Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-03-09

sprang to her feet and fed like a
: shadow down the long hallway.
why, that was one of our maids!"
cried the astonished girl.
And also a secret agent of the
Iron Claws" announced the man in
the mask.
But what are you going to do%-
demanded the puzzled girl.
I'm going to show that I'm still
prove that this particular maid is your
enemy" called back the man in the
mask.
But that particular maid, realizing
apparently that events were shaping
themselves into some final issue, lost
no time in lettering along the hallway
of that shadowy house. She ran
straight to the heavy folding doors
which shut off the library wherein.
she knew, Enoch Golden was already
comforting with his circle Of officers
from the detective bureau. Opening
these doors, she confronted those
startled officials.
IF you're after that man you call
the Laughing Mask" she announced
in her shrill soprano, you'll find him
here in this house, at this very mo-
ment."
I'm this house?" echoed the astound-
ed old millionaire.
You'll find him." shrilled the white
faced maid, I'm Margery Golden's
room And the sooner you get there
the better!"
They rose as one man and moved
towards the door.
But they did not pass through that
door. They came to pause, for the
very material reason that a man in a
yellow mask, holding a revolver in
his hand, confronted them from the
hallway.
Just a moment, gentlemen" this
masked stranger suavely announced,
although the suavity of his voice was
somewhat discounted by the obviously
menacing position of his frearm.
Since denunciations seem to be in or.
der, will you permit me to point out
to you that the young lady who has
Just addressed you is Betsy LeMarsh
alias Williamsburg Sadie, not only one
of the most adroit woman crooks in
the city, but also an emissary and
agent Of Jules Legar himself"
Having made that speech, the
Laughing Mask promptly swung the
heavy folding doors shut. He did sc
before one of the astonished onlookers
could interfere. Then he turned the
key in the snaplocks and ran headlone
along the quiet hall. He all but col
lided with Margery Golden herself.
Here's where / take time by the
forelock," he grimly announced, as
fashioned grandfather's clock which
, stood against the farther wall. The
astonished girl saw him swing opeI
the door and step inside the clock
Then she turned quickly about, for the
men from the central Office were al
ready in the room. And she had M
desire to make their task easier FOL
them.
THAT man came into this room!'
declared one of the older men, chal
longing the half-smiling girl with al
indignant forefnger. Where is he?'
How should / know?" asked the
calm-eyed young woman.
well, he's here, and we'll get him,
declared the man who seemed to b.
the leader of the others. Then Marger!
Golden's heart suddenly came up int
her mouth, for she could see that h
was hurrying across the room in thu
direction Of the clock. She could SCI
his right hand go into his pocket ant
whip out a revolver as his left hant
threw open the little black-walnu
door along the face Of the clock. Thel
she breathed again, for the clock wa
empty.
! But the man with the revolver ha'
dropped to his knees and was pattin
interrogatively about the clock base.
II thought SOL" he suddenly calle
out. There's a spring trap here tina
' opens through the floor. Quick, som
of you men, get down to the base
|, ment!"
p Margery Golden was even able t
2 smile again.
Wilson" she said, "be so good a
i to show these gentlemen the way t
the basement. And then be so goo
e as to have Miss Betsy LeMarsh com
d here"
But Miss Betsy LeMarsh had con
y Wandered a hat and coat belongin
Il to her mistress, possessed herself Of
jeweled ring or two and small moro
d co case, which she discreetly stowe
away as she stole quietly down tn
I. servants stairs, and slipped o,
through the shrubbery.
So preoccupied was she, however,
putting distance between her and th
house which she had just left that sh
- failed to observe a figure simultan
e ously and quite as eagerly emergin
from a basement window. Yet as st
Ie hurriedly rounded the block, in eagt
le quest of taxicab, this figure Shove
e. an unmistakable interest in her NOV
,r ments. And when she had final
W hailed a taxicab and climbed into
NJ the stranger in a yellow mask 30 ca