The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-05-16
THE IRON TEST"
Chapter A.

Chapter A.
a-.eninp Ediths hands tightly
80 tha Severed rope Of the trapeze
80 under their weight, fought
desperately to avoid tne pluns
meant death to them Dotn. a. lne
+raneze bar started to slip from IN
der bis knees, he threw one leg up,
ward and managed to WIND II arouhu
the remaining rope. Then ne t"lsteu
his other leg around it and, tor tne
moment, they were safe, their plunge
halted.
The attendant who had Edith's horse
was the first to spring into actlon:
while Jenkins and even Craven stOod
belnless and seemingly petrihed, tne
man ran forward with blanket. Inc
audience was too intent watching the
death struggle in midair TO note the
rescuer, but Jenkins, standing 10 -
ring with the clown, sensed the res
c,ie quickly. Craven came UP ana ~
was onlv too willing to grasp one
corner of the blanket SO that Edlth
could land safely. Jenkins held one
"a III clown another and the host
Ter the fourth u
Bert let EQlLn uIop iL'o ,s,.1
and she landed safely, rolling hshtly
out and making a gracetul DOW "
the now cheering audience. craven
let 20 his end Of the blanket co assist
Edith. and she, realizing Bert was
still i'm a perilous position aloLt'
crashed the edge and held II Wnlle
Bert dropped to safety.
When both his favorites were saIe
On the ground, jenkins exploded:
"That rope was cut" he exclaimed
~ anger. ssI'm going to wire to Los
Angeles for a first class detective
This thing cannot 60 on!"
Craven nodded his approval OF the
plan to get detective. :,
The party then left the ring-ali
but Peaky, who picked up the knl1e
which the RED Mask" had used in
his dastardly attempt on Berts lie.
He put it in his pocket and smiled
wisely.
The act Of Bert and Edith, which
had proyided a thrill not on the pro-
gram. had closed the afternoon per
Torrance and Jenkins, Craven and
others accompanied the stars to their
vans Bert was apparently unrutfied
Nv The experience, but Edith was
mainly unnerved. After seeing her
tn her van, Bert announced that ne
was going to Benham, on the other
side Of the bay, for a set of flags he
had ordered for use in a new act tnat
was to be tried that night.
Take my car" suggested JENKINS.
mo, III shoot across the bay In a
motorboat and be back in an hour,
replied Bert He then turned 10
Craven and invited him to 20, but
the latter replied:
mot me! I've got to 60 to the
hotel and work On my accounts.
Bert quickly changed from his cow
how togs to ordinary clothes and
started toward the bay, stopping TO
play with one of the bears as ne
PASSED the animal tent. Meantime
Craven had repaired to his hotel.
Arriving at the dock, Bert hired the
only motorboat, trim little craft
with a skiff behind it. He then leaped
Immediately aboard and started away
He had gone about mile out into the
bay when the boat began to slow up.
He looked over the side and saw that
it had run afoul Of mass OF DRIFT
wood. Giving the painter a turn
around the wheel to keep the boat
headed straight, he grabbed a boat
hook and started forward. He began
to push at the obstacle.
Al Bert bent over the bow, the RED
Mask suddenly emerged from the
cabin, where he had been hidden. He
was armed with a club. Creeping up
behind Bert he struck him a re-
sounding blow on the back OF the
head and Bert toppled forward, IN
conscious. He did not fall into the
water. but RED Mask" started to
push him in. Then the villain chang
ed his mind and went aft, dragging
Bert's inert body. RED Mask" cut
length Off the painter, securely bound
Bert and left him in the cockpit.
Then he went into the cabin, brought
out a bit and brace and proceeded to
bore hole i'm the bottom OF the
the launch, Red Mask" leaped into the
the launch, RED Mask" leapt into the
skiff, cut loose and commenced to row
back to land.
Bert came to with all but his head
submerged. He struggled to free him
self, but was too tightly bound. Then
he noted hook at one side OF the
cockpit where a water bucket hung.
Working his way to it, he commenced
to saw the rope across it and after a
seemingly endless time, freed his
hands The launch by this time was
almost submerged. Quickly Kidding
: himself of the bonds around his legs,
Bert leaped into the water.
After short swim he landed in
shallow water. on the edge OF an is