The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-06-06
1.-THE IRON TEST"
CONTINUED from last week.

ton but again Bert'S strength ana
acrObatic skill and Edith's perfect
faith i'm him foiled the villainy Of
Red Mask With the heavy canvas
crowding against him, and the girl
cinging about his neck, Bert managed
to work his way to the little platform
and descend to the ground in time to
aid Jenkins and the attendants ex-
tinguish the flames threatening to
destroy the entire circus.
Nm! the excitement none saw
O'Doherty and Red Mask ffercely
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 i'm the struggling
audience. O'Doherty hurried to Jen-
kins and handed him the coat and told
him his story. The latter, examin-
ing the coat, startled all by exclaim-
ing:
s"This is Craven's. His initials are
inside"
Without waiting to say more, Jen-
kins, followed by the detective,
hurried to the hotel and demanded
to see Craven.
Hes been in his room all even
ing" volunteered the clerk.
Determined to get at the bottom of
the mystery, the pair went to GRAY
ems room to find him sound asleep
i'm bed. Awakened, he expressed
amazement but easily admitted the
coat was his, explaining it was stolen
~
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 did not ar
rive and Jenkins asked Bert to run
up to Marvin in his touring car and
find out about the delay. Edith, her
van in readiness, accepted Bert's in
vitation to take the ride.
Unnoticed in the circus crowd, but
witnesses of Bert's departure with
the girl were two ruffianly looking
fellows, Gus and Jim, who lost no
time in making their way to a car of
their own and speeding away up the
Marvin road. A few miles out of
Benham they halted at curve in
the road, and swinging their car
directly across the road, apparently
effectively blocking it, they disappear
ed back in the woods.
Bert and Edith reached Marvin to
learn the special already was on the
way to Benham and they turned their
car about and started back expecting
to get back before. the circus was
loaded on the train.
The trip was nearly ended and
Bert was sending the car at forty
mile clip when Edith caught his arm
lin alarm.
There's one of those masked men,"
Following her arm, Bert saw Gus,
masked, standing i'm the road and just
beyond the car Blocking the way.
But Bert's keen eye figured just
enough room to pass and realizing
capture meant peril to Edith, he
called on her to hold tight and throw
ing on all speed he dashed directly
at the outlaw.
It was a desperate chance, but Bert
won, the wheels of his car just graz
ing those of the outlaws as he
swung close to the inner edge Of the
road and then back.
Their satisfaction quickly changed
from one of the outlaws pistols
struck their gasoline tank and in an
instant the car was enveloped in
flame and smoke Realizing tleir
deadly peril Bert started to outride
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
\,
from view from shore.
Their security, however, was only
temporary for the flames were snread-
ing throughout the car, and Bert de-
cided TO make for launch a quarter
of a mile distant. The water was
only shoulder deep and Edith with
little assistance was able to make
the distance. Anchors were quickly
hauled in and by the time the outlaws
reached shore opposite the burning
car, they saw their would-be victims
speeding away in the launch. Al
gered as they were, they saw a new
chance to effect their capture.
They're headed for Ravens wharf.
They'll have to go around the point
and we'll beat them to it."
Leaping in their car, they dashed
off at full speed down the road to-
ward Benham.
Meanwhile the special train had
been loaded, all but the last fiat car,
left empty to accommodate Jenkins
auto. Jenkins, Tuning at the absence
Of Bert and Edith, stood by the car
awaiting their arrival
Bert and Edith in the launch
reached Ravens wharf to find a mo-
tor car awaiting them and which he
engaged to carry them to Benham.
Their suspicious were not aroused
until the car suddenly turned from
the road to the door of ramshackled
house. Leaning from window to
inquire, Bert was covered by pistol
and he and Edith were soon prisoners
of Gus and Jim in the attic Of the
house. Neither could understand who
their captors might be but they did
mot remain prisoners long, for Bert
cut his way through the filmsy roof
and pulling Edith after him, they
made their way to 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 to. the villain
GUS Red Mask.
The last car loaded, Edith climbed
to the platform Of her van, next to
the last, and next behind Bert's and