The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-09-15
CHAPTER discontinued.


I would spare such man as you, Yol
draw your rents from the poor ant
destitute, your mortgages cover hall
the parishes In the state, and In you
heart is neither compassion nor pity
Tor man or woman. BAIL could
shoot you down without a qualml"
In his voice was so deadly menace
that Maillard trembled
There Is nothing OF mine In that
safe" he said, his voice low growl.
Il have given 1t to my gon to use. He
Is not here"
THAT" said the Masquer calmly,
us exactly why / desire you to open
1t. Your son must make his contri-
button, for keenly regret his absence.
II you are criminal, he is worse !
You rob and steal under shelter of
the law. but you have certain limita-
lions. certain bounds of an almost out
grown honor. He has none, that son
of yours. 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 tdlkp now J.
The command cracked out like
whiplash. With shrug of helpless
ness the banker turned and fumbled
with the protruding knob of the safe
With one exception Sll eyes were fas-
tened upon this s.sazing Masquer.
The exception was Jachin Fell, VINO,
suddenly alert and watchful, had
Ia 80 Aofl -
the safe, a keen speculation In his
gaze as though he were wondering
what that steel vault would produce.
All were silent There was some
thing about this Midnight Masquer
that held them intently. Perhaps
some were inclined to think him
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-
ment 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.
Now the door OF the safe swung
oPch. Ahe compartments nppedTcu
empty.
Take out the drawers and turn
them up over the table" commanded
the MasQuer.
Maillard obeyed From the last
drawer there fell out on the liable a
large envelope, sealed. The -Masquer |
leaned forward seized upon this en- |
veIope, and crushed it into his pocket.
THANK you" he observed. THAT |
is all"
'D-n you !" cried MaiIleyd. shaking
a fist You'd try blackmaiI, would
you?"
The bandit regarded him n moment.
hen laughed
IF ysu knew what was in that en-
relope my dear financier. you might
Aot speak so hastily. If | knew what
vas in 1t, l might answer you. Bull
Ion't know. | only suspect-and hope.
Ind now, my friends-au reyoirw
The Masquer sprang backward into
he hail. The door slammed, the key
licked. He was gonel
Msillard was the first to wake into |
dice and action. "The other door %.
e cried. Into the dining room
He flung open second door and
ashed into the dining room. followed
y the other men. Here the windows
living upon the garden, were open. /
hen Aailiard came to sudden halt.
nd after him the others: through
he night was pulsating. with great q
the throbblng roar of an Il
Irplane motor! From Naillsrd broke
bitter cry: h
'The detectiyes--rll get the fools q
erel You gentlemen search the
ouse. That fellow can't possibly Y
Ave escaped" S
They hastily separator. Maillard q
ished away to summon the detec- Il
res. also to get other men to aid d
the search. G.
The result was vain. No one had | u
zen seen to enter or leave the house. q
Id certainly there had been no air m
ane about. The Masque, had not
peared except In the library. and
W ~ was most Individually not IN "
E house. BY all testimony, he had
ither entered II nor left III gl
Well. IN id" said Maillari T
lplessly. TO Judge ForsKer, when it