.
, will no 70 0Oiar