The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-06-06
THE IRON TEST
CONTINUED from last week.)
Chapter 7--sThe Whirllag Trap

Chapter 7--aThs Whirllng Trap
Trapped b. the blazing tent. Bert
and Edith were n desperate situa-
ton but again Bert's strength and
aorobatic skill and Bdith.s perfect
faith IN him foIled the yIIIaIny Of
Fed Mask. Win the heavy canvas
croHding against him, and the girl
eIinging about his neck, Bert managed
to work his way to the little platform
ana descend to the ground N time to
aid Jenkins and the attendants ex-
tlnguIsh the flames threatening TO
destroy the entire circus.
n the excitement none saw
0.Doherty and Red Mask Iiercely
fighting. The officer was gaining the
upper hand when the mysterious
assassin caught this time IN the act
of firing the tent and again nearly
sending Bert and the innocent Edith
to their deaths. slipped from his rain
coat and vanished in the struggling
audience. OtDoherty hurried % Jen-
kina and handed him the coat and told
hlka his story. The latter. examin
Ing the coat. startled all By exelaim-
Ing:
This is orasen's. His initials are
inside"
Without waiting to say more, Jen-
kins. followed by the detective,
hurried to the hotel and demanded
10 see Craven.
Hes been IN his room IL even
ing volunteered the clerk.
Determined To get al the bottom Of
the mystery. the pair went 70 GRAY
ems room to find him sound asleep
n bed. Awakened, he expressed
amazement but easily admitted the
onaI vas his. explaining Il vas stslen
from him three weeks before.
Next morning. the exciting incidents
Of the night before were almost for
gotten in the hustle OF moving on TO
Marvin. a town some twenty miles
distant. The special train ID not ar
rive and Jenkins asked nerI 10 run
I'D 10 Marvin IN his touring Ear and
find out about the delay. Edith, her
van in readiness. accepted Herts In
YiIalion to take the ride.
unnoticed in the circus crowd. but
witnesses of Bert's departure with /
the girl were Two rufiianiy looking
fellows, Gus and Jim, who lost no
time in making their way to ear OF
their own and speeding away up the
Marvin road : few miles out of
Benham they halted at curve IN
the road, and swinging their car
directly across the road. apparently
effectively blocking 1t. they disappear /
ed back in the woods.
Bert and Edith reached Marvin 10
learn the special already Wa on the
way TO Benham and they turned their
car about and started back expecting I
TO get back before the circus was
loaded on the train. i
The trip was nearly ended aud
Bert was sending the car At forty
mile clip when Edith caught hIs arm
IN alarm.
There's one Of those masked men"
Following her arm. Bert aaW Gus
masked, standing in the road and Just
beyond the car Blocking The way
hut Bert's keen eye figured just
enough room 10 pass and realizing
capture meant peril 10 Edith. he
ing On all speed he dashed directly
at the outlaw.
Il was a desperate chance. bu1 Bert
won, the wheels NJ his car Iuzl graz
ing those Of the outlaws rs he
swung close to the inner edge Of the
road and then hack.
Their satisfaction quickly changed
10 concern. however. when bullet
from one of he outlaws pistols
struck their gasoline tank an1 in an
instant the car vas enTeIoped In
flame and smoke. Realizing sheir
deadiy peril Hert started To outrlde
the FIRE but soon saw they would be
burned alive in the car and turning
from The road he drove out INTO the
shallow water Of river. where a
curtain OF smoke almost hid them
from view from shore.
Their security. however. Has only /
temporary for the flames were snread-
ing throughout the car, and Bert de-
oided To make for 4 launch ! quarter II
Of mile distant The water was /
only shoulder deep and Edith with
little assistance was able 10 make
the distance Anchors were quickly I
hauled in and b. the time the outlaws
reached shore opposite the burning
car. they saw their would-be victims
speeding away IN the launch Al
chance to effect their capture
They're headed for Ravens wharf
They'll have 10 90 around he point /
and we'll beat them TO it." II
Ieaplng in their ear, theY dashed !
OF IT full speed down the road To-
ward Benham.
Meanwhile the special train had J
been loaded, all but the laaI fat car,
LET empty 10 accommodate jenkins
aut0 Jenkins. tuning at the absence
Of Bert and Edith. stood by the car
awaiting their arrival
Beri and Edith in the launch I
reached Ravens wharf to find mo- /
tor car awaiting them and which he
engaged TO carry them to Denham.
Their suspicious we're not aroused /
until the car suddenly turned from
the road to the door of ramshaclled |
house. Leaning from a window 10
inquire, Bert was covered b a pistol +
and he and Edith we're soon prisoners /
Of Gus and jim in the attic of the /
house. Neither could understand who
their eaptors might be but they did |
moi remain prisoners long. Tor Bert
cul his way through the fIImay roof
and pulling Edith after Inn, they
made their way 70 the ground. seized
the outlaws car and an hour later
reached the special where they gave
Jenkins a brief outline Of their ad-
ventures, all attributed 10 the villain |
Gus Red Mask
The last car loaded, Edith climbed
70 the platform Of her van next IN