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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 1916)
a 7" 3 'ARTHUR STRINGER,. M II 11 NOVELIZED FROM THE PA7HE PHOTO V PL AY OF 'THE SAKE NAME TITE SUNDAY OREGO-NIAX. rOKTXAXD, AUGUST 13, 1016. (( RON - -D-v) EPISODE XX. The Triumph of the Laughlnc Hiuk. I. The Closing; Tfet, MARGERY GOLDEN suddenly threw aside the magazine which she .had been restlessly thumbing, and, springing- to her feet, crossed rapidly to the window of her cool, white bedroom. As she stood gat ing out with unseeing eyes a little frown of vexation puckered her fore head. From the open windows of the spaotoiA living-room on the first floor came the subdued murmur of voices. But to Margery's straining ears not a word of that low-toned conference was audible. Occasionally she heard the rumble of Captain Brackett's voice, more strident and authoritative than the others. The resentful officer of the law had conceived the idea that on more than one occasion Margery had aided and abetted the Laughing; Mask in slipping through his fingers, and it was for that reason she was now excluded from the deliberations where the capture of the elusive masquerader was under discussion. In anticipation of this very state of affairs Margery had devised an ingenious method for learning the plans of the detectives. Having ascertained that the confer ence was in full swing, she quickly went to a small wicker table and, tak ing off the telephone receiver, held it pressed tightly to her ear. Her wire was a house extension connected with the trvnk line which ran into the liv-ing-rom, where her father and the officers were now gathered, n that room the telephone standard, resting on a heavy mahogany table, had been skilfully tampered with. Under the black-metaled reeciver, hanging with its flaring mouth reversed so as to more readily catch the sound waves, a rumbf of books were piled in such a disorderly fashion as not to attract at tention. But the topmost of those books propped,' up the receiver just enough to permit the supporting, hook to spring up and open the circuit. t Over this cleveny improvised dicta phore IIargery could hear every word spoken by the men sitting around that table. Presently the booming voice of the police captain came to the ears f the listening girl. "When I go after a man I don't quit till ret him," she heard him announce In self-laudatory tones. "I landed that one-armed crook, Jules Legar, In a cell all right, an'. I tell you. Mr. Golden, if It hadn't been for your daughter inter ferin" I'd had the bracelets on the Laughing Mask long ago." Whether the aged banker would have resented this open declaration that his daughter had shielded a supposedly notorious criminal was a question des- . tined never to be answered, for at that moment Margery heard the door shut behind a new arrival, and again it was Captain Brackett's voice which reached her as he impatiently questioned the detective who had just entered. "What are you doin' here. Walters? Didn't you get the orders I sent you by Jenkins to take Legar out of that chicken coop they call a jail out here, an" keep yourself handcuffed to him every minute until he was safe in the Tombs?" "I got your orders. Chief," came a hesitating voice, presumably that of the sleuth called Walters, "but I've got some bad news for you. Legar's liroko jail. He croaked Jenkins and made a clean getaway." A little silence followed the explo sion of this astounding verbal bomb shell, a silence broken by a confusion of startled exclamations, punctuated by the wrathful oaths of the irate po lice captain. "An" you call yourself a detective?" he berated the unlucky Walters. "You ought to be out poundin' the pavements. What excuse have you got for lettin' the crook give you the slip?" Then Margery heard the hurried tones of the censured detective as he launched into an account of the strange escape of Jules Legar. "I don't see where I'm to blame. Chief," he began in a somewhat ag grieved voice. "I seen Jenkins aroun' noon. He was goin' into the jail with a tray from the restaurant. He stops and gives me your orders and says I might as well wait outside until Legar had his feed. That seemed reasonable, an' I hung aroun' for 'bout half an hour. Then, when Jenkins didn't come out,. I commenced to get kirrfl o' uneasy like an' I steps Inside to see what was goln' on." The narrator paused briefly as though overcome with some terrible memory, then continued in a con strained tone. "Lyin' face down in the corridor I found Jenkins, just outside of Legar'a coll. The cell was empty, with the door standln" open and Jenkins' key in the lock. We combed every inch of that jail, but Legar had disappeared without leavin' a trace behind him. I could tell by the looks of Jenkins that h3 was dead, but when I turned him over I got an awful shock. His face was all twisted up with sufferin' and full of deep lines and wrinkles. Then I seen his hair was all streaked with gray. When he spoke to me he was a healthy young fel'er, but when I found him he was like some old man about 10. what had died of some awful di sease. Tbtt's about all an" I don't see how " But Margory did not wait to hear the concluding remarks of the detec tive, for at this point she abruptly hung up the receiver. Here was news of a startling character, which must be imparted to the masked guardian of her safety without loss of time. Without stopping to even catch up a hat, she slipped out of her room and down the stairway. As she tiptoed softly past the living-room, fhe door suddenly opened and Captain Brack ett and Walters stood on the thresh old. The stern-faced officer watched the slender girl as she went out the front door" and closed it behind her. Then he turned to his crestfallen sub ordinate. "Never mind doin' what I was tell in" you. Walters." he tersely com manded, "I want you to shadow that ypunf woman. Don't lose sight of her for a minute." Bo it happened that when Margory Golden paused by the mysterious lone bowlder on Seven Oaks Hill a hawk " faced detective was hidden not 10 paces distant behind one of the great trees frpra which the ridge took its name. He saw the girl glance furtively about her, and then from her pursed lips came a low, thrilling' call like that of a bird. After a brief interval she re peated this signal, and presently the yellow-masked man came stealthily around the side of the great bowlder. The hidden listener caught enough of What Margory Golden was saying to become aware that she was recounting, almost word for word, his own story of the escape of Jules Legar. As he wondered from what mysteri ous source she had learned it the in cisive tones of her hooded companion reached his ear. "I have a theory of my own as to what was used to kill Jenkins in that fearful manner." the Laughing Mask was saying, -"and I am going to find out tonight whether I am right or wrong. Legar's followers have all been wiped out with the exception of a man calling himself Sktdmon. Ha wa known as a brilliant scientist until he contracted the drug habit, and then, when he was down ad out he fell in with Legir. He lives in a tumble-down old house at the foot of the blind alley south of Washington Square. He still has some sort of a laboratory where he potters around, always on the verge of making some wonderful new dis- covery. It's my idea that ho furnished Legar with " " . . But that sentence was clipped short, for at that moment the detective, burn ing with zeal to make up for the es cape of Jules Legar by the capture of the Laughing Mask, suddenly emerged from behind the oak tre and rapidly advanced upon the startled pair. , As the Laughing Mask darted around the bowlder toward the secret door leading into his subterranean retreat. Margory planted heraeltdireetly in the path of the coming Walters. It took that exas perated officer several minutes to shake off the clinging girl, and when he reached the other side of the great rock the Laughing Mask had disap peared completely. The detective turned in a sullen rage on the calmly smiling girl standing beside him. "You've about gone the limit this time, young woman," he snarled as he seized her slender wrist in his powerful grasp, "and we'll see what the chief thinks of your hejpin' that criminal make a getaway." A little later the burly Walters haled his frail prisoner into the living-room where her father and the detectives were still gathered. Captain Brackett, fuming with anger, tried his utmost to wring from her the secret of the bowlder, but his rapid volleyed ques tions failed to break her sphinxlike si lence. Finally her loving but sorely tried father locked her in her bedroom to prevent her from further interfer ence. Hastily f;oing to her impromptu dictaphone, Ma.-gory heard the voice of Walters repeating what the Laughing Mask had said about Skldmon. the last of Legar's henchmen. When he had finished, the blatant tones of Captain Brackett came over that thread of copper. "Our best move will be to wateh the house of this Skidmon." he an nounced decisively, "an' when our man comes along we'll nab him. If we're playin" in luck we might get Legar in the same dragnet." Then came the scrape of chairs being pushed away from the table and the hasty shuffle of feet as the men pre pared to start on this mission. As Mar gory replaced the receiver she realized the Laughing Mask was threatened with grave danger. In eome way she must warn him. But there seemed no possibility of escaping from her bed room. She knew it would be futile to try to force the locked door, and the sheer drop from her third-story window prohibited that method of egress. .For a moment she stood in hopeless dejection. Then a sudden scheme flashed into her mind, which she hastened to put into execution When her father unlocked the door and went into that room to epeak to Mar gory before he started for the city with the detectives he gave an incredulous gasp of amazement. The heavy brass bed had been pushed up to the window, and tied around one of its crossbars was the end of a twisted sheet. And that improvised rope of linen ran out through the open window. As Enoch Golden saw the knotted sheets only reached half way down the side of the house, he immedi ately reached the conclusion that Mar gory had been so extremely angered by her temporary imprisonment as to at tempt to escape by this foolhardy meth od. With visions of his"idolized daugh ter lying crushed amid the shrubbery under the window, the old banker, half beside himself with anxiety, rushed frantically down the stairs and out around the house, with the astonished detectives close behind him. At the moment when all her jailers were wildly searching for her battered remains, a demure-faced girl slipped quietly out of her bedroom closet, and making her way out of the house by the back door, ran lightly toward the ga rage, ir front of which her high-powered roadster was standing. The puz zled -group under Margory's window had found no trace of her lifeless body, but they suddenly saw a decidedly ani mated girl driving a gray roadster, tearing past them down the graveled drive. And when the car 8Terved into the highway that girl even had the effrontery to send them a little deris ive farewell flutter of her slender white hand. When Margory finally threaded her way through the crosstown streets and brought her car to a stop close to the entrance of the blind alley on the south side of Washington Square, the great moon was Just rising over the battlement of skyscrapers, and by its mellow luster she could discern the out lines of a ruinous -old dwelling stand ing at the foot of that gloomy and forbidding alley. JVith the exception of a single light faintly glimmering in one of the upper stories, the house was in total darkness. As MargorJ paused in front of the dismal old rookery she suddenly per ceived in the moonlight a shadowy form mounting steadily upward on the narrow fire-escape ladder. When .that stealthy prowler stepped onto the iron platform just outside the lighted window she saw it was the daring masKer and realized she was too late Ho warn him. Before she could attract his attention he cautiously raised the window and vanished into that house of mystery. But she quietly determined he should not be taken unawares by his enemies. Under the fire escape she found ft dilapidated ash barrel, and by. 7 if t , v? c! v Y ' !l ,rJ f r tf . ' - v f I V I N. - ' J V . r - ji : t- W f : 4 I . v- t sf ' i . : words "Colon Bacilli." but that did not . convey to her that in the nutrient me- tyVA-j-A s4rd Uf S"n feTi dium contained In that Petri dish was wAy ATA :i A t ! W i - f standing on this shaky pedestal she gained a foothold n the lowest rung of the rusty metal ladder. When she had groped her way to the landing she saw an empty dimly lighted chamber. But through a doorway leading from that room came a white flood of Illu- health. The activity and . number of these becllir vastly increase with ad vancing age. causing a form of auto intoxication and a subsequent harden ing of the arteries due to increased blood pressure, and other symptoms of general structural decay. It would seem probable that from a sufficiently large colony of colon bacilli a virulent toxic poison might be extracted, which, administered even in minute quanti ties, should almost immediately attack the tissues and destroy the subject with all the Indications of death from extreme old age. Such a poison, ap parently unknown to science, and al ready present In less malignant form In every human aystem. would be ex tremely baffling in the event of an autopsy. I shall Immediately start ex perimenting along these lines. May IS. The colony of colon bacilli which I started In a gelatin culture medium la multiplying rapidly. Flour ishes best at blood heat destroyed at temperature of 60 degrees Centi grade. The change in color from, gray ish white to brown should Indicate an increase In virulence and pathogenic qualities. May IT. Inoculated guinea pig with bacilli poison died instantly; body shrunk and withered; much encour aged. May 20 Discovery hu Just been put to a gratifying practical test managed to get a needle Infected with the bacilli extract to Legar, who had wheeled about and came rapidly to- stantly straightened up and stood in- been captured and conrinea in prison. r -A. '.v -a i 1 : . il i a culture growth alive with millions of malignant germs. Hoping to find aorne more tangible clew, she replaced tb . towel and picked up the open notebook lying near the mlscroscope. Her face went white with the horror of the thing as she deciphered the cramped entries: May IS Emmerich has advanced the theory that old age Is brought about In large part by the weakened resist ance of the subject to the ravages, of the bacillus coll. colonies of which ln- the fingers of the scientist and fluttered to the floor. As he stooped to re gain it he suddenly hurled his weight against the legs of his unsuspecUn enemy with a force that sent htm top pling over backward into the depths of the closet, and before the Laughing Mask could regain his footing the door had been swung shut and bolted. Margory, from her place of conceal ment, saw the loose-lipped malefactor make a motion aa though to destroy the confession, but he suddenly grew ririd Jt Ihourh rrlnn.H ..In hv Ka variably Infest the digestive tract of hand of femr Fonowinr ln, dIr,c. every person even though in normal tlo , whloh kl. w., ward the room where the sorrowful girl was standing. She barely had time she saw the reason for his trepida tion. A figure masked ln the identi cal manner aa the man Just impris oned in the closet came slowly through the hall doorway. He also held a black metaled pistol trained on Skldmon. but he walked with a painful effort, aa if his body were bruised and sore. "It would be foolish to tear up that little document." he said in tones of grim determination, "for you would have to write It over. As It Is rather essential to my welfare. I'll trouble you to hand it to me." But instead of complying with this demand the dased and panic-stricken investigator backed slowly away from that terrifying specter, who seemed to be impervious to locks and to possess as many lives as a cat His retreat was suddenly checked by the labora tory work bench, on which he heavily dropped a trembling hand to steady himself. As he did so there came a sharp sound of breaking glass and. with an abrupt cry of pain, he flung up his deeply gashed hand, splashed with blood and a thick ooxe of gelat inous matter. He turned and saw the splintered pieces of the fragile vessel which had contained the colon bacilli culture. A dull moan of horror came from his blue lips as he realized he was hopelessly inoculated with the deadly virus of the germs he hsd him self so carefully nurtured fur the pur pose of destroying others. ln wild desperation he caught up the towel from the work bench and scrubbed the smear of blood and sticky substance from his open wound. But the strip of linen dropped from his nerveless fingers as a series of con vulsive tremors shook his tortured teniiy listening. Tnen. noiuing tne cuiiiuiuincno him and he slowly sank upon the floor, lantern before him, he cautiously ad- to dart Into a closet and pull the door vanced toward the spot from which sortiy shut after her, when he passed her place of concealment. Then fol lowed a rasping noise as he locked the minatlon and the sound of angry voices, window by which she had entered, and She slipped into the empty bedroom after a little silence she heard the and, warily crossing, the floor, stood ln sound of his receding footsteps. When that sound had come. At the moment he turned his back an incomprehensible thing happened. He succeeded in Scratching his jailer gasping frantically for breath, his lean with the contaminated needle, and the fingers opening and closing. His drug man was seized immediately with con- sapped vitality offered but weak resist vl.ln. 41.4 In w n three mln. virulent poison which was utes with all the symptoms o be ex- From under the pile of carpeting two pected. Legar regained his liberty and stilled in death. ravaging his system, .and. after several Jerky spasms, his pain-racked form was psirs of long arms suddenly stretched now wishes to destroy an entire family out toward the silent form of the named Golden. I will prepare .minute spellbound wonder gazing through the Anally ventured from the stifling Laughing Mask. and. quickly seizing capsules which will keep the bacilli open doorway, xnat neavny snutterea " "-""' " ' him by the feet "ind shoulders, dragged alive and- room into which she was peering was fitted up like the well-equipped labora tory of a scientist. A powerful light cast its rays over a long workbench littered with microscopic slides, fer mentation tubes and culture mediums and the various other tools used by the microbiologist for research purposes. Backed up against this bench stood the tense figure of a middle-aged man with drooping eyelids and the pasty gray complexion that betrayed the habitual use of some noxious drug. He had apparently been interrupted in the midst of his Investigations, for on the bench just behind him was some object protected from the light by a strip of thin toweling, a long platinum needle used ln extracting germ colonies from their cultures, a compound micro- was deserted, but from a closed door on the opposite side of that strange him under the frayed folds of that As with a shudder Margory came ancient flnnr fnvAvina, v.m . k tn the last unfinished ar.d cold-blooded chamber came unmistakable sounds of -carred outlaw. Kave up" rrultle entry she heard Skldmon rapidly ap- search and returned to the place where proachlng the door. Thrusting the in he had left the Laughing Mask, with criminating Journal into her dress, she tne run intention of dispatching that quicaiy stoie into me oaca room, w.mre turnn)t from his futile search of the sworn enemy with his own hands, he n could watch the laboratory witnout premises. That puzzled worker of in gave a gasp of incredulous amazement being observed herself. She saw the iqulty suddenly found himself looking as It dawned upon him that his in- unnerved bacteriologist hurriedly drag into a revolver held by the Laughing battered trunk irom a oarx ana - hurried preparations for flight. If the death of the Laughing Mask were to be avenged, absolute proof must be obtained of the murderous practices of his leaden-faced assassin, and step by step Margory edged to ward the long workbench where Skld mon bad been experimenting. Overcome by the sight of that grew- some tragedy, Margory stood rooted to the floor, inarticulate and trembling. She saw the Laughing Mak pick up the confession and go out of the labor atory toward the stairway. Still hold ing his revolver, he descended to the cellar with the air of a man whose mission is but half finished. Kven as he hastily concealed himself back of the piles of carpet he heard Legar ra it The Final Reckoning. As the moon swung across the star- tended victim had completely disap peared. It flashed into hW minj that the Laughing Mask might have recovered sufficiently to have crawled up the cavernous closet. As he threw an un- KeaI1nr hs had been outwltted and easy glance toward the door leading that resistance was useless. Legar into the hall his face suddenly froze raised his arms above his head In strewie heavens its pale light disclosed short night of cellar steps, and. hurry- the still form of the unconscious ln outside, he commenced a systematic Laughing Mask lying under the labor- Bearch dark corners where a atory window from which the lnfurl- obedience to the curt command of the other. But his evil genius was not slumbering, and as his lifted right hand came ln contact with a large earthern flower pot atsndlng on a shelf above him he grasped that heavy object end hurled it with all his strength full in the face of his masked opponent. That crashing and unexpected blow accomplished its purpose, for the Laughing Muk dropped In a motlon- into an expression of abject terror. Advancing from that doorway came a figure with features cloaked by a mocking yellow mask. This startling man In desperate straits might en- -apparition aeimerateiy aimea a Diaca ated scientist had flung' him. A one--aeavor to tolde- IIe nal hardly left the automatic at tne terrn.ca scientist ana . cellar when the nils of ihr,iHh. with his left hand silently pointed to scope and an open notebook for record- tn ahadowB Baw that ,nert flure anJ carpet showed signs of sudden agita- h wh" X ha unfinished con ing the result of his labors. Facing the bent over u wltfc a Bava exclamation tion- an1' ln obedience to certain com- lon. More overcome with fear by return w mo mn.ii no nan ap- Pss heap as though he had been struck parentiy nuriea to ins aeatn tnan by a bullet. -tne one-armea man. from under, that singular refua-a and awed by the threatening revolver, bending over his apparently gilded toward the stairway leading the upper story, where the laboratory was located. command. th lantern he realised Its purport, and "L7 But bis Intelligent mind worked hurried up the stairs to call Skidmon In thatx laboratory the wide-eyed quickly, and by the time he had fixed to account tor disclosing his guilty Margory Golden was searching th lit tered workbench, hoping to flnd intimidated drug fiend stood the Laugh- ortriumph He glanced furtively about mands issued ln painfully broken whls- the ret Ing Mask, the black muzzle of hi. re- h, a - throwln. back the bulkhead P"s. two spectral figures emerged Parentl to Skldmon faltetred toward the desk in 'nemy. saw a paper protruding from ry obedience to that silent, but obvious X "thes'.klyS.gh't or volver a few Inches dlstane from the pallid forehead of that once distin guished scientist, who was apparently playing for time. Presently the masked wrong-rlghter spoke in a stern and de termined manner. "My patience is about exhausted, Skidmon," he said to the man shrinking back against the bench, "and unless you write that confession clearing me of him, and, throwing back the bulkhead doore leading Into the cellar, backed down the short flight of steps, dragging the Laughing Mask after him, l(ke a spider dragging a fly into some dark recess. Legar seemed strangely at home in his dark and gloomy surroundings, for axter letting tne jaugmng Mask drop lifeless heavily to the cement flooring, his something to incriminate the venora groplng fingers quickly found a bat- ous Skldmon. She did not venture to tnose crime. nook. Tni8 reebl8 illumination showed turned lver attention to the your devmsn assistance, am S the celIar to De with aU Bort8 6f which wa- hldden umJer the th thrntitrn t n st n f W 1 1 11 B.B ... ""u'' - -- -- aiscaraea household furniture, includ- of toweling. When, after a little h mile compunction ' Ing a nile of wornout carnetlmr nr hi. name to that document vlndlcat- ,'Trht8' BtaIr, from tno ceUar le(1 ing the masked fugitive from Legar'a direct!y into the dark and many atrocious crimes he had banished the doored kitchen, and here Legar paused fears which this supernatural resur- and struck a match ln order to get his rectlon had caused him and A-ir- bearings. The first door he opened object mined on a course of action. Rising Prov4 to be that of a small butltr's , , ,. . . " . . . . v pantry, and by the flickering light of i atrip from the desk he approached the tch he Jsaw in the gloomy com- a mad dog. Your terrible poisons have where tne ro(Usked man WB. iying A been responsible for more than one un- Legar fc over tnat nelpleBa BKure a soivea muraer ana social, ... . falnt nolg camJ from the .Btalrway rid of you. This convincing threat had the de sired effect, - for the stoop-shouldered biologist moved sullenly toward a small .writing desk standing near the win dow. As his reluctant pen traveled slowly over the sheet of foolscap, the Laughing Mask stood looking over his shoulder, prompting the other's delin quent memory with an occasional quiet word and the insistent menace of that ever-ready revolver. The details of those abhorrent crimes, committed in cold blood by Legar for the sole pur pose of setting the police upon his enemy, had practically been completed when a shrill and penetrating whistle sounded front the alley. The Laughing Mask turned quickly to the near-by window and, throwing back the shutters, leaned out and strove to ascertain the meaning of that forbodlng signal. For a moment only he relaxed his guard over the crafty poisoner, but that moment gave to Skldmon the chance he had been seek ing. Before the startled girl, watching through the doorway, could cry out a word of warning, he launched himself upon that half-bent figure leaning out of the open window.- Caught at a decided disadvantage and unable to use his weapon, the Laughing Mask struggled desperately to free himself from those lean and clutching fingers. But. despite his frantic efforts, he was unable to throw off the oppressive welrht of his an tagonist's body, which was steadily bearing him backward over the narrow wlndow-silL Then, as the infuriated and drug-crazed criminal threw every ounce of his strength Into one final ef fort to v rid himself of his enemy, the Laughing Mask suddenly lost his bal ance, and, grasping wildly at the empty air, plunged headlong from the window down into the abysmal darkness. Hs seemed .doomed to sure destruc tion, but fate decreed the springy branch of an elm tree should catch that hurtling body, and the force of his fall was broken when, limp and uncon scious, he dropped a second later onto the stone flagging by the cellar door way. To the savagely exultant scien tist and the horror-stricken girl who had witnessed the swift tragedy it seemed certain that the Laughing Mask had met with death, for they did not know by what a slender, margin he had cheated that grim reaper. With sudden decision Skldmon leading to the floor above. He ln- AT MILKING TIME In the tog of my corncob wlien evening: grows dim, As I gro for the cattle, I summon back Jim; And the smoke that drifts out through the shadows of night Is light as our Jimmy's tossed tow-hair was light. And I listen intently, half hoping to hear The tune that he whistled fall shrill on my ear; And I glance o'er my shoulder, as though his young laugh Preceded the patter of feet on the path The patter of bare-footed haste, and the glee Of Jim and his collie descending on roe. There's a calf that was his she's a grandmother now To many a sturdy old Holstein and cow She's seen her best days, but when evening grows dim I fancy she's waiting to welcoirie back Jim; i For she lows at the gate when it's time for the stars And the old man is lonely who lets down the bars. eel- Laughing Mask, who was standing t.i,i,.iiv. form standinsr tatlon. she gingerly raised that flimsy near the open closet with his ready with folded arms. The silently-accus-coverlng, she saw a thin glass weapon in his hand. Skidmon held ing figure wore a yellow mask such as vessel bearing a printed label and half out' the signed confession, but before LeRar had last seen shrouding the face filled with a gelatinoua- substance. She the other could take it the paper, with f ?0Z Z hadhi'"8adgied !reJ!ir from the labelth. seeming 'natenceipp.d from lBh. roSped tVe lowlrfg 'matcS'end and slammed the door -on that masked apparition. In mad hafte he groped along the wall until his fingers came ln eon tact with a door knob, at which he fumbled frantically for a moment and then found himself in the dimly lighted hall. Throwing apprehensive looks behind him. he raced up the stairs to the third-story landing, where he paused to regain his breath before entering the laboratory of his traitor ous henchman. The silence was broken only by the sound of his labored breath ing, but he suddenly recoiled as though struck a blow. Down the narrow pas sage came the Laughing Mask, slowly advancing with measured tread like an avenging N"emsis. For a moment the terrorized male factor cowered against the rickety ban isters. Then, as that dread figure came nearer, he wheeled about and darted down the stairway, but steadily mount ing up to meet him came another fig ure with its face also covered by a cynically smiling yellow mask. The despairing criminal turned and fled to ward the attic, but etanding motion less at the top of that last flight f stairs was still another yellow-hooded figure. Like some fear-crazed animal. Legar rushed blindly through the laboratory doorway. Skldmon's body lay where It had fallen, and as Legar's eye, fell on that ghastly and distorted face he gave a sobbing moan of fear. As he glanced toward the hall door way he saw bis escape was cut off ln that direction, for standing on the threshold was a quietly waiting Laugh ing Mask. He threw open the door leading Into the chamber where Skid mon had been engaged ln packing his effects, but stationed in the center of that room was a forbidding form wear ing a yellow visor. As Legsr backed away from that hateful vision he tripped over the body of the deasclen ttst and fell heavily, striking his fore head a sharp blow against the edre of the laboratory bench. He slowly got to his feet, pressing his hand In a dazed manner against his Injured tem ple, from which a little crimson stream was trickling down Into his eyes. Catching up the towel which had covered the glass vessel broken by Skidmon, be mopped the blood from his eyes, and the Jagged wound on his forehead. Then as he felt a clammy moisture on his fevered skin he hastily examined the towel and saw It was smeared with a substance resembling a crushed Jelly fish. He saw more of that gelatinous matter on the bench and quickly picked out of it a piece ' of broken glass bearing a printed label. As he read ;he words. Colon Bacilli, hs knew his doom was sealed, for he had iCoaUuled as ' U IL "r"' There are thoughts that a gaffer will tell to his God, When the breath of the evening is over the sod. That a man wouldn't even confess to his wife That are twisted and spun in the woof of his life, That nestle so close to the roots of his heart That one nor the other are' neither apart. So nobody knows that when evening grows dim As I go for the cattle I'm going with Jim. Now a woman may treasure her trinkets and curls. But a man must be gruff, though his heart's like a girl's Yet there's times, when the smoke never tasted so ' '- sweet, That he hears on the cow-path the patter of feet The patter of little brown feet, and the shrill Eerie whistle that rings in his old ears still. And he fancies forgive him when evening grows dim. That the soft-eyed old Holstein is lowing for Jim. f
