The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-07-14
CHAPTER Iv-continued.

"You saw him?" repeated the girl
quickly. what was he like? Do you
know who he ISL"
Certainly 1 know" replied Fell
still smiling at her.
"Oh! Then who is he?"
"Softly, softly, young lady! I know
him, but even to you I dare not
breathe his name until obtain some
direct evidence. Let us call him Mr.
X, after the approved methods of 70,
nance, and 1 shall expound what ]
know.
'"The 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 it may appear, he was
one of the guests. This Mr.. X. came
to the dance wearing the aviator's COS.
tune, or most of it, underneath his
masquerade costume. When he was
ready to act, he doffed 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?
swell, then! Maillard yesterday re.
ceived note from the Masquer, bra
zenly stating that he intended to call
during the evening. have that note.
1t was written with an extremely
hard pencil, such as few men carry,
because it does not easily make very
legible writing. Last night 1 asked
Mr.. X. for a pencil, and he produced
one with an extra hard lead-men.
tioning that he had borrowed it from
Bob Maillard, as indeed he had"
what! Surely you don't mean
"Of course / don't. Mr.. X. is very
clever, that's all. Here Is what took
place last night Mr.. X. brought us
another note from the Masquer, say
ing that he had found it pinned to the
library door. AS a matter of fact,
he had written it on leaf torn from
his notebook 1 took the note from
him, observing at the time that the
paper had no pin holes. Probably
Mr.. X. saw that there was something
amiss; he presently went back down
stairs, took the remainder of the torn
leaf from his notebook. and pinned il
to the door. A 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 off the note without removing
the pins. You follow lne?"
"Of COURSE" murmured the girl, her
eyes wide in fascinated interest Sand
he knew that you guessed him to be
the Masqueri'
HE suspe led me, 1 think" said
Fell. mildly. at is understood that
you will not go about tracing these
little clues?"
"Don't be silly, Uncle Jachln!" she
broke in. "You know I'll do nothing
of the sort. Go on, please Did you
find the airplane?"
"Yes." joachim Fell smiled dryly. 81
was thinking of that as I left the
house and came to the line of waiting
automobiles. A word with one of the
outside detectives showed me that one
of the cars in the street had been test.
ing Its engine about midnight. found
that the car belonged to Mr. x.
allow simple, Lucie, and how very
clever! The chauffeur worked a pow.
erful motor with muffler cutout al
about the time Mr. X, inside the
house, was making his appearance. II
scarcely sounded like an airplane mo-
tor, yet frightened and startled, people
would imagine that it did. Thus arose
the legend that the Midnight Masquel
came and departed by means of air
plane-a theory aided ingeniously by
his costume. Well, that is all know
or suspect, my dear Lucie! And
now
"Now. I suppose" said the girl
thoughtfully, you'll put that awful
Creole of yours on the track of Mr.. X.
Ben Chacherre is a good chauffeur
and he's amusing enough-but he's 6
bloodhound! l don't wonder that he
used to be criminal. Even If you have
rescued him from a life of crime, yor
J haven't improved his looks"