The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-08-18
.fContlnued from Las: hsue)

"H0uSmOney trickSter !! DO you THINK
l would spare such man as you? You
draw your rents from the poor and
destitute, your mortgages cover half
the parishes In the state, and in your
Heart Is neither compassion nor pity
tor man or woman. Bah! could
shoot you down without qualm! !"
In his voice was so deadly a menace
that .lIaillard trembled.
i There is nothing of mine in that
safe" he said, his voice a low growl.
:IShaye given it to my son to use. He
is not here" .s.-,.~, :. -. -.
:, ,'.sThat,"s2. said the u Masquer calmly,
-, rs, exactly why I, desire you to open
it, Your son must make his -cOntri-
button, for. keenly regret his absence.
# y0n are a criminal he is worse |!
You. rob and steal under shelter of
the law. but you have certain limita-
tons, certain bounds of an almost out
grown honor. He has none, that son
ofyours. Why, he would not hesitate
to. turn your own tricks back upon
you. TO rob you, if he could! Open
that safe or take the consequences; ;
no more talk. now!"
:, The, command cracked out like
whiplash. With shrug of helpless
ness the banker turned and fumbled
with the protrudieg knob. Of the safe.
With one exception all eyes were fas-
tened, upon this amazing Masquer.
The exception was Jachin Fell. who,
suddenly alert and watchful, had
turned his attention to Maillard and
the safe, keen speculation in his
gaze as though he were wondering
what that steel vault would produce.
81 All were silent. There was some
thing about this Midnight Masquer
;that held them intently. Perhaps
some were inclined to think him a
Jester. one Of the party masquerading
under the famous bandits guise'; If
so, his last words to Maillard had re-
moved all such thought. That indict.
r1ent had been deadly and terrible
and true, as they knew. Bob Maillard
was not greatly admired by those
among his. fathers friends who best
knew him. -,-.v .'. =.
I, Now the door of the safe swung
open. The compartments appeared
empty. =
''Take ont the drawers and turn
them up over the table," commanded
the Masquer. .,.
Maillard obeyed. From the last
drawer there fell out on the table a
large envelope, sealed. The Masquer
leaned forward, seized upon this en-
tyelope, and crushed 1t into his pocket.
THANK. you," he observed. "That
is ALL ,.~-.. 49,.
/, On you'll" cried Mafliard, shaking
a fist, you'd try blackmail, would
your, -. -. ...
The bandit regarded him a moment,
then laughed.
z: IF you knew what was In that en-
yelope, my dear financier. you might
not speak so hastily. If knew what
was ih it, I might answer you. But 7
don't know. only suspect-and hope.
And now, my friends-au revoir!"
! The Masquer sprang backward into
the hall. The door slammed, the key
clicked. He was gone! ~. & .
MailIard was the first to wake into
voice and action. 1.-THE other door !"
he cried. ..Into the dining room. +
He flung S,open second door and
dashed into the dining room, followed
by the other men. Here the windows,
giving upon the garden, were open.
Then Maillard came to sudden halt,
and after him the others; through
the night was pulsating, with great
i1istinctness, the throbbing roar of an
afrpfane motor! From Maillard broke
bitter cry: =
..sThe deteetives-I'll get the fools
here! You gentlemen search the
house. That fellow can't possibly
have escaped
They hastily separated. Maillard
dashed away to summon the detec-
tites, also to get other men to aid
in the search. . s...
T1,a. rasnlt was vain No one had