The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-09-22
CHAPTER iv---continued.

"You saw hlm7" repeated the girl,
Quickly. what was he likef Do you
know who he ls7"
certainly know" replied Fell,
still smiling at her.
"0hf. Then who is her"
Softly .ksoftly. young lady l know
him. but even to you / dare not
breathe his name uptil ] obtain some
direct evidence. Let us call him Mr..
X. after the approved methods of ro-
nance. and / shall expOund what I
know
"Fhe bandit did not enter the house
during the evening. nor did he leave,
nor was he found In the house after
ward" he went on, tonelessly. $50,
Incredible as 1t may appear. he was
one of the guests. This Mr.. Y. came
TO the dance wearing the aviator's cos
tune. or most of 1t, underneath his
masquerade costume. When he was
ready to act, he dotted his outer cos
tune. appeared as the Midnight
Masquer. effected his purpose, then
calmly donned his outer costume
again and resumed his place among
the guests. You understand?
'We,l. thenl Maillard yesterday re-
ceiyed note from the Masquer, bra
xeniy stating that he Intended to call
during the evening. l have that note
Ii was written with an extremely
hard pencil. such as few men carry.
because II does not easily make very
legible writing. Last night asked
Mr.. X. for pencil. and he produced
one with an extra hard lead-men-
tlonIng that he had borrowed It from
Bob MaiIiard, as indeed be had"
WHAT Surely you don't mean"
"Of course I don't Mr.. y. is very
clever. that's all. Here IL what took
place last night Mr.. =. brought us
another note from the Masquer, say
ing that he had found II pinned to the |
library door. AS a matter of fact, |
be had written 1t on leaf torn from |
his notebook. / took the note from 1
him. observing at the time that the
paper had no pin holes Probably |
AIR. X. saw that there was something
as,iss; he. presently went back down
stairs, took the remainder of the torn
leaf from his notebook, and pinned II
to the door. little later l met him
and mentioned the lack of pin holes;
he calmly referred me to the piece on
the door. saying that he had merely
torn or The note without removing
the pins. You follow me?'
"0f course" murmured the girl. her
eyes wide In fascinated interest "And
he knew that you guessed him to be
the hIasquer7"
ale suspected me. think" said
Fell. mildly. cit is understood that
yeu will not go about tracing these
little ciues?"
"Don't be silly, Uncle joachim" she
broke In. "You know I'll do nothing
or the sort. Go on please Did you
ind the airplanef"
eyes" joachim Fell smiled dryIy. II
WIS thinking OF that as I left the
lo,sse and came TO the line of waiting
automobiles. word with one OF the
mtslde detectives showed me that one
" the cars In the street had been test
ng Its engine about midnight. I found
hat the car belonged TO Mr. X.
IOW buulltt LdNlc, anu now very
lever The chauffeur worked pow
sfw motor with muller cutOut at
bout the time Mr. X. Inside the
euse. was making his appearance 1t
carceIy sounded like an alyplRne mo-
Or, yet frightened and startled, people
reuid imagine that Il did. Thus arose
he legend that the Midnight Masquer
ace and departed by means OF air
Iane-a theory aided ingenousiy by
IL costume. Well. that is ali l know
r suspect, my dear Lucie. And
Ow--"
"Now. I suppose" said the girl,
you'll put that awful
reoie Of yours on the track OF Mr.. X?
Gu Chaclerre Is good chauffeur.
nd he's amusing enough-but he's
oodhoundl I don't wonder that he /
ea TO be criminal. Even If We. have
scued him from life Of crime, you L
lveu't Improved his looks IS