The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-05-23
THE IRON TEST"
Chapter s..
CONTINUED from last week.


trapped and left to strang1e as would
a hare. Suddenly he remembered the
sheath knife In his belt and deter
mined 10 cut the rope and take a
chance on the fall. Geasing his
struggle. he stopped swaying and then
with his free right hand. slashed the
rope and dropped to the ground.
Edith, jenkins and others arrived
on the scene, and soon Peaky and
Craven appeared
I'm going to stand guard here
till two o'clock announced jenkins,
"then Bert can take 1t I'LL four and
-"
III finish out the night" Yolun-
teered Craven.
At two o'clock Bert took up the
watch and at four, he went to the
ticket wagon, where Craven had his
cot, and summoned him to the job,
Before going to his own van, he
walked over to that of Edith and she,
unable to sleep on account OF the
events of the night. heard him.
Slipping on kimona she peered out
OF the door and saw him. She came
out and he told her he vas going to
turn IN.
please don't sleep in the van to-
night. she said, go To the dressing
tent instead"
Laughingly. Bert agreed 10 do as
she asked. He babe her goodnight
and she blew him little kiss as he
started away. AS he passed the
menagerie. he saw Bob the bear,
moving restlessly. Bert patted the
bear and then an idea came to him.
Come along, Bob" he said, ZOOS
ing the big beasts chains. I've got
a Job for you"
He took the beast nos quiet, to
his own Yan. opened the door and put
him inside.
Craven mounted guard about ten
minutes after Bert had retired. He
paced the beat for a few minutes,
then opened the door or the van quiet
ly and entered He went to Bert's
cot and peered down. He made a
move Is though he would murder.
raising knife in the air. There was
a movement in the corner. then
growl. as Bob. resentful at being
awakened. rose to punish the invader.
Craven. alarmed, stepped back to-
ward the door. turning hla fiashlIght
on the bear He drew hIs revolver
and fired. The beast leaped and
clutched the man. There began then
a battle. with tffe Infatuated beast
trying to kill while the man fought
for his life. Craven began to loss
consciousness and sank 70 the floor
the beer On top OF him. elawing and
snariing.
Edith. not knowing Who the in
truder vas. saw Craven enter Berts
van. and fed to the dressing tent and
awakened Bert. Together they start
ed to the van. Bert calling for as
sistance jenkins, Peaky and n half
dozen eanyasmen responded. Bert
peered Into the van and saw the
beast elawing al his victim. Whea
the light was turned On the face, the
watchers gasped as theY recognized
Craven. bert hurled the bear aside
and rescued his foe, then be and Jen-
kins quickly revived him
What we're you doing II my Yan?"
questioned Bert as Craven tlredly
opened INV eyes.
Heard Northumberland to In
yestigate-brute got me
Bert vas the first 10 aympathize
and he ordered Craven carried to his
quarters. To Peaky he said.
II looks like a nice day ahead.
Get ny horse and Miss PaIge'g ready
70 We enn start after breakfast for
a ride. I think gallop along the
shore. With view OF the Pacific from
Overlook Hill will do u both good
this fur Sunday"
PeakY. ill-concealing his venom.
said he'd have the horses ready. then
exited toward the ticket wagon.
where Craven now lay with bandaged
arms. lie resented peaky's pres
enee, but the latter Fhot Al him:
I'll ct out when I've asked a few
thinga3RED MASKtn
Craven started up from his cot.
What do sou mean - h shouted
eYou know what | mean.s replied
Peaky. Is he drew something from
HIS pocket.
This Il tho knife tai cut the
trapeze rope and damn near killed
Forde and Miss Paige=an It's
yours
Craven started TO speak. but peaky
went On.
Besides. found raineoat with
Il G IN It. an old SLOUGH hat and u
red bandanner right near Forbes
van I know they dom belong to
Forde Or Bob, the bear
Wait. a minute. Peakyl You're
wrong about me being The Red
Mask That Is my eoaI and these
other things are mine. but the Red
Mask + another man. don't know
him and I've never seen Inn without
the makeup He sent for me one
night. said he knew Bert was the
only thing that stood between me
and ten million dollars left by Bert's
grandfather. who was also my grand
uncle. and said he had reason of
HIS own for wanting To get rid of
Bert. He asked me for money and
an oYereoat, so / gave him a lltse
money and that old raineoat. also
gave hin my knife. Next day the
guy rope on that pole Waa cut and
Bert came pretty near eashIng in.
Personally. I shouldn't have been
sorry Il he had"
Now. here is a proposition" CON
tinued Craven. You keep your
mouth zhnI and help me- out. and II
Bert passes out and | get that ten
million silver lozenzes. II give you
a million. Are you gamer"
IN minutei" exclaimed the vii
laInous ground boss. You tell your
Red Mask" friend to take a few
DAYS vacation and LET me- aIona 4