Evening star., 1921-05-29
Is Shown a
Gray Mask
- ARTH, in response to the I'M
foreseen summons. hurried
i along the hallway and op-
ened the INSPECTORS door.

Where were you going. Garth
'1Ione That isl thought l
might drop in on Nora for minute.
With a quick gesture the inspector
brushed the mention of his daughter
aside.
Vow much do you love your life"'
"pn the whole I value my life
rather highly just now" Garth an
ewesed. trying to smile.
Then turn this down and nothing
said" the inspector went on. ITS
volunteer work. It's touch and go
whether whoever tackles it eats bacon
and eggs tomorrow morning"
What's the job" Garth asked.
you've heard of that fellow with
out a face, This fellow Simmons in
Chicago-several years ago now
experimenting with some new explo-
sive, in a laboratory. He got his
arm up in time to save his eyes
Seems to me 1 remember" Garth
began.
Worn a gray mask ever since" the
inspector said.
He drew a telegram from pile of
papers at his elbow, spread it on
the writing pad. and tapped il with
his thick forefinger.
No doubt about your having heard
of our friend Hennion?"
Garth started forward. resting his
closed fists on the desk top. His face
was excited, urbelievinE. Garth. with
the rest of the bureau. could point
10 half dozen men as vaSsals of
this almost mythical figure. But he
knew also that nothing had eveS
been proved against this organization
of criminals. which was unique. be-
cause. in addition to prosaic brutality.
il appeared to be informed by brains
of a brilliant and inscrutable char
acter.
How much of chance:" Garth
asked.
All the drowsiness left the inspec-
Maybe to sit in with them tonight.
I've never had a ghost of a show with
a stool before, and this is the night
of all nights. One Of these crooks
have it straight-Tonieht we play
our ace Get that. Garth. What
must an ace mean to that lot. en-
Garth breathed hard.
How do you expect to throw SAND
in the eyes Of that OUTFIT"
Give me-" the inspector answered
slowly. his rumble approximating
whisper. some one with no nerves
10 0PcAh VI dil0 q ouhN INV e"iS
less man Simmons. You have that
build, Garth. All you need is a plain
dark brown suit.
This is Simmons description as
he left Chicago last evening He ex-
poets to arrive on the western ex-
press tonight. He's looking for some
one to meet him and take him to the
headquarters of the Hennion gang"
Has he a record?'
"A suspect. chiefly because he's
tied up with that anarchist crowd out
there-an analyst of explosives.
chemist, cursed by this hideous acci-
self! That's why his mails been
watched, how they got onto this
move. But they've no details for US.
Maybe Simmons himself doesn't know
what he's up against.
WITH a secretive air he opened
w drawer and lifted out tightly
woven gray cloth. 1t was pierced by
two holes above and a long. narrow
opening below. From it's edges four
elastic straps dangled.
Il had it made" he said. holding it
out tentatively, so that perhaps, you
might find out instead of simmons.
Garth took the cloth and fitted it
over his face. 1t left visible small
scar on his neck. The inspector point
ed at this with a pleased. wondering
smile.
THAT scar peeping will fetch them.
Put on a brown suit and you'll pass"
Where" Garth asked. does Sim
mons change cars?"
"Ill have the express stopped at
the end Of the bridge above Garrison.
Not much chance OF spies there a
and keep him out of mischief while
you get on. You're on?"
sure. You'd jump at the chance
yourself. sir" He removed the mask.
The inspector handed him piece of
frayed white paper.
Take this and when the time
comes scratch your instructions on it
with match. toothpick, anything
handy. 1t will stay white. but l can
ie as headlines in a war extra You'll
lsaeh town after 10. I'll hold back
iestructions until II in case these
fellows have any spies in the depart
ment But after that you can drop it
near a uniformed policeman with
fair chance of it's reaching me"
Now that his offer was accepted. and
his plan understood. the inspector
gave way to disquieting nervous
ness. He stood up and stepped around
the desk. putting his hand on Garth's
shoulder.
watch out for yourself" he fall
tered. Il don't want another kridel
case on my conscience.
The name dampened Garth's enthu
siasm. He had never known Joe
Eridel who. a year ago. had been the
ascending star of the bureau. But the
manner Of me young mans death was
depressingiy familiar TO him-found
stabbed through the heart in pri-
vate house whose dwellers had heard
No alarm The KEY to that puzzle had
never been discovered. Even the in
Spector h7d harbored the. nature of
Kridel's assignment that night OF his
murder
Before making his arrangements
Garth called at the inspectors fat.
This was. in fact n preparation. With
out seeing Nora he felt ne would not
he armed TO enter these unfair lists
with death.
He found her bv the window in the
sitting room. She looked. he thought
moro Latin than usual. although the
hack clothes she habitually wore ac-
cenfuated h"r dark hair and flashing
ewes tho olive complexion and regu-
lar features she had inherited from
he- italian mother.
She smiled up at Garth. and as al
ways in face Of that smile. he recalled
The unexplored neutral ground where
their minds had never really mot This
imnressior had unquestionably re-
tsrded the devt loDrent Of their rrla-
fiors 1t had until now held their
rmot.ors in 'hc lcaSh of friendship
Gar'h had no idea OF snaDping that
cod a. his entrance. but Nora's prox-
inlirv and the suddenn.ss Of an unex-
rected gesture distilled logic aud fair
ness for the moments irresistible in
t"vicafior.
Their hands reaching for the book
Sh" had drcpDed. mot. The quick con-
tact was galvanic TO Garth Put after
moment h. became aware of the i'm =
nassivity Of her fingers within his vio-
lent grasp. He saw grave trouble and
IL n