The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-05-23
THE iron TEST"
,red from last weekD
Chapter j.

D0 realized thaI - a,,1d
. he and left to strange q Woulu
trapped en- enddenly he remembered the
hare ,.nifa in his belt and deter
sheath KIN emf the rope and take a
mined ~ an the fall. Ceas1ng MS
chance he he stopped swaying and then
struggle nc oo light hand, slashed the
with nlo dropped to the ground.
fOE Edith, jenkins anu nnou u'n Pesk% and
H the scene, and soon re"N' anu
C on appeared. +ond orard here
I'm s o'clock" announced Jenkins,
tLl wv Rert can take it till four ana
- r., finish out the night" volun-
teerea 40 ~ o'clock Bert took up the
~ ~" and at four, he went to the
taye wagon, where craven nag ms
HcAe and summoned him to the job:
cot Tor, &n4 going to his own van' ne
p PERI over to that of Edith and she,
waikiki alhva r. sleep on account of the
unaDlo oP the night, heard him.
eFen ,;no IN a kimona, she peered out
s!lppLD1 oor and saw him. She came
Oh 'n Ind he told her he was going to
turn in. .,oon IN tho van to-
oiobt" she said, "go to the dressing
'VI Iongbingly, Bert agreed to do as
aSEnd He babe her goodnight
sue sue che blew him a little kiss as he
anu +od away. As he passed the
anagprie, he saw Bob, the bear,
llo restIessly. Bert patted the
ma w. and then an idea came to him.
V' Come along. Bob" he said, loos-
.nr me big beasts chains. I've got
Job for you
r;s own van, opened the door and put
him inside.
unutes after Bert had retired. He
noced the beat for few minutes,
tbon onened the door or the van quiet
" and entered. He went to Bert's
cot and peered down. He made a
move as though he would murde1,
raising a knife in the air. There was
movement in the corner, then
vrowl, as Bob, resentful at being
awakened, rose to punish the invader.
Craven, alarmed, stepped back to-
ward the door, turning his fiashlight
n, the bear. He drew his revolver
and fired. The beast leaped and
cIutched the man There began then
+. battle, with tfre Infatuated beast
irving to kill while the man fought
for his life. Craven began to loss
consciousness and sank to the floor,
the bear on top of him, clawing and
snarling.
Edith, not knowing who the in
truder was, saw Craven enter Bert's
van. and fled to the dressing tent and
awakened Bert. Together they start
ed to the van, Bert calling for as
sistance Jenkins, Peaky and half
dozen canvasmen responded. Bert
peered into the van and saw the
beast clawing at his victim. When
the light was turned on the face, the
watchers gasped as they recognized
Craven. Bert hurled the bear aside
and rescued his foe, then he and Jen-
kns quickly revived him.
What we're you doing in my van?"
questioned Bert a. Craven tiredly
opened his eyes.
Heard disturbance-went to in
Vestigate-brute got me-"
Bert was the first to sympathize
and he ordered Craven carried to his
quarters To Peaky he said:
ut looks like a nice day ahead.
Get my horse and Miss Paige's ready
so We can start after breakfast for
ride. | think a gallop along the
shore, with a view of the Pacific from
this fair 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. He resented Peaky's pres
ence, but the latter shot at him:
I'll cit out when I've asked a few
things-RED MASK'!"
Craven started up from his cot.
What do you mean?" he shouted !.
You know what I mean" replied
Peaky, as he drew something from
his pocket
This is the knife that 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, l found a raincoat with
H. e." in it, an old SLOUGH hat and a
red bandanRer right near Forbes
van | know they don't belong to
forde or Bob, the bear"
Wait, q minute, Peaky! You're
wrong about me being the Red
Mask" That is my coat and these
other things are mine, but the Red
MASK" Is another man. I don't know
nun and I've never seen him without
1ae makeup. He sent for me one
nlght, said he knew Bert was the
only thlng that stood between me
auu Ten million dollars left by Bert's
6ld1ulather, who was also my grand
uncle, and said he had a reason of
ms own for wanting to get rid of
oSit' lie asked me for money and
oil oVercoat, so I gave him a little
money and that old raincoat. 1 also
save MIN my knife. Next day the
6uy rope on that pole was cut and
Dert came pretty near cashing in.
aersonally, l shouldn't have been
Sorry if he had"
q; now here is a proposition" con-
.mued Craven. you keep your
P .oGtn smut and help me out, and if
- passes out and I get that ten
Union mon silver lozenzes, Ill give you
million: Are you game q"
49, minute!" exclaimed the vii
4 p ground boss. "You tell your
4led Mask friend to take a few