The Southern herald., 1922-07-14
CHAPTER IV-Continued.

"You saw hlm?" repeated the girl,
quickly. What was he like? Do you
know who he ls2"
Certainly l know" replied Fell,
still smiling at her.
"Oh! Then who Is he2"
softly, softly, young lady know
him. but even to you dare not
breathe his name until ] obtain some
direct evidence. Let us call him Mr..
K, after the approved methods of ro-
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. $50,
Incredible as 1t may appear, he was
one of the guests. This Mr.. x. came
to the dance wearing the avatOrs cos
tune, or most of 1t, underneath his
masquerade costume. When he was
ready to act, he doffed his outer cos
tums, appeared as the Midnight
Masauer effected his purpose then
calmly donned his outer costume
agafh and resumed his place among
the guests. You understand?
well, then Maillard yesterday re-
ceiyed a note from the Masquer, bra
Zenly stating that he intended to call
during the evening. l have that note
1t was written with an extremely
hard pencil such as few men carry,
because 1t does not easily make very
'eglble writing. Last night | asked
MIR. X for a pencil, and he produced
one With an extra hard lead-men-
tiOnlns that he had borrowed it from
Bob NaIllard, as indeed he had
"WFatl Surely you don't mean"
"Of course I don't. Mr.. X. is very
clever that's all. Here Is what took
place last night Mr.. X. brought us
another note from the Masquer, say
Ing that he had found It pinned to the
library door, AS a matter of fact,
he hsd written 1t on a leaf torn from
his notebook, | took the note from
him, observing at the time that the
paper had no pin holes. Probably
Mfr. X saw that there was something
smiss he presently went back down
stairs, took the remainder Of the torn
leaf from his notebook, and pinned it
to the door A little later met him
and mentioned the lack Of pin holes;
he calmf$ referred me to the piece on
the door. saying that he had merely
torn Off the note without removing
the pins. You follow me2"
"Of course" murmured the girl, her
eyes wide IN fascinated interest. "And
he knew that you guessed him to be
the MasQuer?"
''He suspected me, I think" said
Fell, mildly. ut 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
end the alrplanep
yes" Jachin Fell smiled dryly. "T
was thinking Of that as 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 It's engine about midnight. found
that the car belonged to Mr.. X.
"HOw simple Lucle, and how very
clever The chauffeur worked a pow
erful motor with a muffler cutOut at
about the time Mr.. x, inside the
house, was making his appearance. 1t
scarcely sounded like an airplane mo-
tor. yet frightened and startled, people
would Imagine that 1t did. Thus arose
the legend that the Midnight Masquer
came and departed By means Of air
plane-a theory aided lngeniOusly by
his costume Well, that Is all | know
or suspect, my dear Luclel AMI
now"
"Now. suppose" said the girl,
thOughtfully. "yOu'll put that awful
Creole Of yours on the track Of Mr.. X 2
Ben Chacherre Is a good chauffeur,
aad he's amusing enough-but he's a
Bloodhound l don't wonder that he
ased to be criminal. Even II you have
rescued him from a life Of crime, you
heveRt- Improved his looks"