Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-23

tn&I leo 10 the 1nOre, ana IFom
| which old Mr.. Marlin had emerged
earlier In the evening. And now the
figure was gone-lost in the trees.
But he, Locke. too. was running
cow. sprtnting for all he knew across
yards. There was no time to use
caution and circuit warily around
the edge Of the woods. He might
| be seen-but he had to take that
| chance. He, would not be heard
| the soft grass and the whine Of the
| wind guaranteed him against that.
| 1t was little better than an even
! break. The figure he had seen was
I not, he was sure, that Of the old
maniac. The long. Tapping dress
ing gown would, even In q shadowy
way. have been distinguishable. IL
he were right, then, in his suppose
ton, the figure he had seen was TIE
man In the mask. and old Mr.. Muir
lin was already in there on the path
leading through the woods to the
/ shore.
A cry. sudden. like a scream that
was strangled. came with the gust
ing wind. 1t came again. From the
edge OF the lawn now. Locke leaped
forward along the path. Black,
twisting shapes doomed up just
ahead Of him. He flung himself
upon them.
A low, startled, vicious snarl an
swered his attack. After that there
was no sound while perhaps a
minute passed, save the rustic of
leaves and foliage, the snip of brol-
en- twigs under swiftly moving,
straining feet Locke was fighting
now with merciless. exultant feroc;ty.
1t was the man in the mask he was
at grips whit was not the dress
ing gown alone. the feel OF it. that
distinguished one from the other;
he had even in that first plunging
rush in the darkness felt his hand
brush against the mask on the
mans cheek.
1t was all shadow, all bIackne.s.
TIC this side and that. close locked
together, he and his antagonist now
swayed madly. Tho mans one evil
dent desire was to break away from
his, Locke's eEc:tcling arms: his,
L0cke's, purpose not only 10 t,revcnt
escape. but to un.nask the other
the moon might c1me out again at
any instant--illter through the
branches-just enough light to see
the others face il the mask were off.
A peal OF laughter rang out. 1t
fought. more sensId than saw the
old mans form close to tho ground,
as though the other were CROPPING
around on his hands and knees. The
PEAL OF laughter Cane again; and
then the old maniaL's voice in
triumphant scream:
I've got It! I've got It. Money,
Money! Millions! Millions. Millions.
It's all here! I've got it. It's all
The voice was dying away In the
distance. Locke laughed a little
with grim. painting breath. Whether
1t had been dropped or had been
snatched from him in the first at
tack. old Marlin had now obviously
recovered his package of bank notes.
he was gone now-running to hide
1t again. of course. In any event,
the old maniac and his money were
safe. and
His antagonist had uenched free
an arm. Locke's head jolted back
suddenly from r. wicked short arm
blow that caught the point of his
chin. A sensation of numbness
seemed to be trying insidiously to
creep upward to his brain--but 1t
did not reach that far-not quite
that far-only 1t loosened his grip
for an instant and the shadowy
form that he had held appeared TO
be floating away from him. And
then. as his brain cleared. he shot,
his body forward in low, lunging
tackle. The ether almost eluded
him. but his hands caught and
chung to the mans arms-both
around one of the others arms.
The man wrenched and squirmed in
a savage frenzy to tear himself free.
There was sound OF the ripping
and rending OF cloth-something
showed white in the darkness-the
others sleeve had torn away at the
armpit.
A white shirt sleeve, 1t was
beacon in the blackness. The man
would not get away now. There
was something more tangible than
q shadow-something to see. In a
flash Locke shifted his hold. and his
arms swept around the other.
pinioning the mans hands to his
sides - tighter tighter. Neither
spoke. The only sounds were hoarse
rasping grasps for breath. Tighter!
He was bending the man backward
Observation-Disclosures little more.
No--the man was too strong-the
pinioned arms were free again, and
Locke felt them grip together like
wise around the small of his own
back. -
They iurched now. swaying from
side to side like drunken men. The
mask. To get at the mask. They
were locked together. the chin Of
one on the others shoulder-strain-
Ing until the muscles cracked.
Locke began to raise his head a
little. The hot breath Of the other
was on his cheek now-and now his
cheek rubbed against the others
mask.
An oath broke suddenly from the
man--quici, muttered, the voice un-
recognizable in its labored breath
ing: and the other. seeming to
sense his grip snatched for a
throathoid instead. and. missing,
began then to tear at Locke's arms
In an effort to break away.
And then Locke laughed again
Srimly. 1t would avail nothing TO
snatch ut the mask and get it off in
the darkness here. IL by so doing.
with hfN own. hnld on thn. o+ha,,