Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-07-07

that safe or take the consequences
no more talk, nowp
The command cracked out like a
whiplash. With a shrug of helpless
ness the banker turned and fumbled
with the %protruding knob of the safe.
With one exception all eyes were fas-
tened upon this amazing Masquer.
The exception was joachim Fell, who,
suddenly alert and watchful, had
turned his attention to Maillard and
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 a
lester. one of the party masquerading
under the famous bandits guise; II
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
open. The compartments appeared
empty.
"'rake out the drawers and turn
them up over the table" commanded
the Masquer.
Maillard obeyed. From the last
drawer there fell ont on the table a
large envelope, sealed. The Masquer
leaned forward. seized upon this en-
velope, and crushed ii into his pocket.
THANK YOU he observed. THAT
is ALL"
On you" cried Maillard, shaking
a fist. you'd try blackmail, would
you?"
The bandit regarded him a moment,
then laughed.
"If you knew what was in that en-
velope, my dear financier, you might
not speak so hastily. If l knew what
was in it, 1 might answe you. But l
don't know. 1 only suspect-and hope.
And now, my friends-au revoirw
The Masquer sprang backward into
the hall. The door slammed, the key
clicked. He IA gone!
Maillard was the first to wake into
voice and action. 1.-THE other door"
he cried. Unto the dining room"
He flung open a 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 a sudden halt,
and after him the others; through
the night was pulsating, with great
distinctness, the throbbing roar of an
airplane mOtorl From Maillard broke
a bitter cry:
1.-The detectives-In 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-
tives, also to get other men to aid
in the search.
The result was vain. No one had
been seen to enter or leave the house. |
and certainly there had been no air
plane about. The Masquer had not
appeared except in the library, and
now he was most Individually not in
the house. BY all testimony, he had
neither entered it nor left it!
"Well I'm DID," said Maillard,
helplessly, to Judge Forestes, when
the search was concluded. Not a
trace of the scoundrell Here, Fell
can't you help us out? Haven't you
discovered a thing?"
Nothing" responded joachim Fell,
calmly.
At this instant Bob Maillard rushed
up. He had just learned of the
Masquer's visit. In response to his
excited questioning his father de
scribed the scene in the library, and
added:
II trust there was nothing impor-
tant among those papers of yours,
Roberto"
mo" said the younger man. mo.
Nothing Valuable at ALL"
Henry Gramont was passing. He
caught the words, and paused, his gaze
resting for an instant upon the group.
A faint smile rested upon his rather
harshly drawn features.
II just found this" he announced,
holding out a paper. "It was pinned
to the outside of the library door. l
presume that your late visitor left it
as a memento?"
joachim Fell took the papeR the other
men crowding around him.
"Ah, Maillard! The same hand
writing as that of your letter! !"
Upon the paper was penciled a
single hasty line:
my compliments to Robert Mail
lard-and my thanks"
Bob AIasllard sprang forward, an
grily inspecting the paper. When he
r~elinquished it, Fell calmly claimed it.
"Confound>the roguel' muttered the
bankers son, turning away. His fea-
lures were pale, perhaps with anger
There was nothing but stock certih
Gates in that envelope-and they can
be reissued."