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

-
"You money trickster! Do you think
I 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
for man or woman. Bah! I could
shoot you down without quaint"
In his voice was so deadly a menace
that Maillard trembled.
There is nothing of mine in that
safe," he. said, his voice low grOwl.
II have given 1t to my son to use. He
is, not here"
"That," said the Masquer calmly,
els exactly why desire you to open
it. Your son must make his contri-
button, for keenly regret his absence.
If 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 woEd not hesitate
W tuIH youH OWA tIAShS 0tlCh upOn
you, to rob you, If he could! Open
that safe or take the consequences;
no more talk, now!'
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 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.
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-
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.
"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 table a
large envelope, sealed. The Masquer
leaned forward, seized upon this en-
velope, and crushed it into his pocket
'"Thank you," he observed. "That
ds ALL"
"D-n you!" cried Maillard, shaking
fist. you'd try blackmail, would
your"
The bandit regarded him moment,
then laughed.
IF you knew what was in that en-
velope, my dear financler, you might
not speak so hastily. If knew what
was in it, might answer you. But
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!
Maillard was the first to wake into
voice and action. "The other doorw
he cried. Unto the dining room"
He flung 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 a sudden halt,
and after him the others; through
the night was pulsating, with great
distinctness, the throbbing roar of an
airplane motor! From Maillard broke
a bitter cry:
''The detectives-rl 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 detee-
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 1t nor left it!
"Well, I'm did," said Maillard.
helplessly, to Judge Forester, when