The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-05-09
THE IRON test
ChaDter 3

tho moment from deatn
SAVED To- rs van plunged on the
as me The chasm hundreds o. rect
road ~ Dart chung with one arm 20
below p eh ~ the over-hanging tree,
the N 1Ii+b,s arms about his neck
with E ~ great strength, Slapped Dy
t theH narrowing experiences %, % az he
tl !ebt before, gave way ne Daue Zig
nisH sIide down his form ana drop "
glri - lad which she did ana scarcely
the L Shn landed, on the very DRINK OF
hau n go then he fell an inert
tno psonseless form beside her:
ana S0 nn the road on their horses,
RAJ and Peaky watched the re-
Cra'ot their latest villainous plot
SUI +he brave heir to the Beres-
asai ,,,i1liong and the exultation on
1o[u 600 of the former turned to rage
lne ho saw Bert had escaped the
d. tb nlunge. Turning angirly to
aeH1n craven ordered him to ride
fe4 rec and summon Jenkins, while he
raIloped to the assistance ol LIS
Vould-be victims. 4, .,
,arror at the accident, Craven was
hoininp revive Bert when Jenkins
NJ I'M and demands how it happen
The two conspirators are silent,
L,+ Edith a shudder crossing her
soco a. il she had seen vision, ex-
claimed:
tho mysterious Red Mask.
At the name Of the mysterious vii
liam Jenkins breaks into anger and
+hraa+s TO which Craven and Peaky
add their indignation and promises to
gnard against and if possible to ap-
nrahend the villain of mystery. I'm
der the tender ministratiOns of Edith,
Rnrt f. soon revived and Edith's van
having been called back, he is placed
in that and with Jenkins on the
drivers seat the journey is resumed
10 the next town.
Craven. villain that he was, was
much upset at the nearness of Edith
to the death he had plotted only for
Bert and was riding along in moody
silence when Peaky overlook him and,
with a knowing grin, said:
Your Red Mask friend nearly put
il over that time. That FOrde seems
tough customer to kill.
III see that he doesn't make a
mess of it next time,' was Craven's
snarling response.
An hour later and the circus reach
ed the outskirts of the town and the
wagons were parked and preparations
made fer the afternoon performance.
Jenkins. busy, left Bert in Edith's
care and her deep love for him was
manifest as she leaned over to give
him glass Of water. Their eyes
met and giving way to her emotions,
she was about to give him her first
kiss when like flash there came to
her the pictures in the locket-pic-
lures of him and his sweetheart or
wife. she knew not which, and with
a tremor Of pain and WEAKNESS she
turned and went to the van window.
Outside all was hustle and she
noted when Peaky came to the van
and Oyersaw the placing there by a
cOuntryman of load of hay and she
wondered for an instant why it should
be placed there. But her attention
was diverted by the arrival of Jenkins
and a doctor who found Bert i'm con-
siderable fever and she readily as
sented when it was suggested he be
removed TO a hospital nearby, de-
clining. however, to accompany him
saying she would remain for the
evening performance
Darkness had fallen and Edith was
asleep in the van when Craven came
up TO Peaky and in voice that was
little short Of an order, said:
At twelve O'Clock tonight you be
in that road-house over there and
put it over strong that you're there
Have plenty of witnesses to your
alibi."
Peaky started to ask questions, but
Craven shut him off and the former
agreed to be in the road-house, add
ing parting shot as he left:
guess you're going to get your
friend, Red Mask. on the job again,
EN-"
Craven gave no reply, but snatching
MS grip started on to the next tCw1.,
calling back to Jenkins as he de
rarted:
Hope nothing happens while I'rl
some"
The evening performance had end
ell when Red Mask stealthily ap-
preached Edtth's van and peering in
10 window and mistaking her for
Bert on the bunk hastily affixed an
internal machine to wheel, setting
tGc cock to explode the charge at
Jyst midi ;ght.
An hour passed and Edith awoke
with a strange feeling of impending
peril and loneliness for Bert She
rose from the bunk to read, but her
nervousness only increased until
1naLly she stole away in the night to
he nearer Bert.