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BRADY COUNTY PLOCKAHS, CAIRO. KttUltUiA. AUTHOR OF "THE OCCASIONAL OFFENDER," "THE WIRE TAPPERS," “GUN RUNNERS." ETC. NOVELIZED FROM THE PATHE PHOTO PLAY OF THE SAME NAME IQFVmillT. 1.11. HY AUTIIUK imiNCfft bug oscapod Ills attention* It was per- Uaiis duo to tho lrasto with which ho hud to mnko ott with his prisoners. Ho wus blinking cautiously about, to mnko suro tho const was cleur, when n voico startlingly closo to bis own portly carcass culled out with a sud den warning: "I.ook out for tho Iron Claw!” "How's dut?" was tho answering cry of the tingling Itastus. "I.ook out for the Iron Claw!" re peated tho voice so closo behind hint. "Wha—\Vhut iron claw?" demanded tho nwentlng Rastus. "I'll got you!" announced tho bodo- ful voico behind hint. And at that threat utter nnd unreasoning panic seised tho terrified Itastus, who, with a throaty hollow of agony, charged across a newly-dug garden and bound ed like a rotund juckrabbtt down a moonlit alley bordered with shadowy fences. At tho end of tills alley Rastus plunged through a narrow gate, and charged;bodily Into tho peaceful beer- garden belonging to tho roadhouse of willed Aunt Agatha disliked animals j 5no Antonio Dlhollo, whero sat four almost as much as she disliked mys- ‘ ncn * n nuiot conference about one of torios. And about her tranquil Co-! 5tho litUo iron tables well out of pub- dur homo she folt were transpiring ^ en * events altogether too inexplicable to [ t hnsa men sh6wcd prompt rcsont- On Windward island Palldori intriguos Mrs. Golden into an nppoaranco of evil which causes Golden to capturo and tor ture tho Italian by brnnding his fuco and crushing ids hand. Pulldorl opens, tHo dyko gates nnd Hoods tho inland and in tho general rush to cscapo tho flood kid naps Golden’s six-year-old daughter Mar gery. Twelve year’s later In New York a Masked One calling himself "tho Hammer of'God" rescues an clgh teen-year-ohl girl from tho cudet Casavantl, to whom Jules Logar has delivered her, and takes her to the home of Enoch Gulden, millionaire, whence she is rocnptiired by Legnr. Lcgar and Stein nro discovered by Manley. Gol den’s secretary, setting lire to Golden’s buildings, but escape. Margery’s mother fruitlessly Implores Enoch Golden to find thoir daughter. Tho Masked One again takes Margery away from Legar. Legnr loots tho Third National hank, but again the Laughing Mask frustrates his plans. Legnr sends Goldon "Tho Spotted Warning,” demanding n portion of a chart of the Windward island. Margery moots her mother. The chart Is lost during a light between Munloy and one of Legur’o henchmon. SEVENTH EPISODE “THE HOODED HELPER.” Margery Golden’s Rcronoly solf- rematn lone to her liking. So when Hannah, the plump but less practical-minded caretaker of that ment at this unheralded Interruption to their talk. Rut as the parrot, with its bead thrust through a hole in tho orstwhllo abode of trn:i(|0!llil.y, trem- ! E um, 5’snclc, repented Its shrill cry of . . . .... “T/vtlf mil fnr Gin Plow ” Girtun ulously announced that a stranger in a yellow mask had loft a bright-col ored parrot, answering to tho name of Tito, nt tho door for Miss Margery, tho bird in tiuosllon was viewed with open .disfavor, and Margery was sub jected to many disturbing interroga tions. None of tho girl's answers proving satisfactory, however, her flrm-willoil maiden aunt proposed .that they pro ceed with their interrupted gamo of Rook out for the Iron Claw,” those men rose in n body to thoir feet. Their leader, who in even tho dim light from tho garden lampB showed himself to be a ono-anned man with a Etrangely-Bcarred faco, sprang for the terrified negro. Rastus, however, was in no mood for cither interruption or argument. Ho merely emitted a | whoop of reawakened terror nnd head ed for homo. There lie burst in upon tho astound Preference"." 'ilu't n /Vrcon pnrrot’s In- 0,1 Jo "' ,ma mld . collapsed with a stlnct and enigmatic cry of "I.ook 'levering groan of exhaustion. Rut be- out for the Iron Claw" proved in no : ' foro Jolnln,a could either understand way consistent with so -trnnqulllzlng tho nnturo of his ailment or Invhstl- a game, nnd tho owner of tho houso 1 Ka, ° ‘I 10 contents of his gunnysack, a finally and firmly commanded the do-1 ?, econd " nd , evel ' violent «"up parting Hannah,*, who “slopt out,” to carry tho disturbing creature oft to her own cottage for tho night. . This Hannah did, with much mum bling, and deposited it in her cliickon coop. There Tito would havo spent a quiet and uneventful night, In all likelihood, had not a certain mildly-prodacious negress answeringfto tho name of (o {, e nasius merely wheezed anr Jemima Matson, returned all hut E i 1C iok in^llie legs and showed the empty-handed to her suburban homo. | whi , os of his cyoa . It waa lndoed For ono of the by-products of this BeV eral minutes beforo ho was so dusky lady s activities as a scrub- niuc i, ll3 awakened to tho fact that he woman was the gathering of those wns not ln tho g ,. lp of tho law . But trifles which find tlicir way to the 0I1( , G convinced of that fact, he became tion took place. Lcgar and his men dragged tho quaking nnd gasping Ras tus to ills loot, shoved hlm'lnto a chair, nnd snatched up the gunnysack. From It they took out tho loudly-protesting green parrot and wonderingly ex aminod it. "Whero did you get that parrot?’ was tiie quick demand of the man who wore an Iron liook whero a hand ought wnsto baskets aiul refuse eons of of ftco buildings. And her only harvest, on this occasion, was n half portion of a tlmo-ycllowed codo chart and map, which had blown from tho dizzy balcony of the Central Tower building. She Was Sitting in Front of the Suit of Japanese Armor. Rastus Watson, Jemima’s lord and master, flung tho sheet of paper down on their kitchen table in disgust when It was placed before him as the extent of a day’s "pickin’s." Now, Rastus, who was of much port lier frame than his spouse, wa3 a firm believer In the efficiency of forced feeding. And since the day’s harvest had been a lean one, mid the larder showed disturbing signs of emptiness, that plump-bodied negro possessed himself of a worn gunnysack and an nounced his determination of'acquir ing a few pullets while hunger ran high and tho moon swung low. In- j be murder done in this Viliago before stlnct combined with fate to lead Has.] tho sun rises!" tus by the nose, take him stealthily j The man in the yellow mask waited over the backyard fonco of tiio afore- for nothing more. A minuto later ho mentioned Hannah, and from tlicro to was o(T, running shadowlifte through the door of tho padlocked coop, the darkness. Shadowliko, too, lie ap- ; If in the excitement of the moment the proached an ivy-bowered bungalow in Tightness of ono bird tossed into the which three women were quietly play- olublo enough In his protestations to obligo tho "white gon’l’men” with any Information they desired. lie even led thoso white gentlemen hack to the neighborhood of Hannah’s chicken coop. So engrossed wero they In thoir dis- i covcrie3 that they thereupon paid scant attention to Rastus himself, who took advantage of that diversion to disappear. Tlicro wore certain phases of that hurried pursuit, however, which had not entirely oscaped tho attention of a circumspect stranger who had mo tored casually about tho quiet streets of Codnrton earlier in the evening. Aunt Jemima Watson, in fact, had | scarcely recovered from tho shock consequent upon tho sudden' invasion of her cottago when she discovered herself confronted by still another stranger. And tho fact that this stranger woro a yellow mask did not ; add to hor immediate peace of mind. "AH I want to know, my good wom an, i3 wlioro thoso men aro taking your husband." "Dey’s tailin' him back t’ wliar he done gat dat bird," explained the no gress. The stranger started for the door. Then ho stopped, dead short. For lying overlooked on tho floor, closo beside a battered water bucket, ho caught sight of a familiar-looking oblong of yellow paper. In another moment ho had possession of U, "Wlioro did that paper como from?” ho demanded. For ho know that It was tho long-sought Golden chart which ho held in his hand. "Dat ilono como from mall offus sweopln’s," explained tlio other. "But mah Rastus allows It lialn’t oven wutl a green tradin' stamp!” “Your Rastus may ho right," was the stranger's quiet reply. “But it's worth this much to mo." And Aunt Jemima found n tcn-dollar hill thrust Into her astonished pink palm. "That is yours, my good woman, If you do just ono tiling, and do it quickly. 1 want you to go to the sheriff's, wako him up, and get- him to tho house whore that woman called Hannah works. Tell him to get tlicro In a hurry, and to bring his men, or there'll ini? “lil'Ofereiice" In tho light of a green-shaded reading lamp. But tho nmn 111 tlio mask, preferring to louvo that peaceful gamo undisturbed, -stole quietly In through tho hack of (he houso, locked lllmsolf In n small room above stairs, and them adroitly hut quickly made a facslmlio of tho map. Beforo that map could bo completed though, strange events woro already transpiring dlroctly borieath where ho f.,U. For Margery Goldon, glancing up from her gunto, stared Idly Into? tlio old-fashioned mirror of bevel plato facing hor from tho opposlto wall. And peering ln nt tho window l-ofioct- ed In that mirror sho Baw a hoarded face seamed with an unmistakable scar. Sho did not scroam aloud, ua her first Impulso had prompted, but she sat.staring down nt hor cards, trying to study out tho dilemma which con fronted her. For tho face sho had scon wao Logar’s, Tho move she qulotly decided upon was to call tho ntrangely roticent chaulTour of hor strangely oluslvo de liverer nnd ask him to malio ready for an immediate flight to tho city. She watched that chauffeur as ho throw on a heavy bear-skin coat and cap, wound a muffler about his nock, and started for tho garago. Sho watched him as ho stepped out into tho dark ness. Then tho bear-skinned figure bocamo tlio center of strango and un looked-for activities, for It was plain that several men, lurking (here In the darkness, had sprung upon him. It was equally plain that they lpst litllo tlmo In overpowering him, for before the startled women could rise from tho card table they found that homo of peace Invaded by a group of nu- dnclous-cycd rullians headed by Le- gar hiniBelf. The latter bowed Ironically to tho white-faced girl as ho confronted her. His advance towards her, though, was interrupted by tho suddenly renewed struggles of tho chauffeur, who, as he tried to break away from Ills captors, calloil loudly for help. Legal-, looking that fool In tho mask trios to move, plug him ono." He handed tho automatic to one ol tlio men nnd motioned to him to un lock tlio closet door. Then ho or tiered tlio chauffeur to step out. "Now, you boat it with these riba, and bout it quick!" That chauffeur had not tri.kcn six Btcps across tlio rcom beforo n slid den cry broke from ono of the mon standing closo lioslda tho card table, “Your map’s gono!" was tho be wildering messngo that foil on Lcgnr’s ears ns ho leaped to tho table side. The man In tho boar skins nt tho same moment stepped out through tlio door. “That guy gave you a copy, a fake copy dono in disappearing ink." Lcgar gnvo ono glauco. Then, with an oath, lie leaped for tho closet door, lluiig It open, and Bprung bodily on tlio masked figure, dragging It out to tlio light ns ho toro away tlio hand of ycllo-.v that covered tlio latter's face. "That's the chauffeur!" cried ono or tlio men. “They switched makeups in that closet, and tho main guy's gut away!" Then came a sudden tramplo of feat, a chorus of shouts nnd the charge of armed officers of tlio -law through tho houso. For tlio sheriff had at last arrived. Lcgar, knowing what that meant, with ono sweep of his hooked arm filing the groon-shadod lamp from it3 table, jumped through a window and vanished from sight. *<■«*♦** The Shell of Deceit. Margery Golden, nil tilings consid ered, was once moro in very oxcollent spirits. There wero even moments when young Dnvid Manley considered those spirits aa hotli doplorahly and disturbingly excellent. For tho girl’s happiness, ho felt as sured, wns duo to the prcsenco of young Count Lugl da Esparcs. Ho liad come, as moro than .one im poverished young nobloman had como (o America, to dispose of thoso can vases and curi03 which, if they had “Where Did You nonchalantly about, crossed to a door, swung it wide, and saw that it opened into a closet. “.Throw that grizzly In hero until he learns how to keep quiet!" was thoir leader’s crisp command. "And now, my girl, I guess it’s your turn again!" was Ills next sinister ex clamation. At the samo moment that these words woro spoken still another unex pected intruder ontcro tlio room. Only, this time it was tlio oddly inter- ruptlve figure of that man of mystery known ns tho Laughing Mask. "Not a movejjfrom any man here!" ho cried out as ho faced that threaten ing circlo, gun in hand. It was Legar hlmsolf who stepped hack a pace or two, closely watching tlio automatic. “Beforo wo start nny shooting around liorc," tlio Laughing Mask calmly suggested, “I want just a word or two, Legar, with you. 1 know what you'ro after. You want Golden's por tion of a Windward Island chart. Well, I havo that chart, and I havo it with me. But thero is no reason why women should he dragged into this fight. So tho first thing you have to do, if you want that chart, is to al low Margery Golden and liar mother hero to return quietly to the city .with my chauffeur, and return tonight!’’ Logar’s lip curled. “And then you’ll as quietly hand mo over the paper, I suppose?” ho scoffed. 'I’ll hand you over tho papar," agreed the Laughing Mask, for abovo all thiugsTio know It was necessary to play for tlmo. The gun nnd tlm map together," was tho prompt demand. "And then what?” inquired tho l aughing Mask. "Then you wait in tills closet until I mnke suro it’s tho map I’ve got,” an nounced tlio audacious Legal-. "I .await your decision, gentlemen, In the jury room,” mockingly an nounced tho latter as ho stepped into the closet. Quick as a shot Legar shut and locked that door. "We’ve got him, whatever Ills gamo Is!" ho announced us he darted across the room to the green-shaded lamp and placed the sheet ef yellqw paper down on tlio card table close beside a second piece which ho had already- drawn from Ills pocket. "By God, l’vo got it!" exulted Legar. “Let out that driver in tlio bear skins first," ho commanded, "nnd if Get That Parrot?" not onco graced Ills own ancestral lml!s, had at least been conscientiously made, on tliiTfar side of tho Atlantic, after models hearing every earmark of tlie'authentie. And one of the treasures which he had succedod ln disposing of to Enoch Golden was a full suit o! medieval Jnpancso armor, complete oven to tlio long-hladcil Kngisaki dag ger and grotesquoly fashioned metal fuco mask. That leering metal faco David Man ley bail hated from tlio first moment ho saw it in position nt the far sido of tho somber Gulden library. Tho qgli- ncss of that metal monstrosity, in fact, seemed-j-nccontuatcd by tlio soft toned canvas painting which stood immedi ately behind It. 'Must what ilo you see to lilio about that thing?” ho somewhat brusquely inquired. Tlio girl’s face grow seri ous. That leering metal faco makes me think of tlio Laughing Mask, and now I’m almost certain I know who this Laughing Musk 13." "Who?" ‘Count Luigi da Esparcs himself!’ “I don’t beliovo it!” “Yes, hut listen: Quite by accident yesterday, when wo wore having tea together, a yellow domino dropped from his pocket. He was confused and seemed unwilling to make any real ex planations about It.” “Even a count could afford to invest ill a ten-ceut domino," was Manley’s retort. "Isn’t it beautiful ?” she asked a3 she swung tlio armor about. "You see It is quito open ln tho back. Tho count says they wero made that way hocause they wore worn only by heroes. And n hero must always ho bravo enough to stand facing his enemies! ' “Well, swing It -round then, for I’m its enemy all right! I hate the tiling!" Throe hours later he was peremp torily summoned to tho billiard room, where he found Enoch Golden in slip pers nnd dressing gown feverishly pacing the door. Manley stared in terrogatively down at tho paper which the older man held In slightly tremu lous fingers. “It’s nnother of Legar's -Spotted Warnings!" explained Golden, in a voico heavy with apprehension. "Did you speak to Da Espares about tills?” Manley asked, “No. Da Espares went to bod an hour ago." “And Margory?" "Margery Is with her mother. ’ "Are you suro?" "They wore tlicio thirty minutes ago.’ "But are you suro7’’ "Yes; I saw them." "Then the first tiling to do ta to make mire tiint she is still saio.” Yet hurried ns Manley’s fljght was through that quiet house, lie took time to circlo nliout to Ills own room and tlicro thrust nn automatic pistol lnlo Ills pocket. Then ho called Colcstlno, who was promptly sent to Investigate Margery’s boudoir. Sho returned with the disquieting report that tho girl wns not there. Manley, with a sinking of tlio licnrt, continued ills search through the low er regions of tho houso. And ho did not breathe freely until, quietly open ing tlio side door Into the library, ho caught sight of Margery Iiersolt', ln a narrow-hacked Jacobean chair, bent low over a hook which lay open on her lap. Sho sat clearly outlined ln tho bright fulcrum falling over hor care lessly-posed body, leaving her In a luminous 3howcr from the single wall light, which sho had loft turned on Immediately nbovo hor. This silvory shaft of light brought out tlio beauty of hor heavily-massed hair; it brought out tho tender lines of tho white throat and neck, tlio wistful girlish ness of tho sloudor figure. Then Man- ley for Ilia first tlmo noticed that she was sitting v dIroctly ln front of tho suit of Japanese* armor. He could sco tlio polished metal of that armor flash venomously in tlio cirong sidelight. As lie stood there, clinging to the portloro and continuing to staro at thoso two strongly-divorgent figures, lie found something almost hypnotic ln tho virulent brightness of the pol ished metal. Then a gasp of incred ulity hurst from lii3 lips. For a3 ho stared at tho molaleil hand holding the lonG-b’adcd dagger, ho saw, or thought he saw, that hand slowly raise, ns though some miracle had en dowed Its insensate links nml plates and vambraces with life. Then the very blood in his body seemed to cur dle with sudden horror, for now tlicro was no doubt about it. The mailed hand holding tho glimmering knife blade above tlio softly-breathing -girl wn3 slowly but surely being lifted, higher nml still higher. And in an other moment, Mauley felt, It would surely strike. Quick ns a flash he caught the au tomatic from Ills pocket, swung it up, and trained tlio barrel on tho glinting high lights along tho mailed fist. Then ho fired. Thero was a mulllcd shout of pain, a short scream of terror from tho 3tarlled girl, and answering calls from ahovo-stairs as tho uproar echoed through tho midnight house. But to all of these Mauloy paid scant atten tion. _ With ten steps lie had crossed tho room. Then ho flung himself on tho suit of mall, twisting it about and sending it toppling from ti3 stand. But ono glance showed It to bo empty. Tho framed canvas that stood behind It he jerked from the,wall. Then an exclamation of wonder hurst from Ills lips. For, in tho wainscoting at each side of where tho canvas had hung ho discovered two holes cut, not a yard apart, nnd sufficiently largo to admit of a man’s arms being thrust through them. And n3 he saw them, and be gan to batter on tlio dark-wood wain scoting with hi3 heavy pistol-butt, ho realized what had taken place. Somo enemy,- secreted behind that wainscoting, had thrust an arm into the liictal shell of an arm holding tho dagger, and, hail lifted it to strike down tho girl so closo beside it. And that enemy, Manley resolved as ho battered down tlio panel and crowded his way through into a narrow pas sageway, he would discover mid cap ture or know tlio reason why. Yet that passago, which led to tho abandoned conservatory and from there back to a long unused butter’s pantry, proved to ho entirely empty. All that rewarded Manley’s frantic search was a 3leovo button and a shred ,ol cloth torn from a scrvico coat, caught on a nail where the pas sage Itself ended against the wain scoting. And by tlio tlmo ho had pushed Ills way hack to tlio library Golden nml Da Espares and Wilson woro already thero. “Wlicro’s Wrench, that new foot man?" ho domandod. "I saw Wrench In the upper hall, sir, two minutes ago," was Wilson’s prompt reply. “But monsieur, what lias happen’ to my beautiful armor?” domande’d tho softly-speaking Da Espares. “I’ll tell you that when we find Wrench," was Manley’s curt reply. “Wilson, you guard tho front door, and you, Eir," added Manley, turning to Golden, “I'd advise to watch the win dows there." “And I, monsieur, what may I do to bo of assistance?” inquired the imper- turbablb Da Espares. “You 'go up those front stairs and stop anybody who attempts to c’oruo down. And mind you stop them! I'm going up by tho servants’ stairs. And somebody watch tho elevator!” Ilo was off tlio noxt moment, run ning with all Ilia speed through tho houso, with his automatic in his hand as ho went. It was not until he had mounted a second.and then a third flight of stairs that ho enmo to a stop. That wa3 close beside tlio door of Wrench’s-own room. Ami listening there ho heard the sound of movement within. Ho did not even try the door. Back ing • quickly awny, ho shouldered against the wooden panels with all his weight. Tho lock gave way nnd he .vont staggering into tlio room. Thore, bent over a suitcase, ho caught sight of Wrench himself. Ono glance at that startled and pallid faco, ono gllmpso at tho sleeve of tho serv ice-coat from which a button nad clearly been torn away, convinced nim that nil his vaguo suspicions of tho past week had boon only too well founded, And ho wasted no wordB on argument. He icnpotl to that startlod flguro, thrust 1.1s automatic against tho waist- lino of the sorvico coat and command ed Wrench to back up against the wall. As lie did so a sudden shout Bounded from tho doorway behind him and in stinctively he glanced about to ascer tain tlio meaning of this Bhout. Wrench, soolng his chance] knocked Sprang Bodily on Manley. the menacing automatic-barrel to one sido ami sprang bodjlji on ilaploy. As ho did so nn unexpected and strangely mantled figure glided Into the narrow room. It was a figure wrapped and hooded In heavy velour and only’ a sec ond glauco at its Btrange coverles would havo revealed tho fifbt that It was a portiero quickly torn from its fastenings and improvised into a mask to conceal,its wearer’s .identity. But Manley, as ho fought with Wrench, had small time to rogister this fact, or tile further fact that a rent had been made in tho portiero to serve ns an eye-hole for tho head which it so com pletely covered. It was not until that hooded flguro had joined In the contest that Manley became aware of the second portiere which his newer opponent carried. For this portiere was deftly thrown over the young secretary's head anfl sudden ly drawn tight about his arms. Tho white-faced and struggling footman, realizing that Ills final chance nad come, promptly took advantage of Man ley’s momentary helplessness to full hack, leap for Uio open door and make good his escape. Manley himself, maddened by tho thought of that culprit’s escape, swung about on his hooded assailant with a fury that sent the latter*also retreat ing towards the hall. That unknown enemy even sought to escape as his coileagua lind done, but at the stair head Manley overtook him. Together they wont down the stairs, a tangle of limbs ami striking fists and portiero ends. They fought and rolled along tho lower doorway, fought until Manley had freed himself from tho other’s clutch and was struggling to {ear tho drapery from abput his mysterious en emy’s head. But that. enemy, fran tically bent on remaining unknown, fought back with an addfcd fury which brought tho two swaying and clinging bodies full, force against tho stair railing. That railing, under the strain, suddenly gave way. Mauley, clinging desperately to tho portiere folds, felt that voluminous drapery follow after him as he fell gasping over the well oS tho stairs He fell sprawling, tangled up ln many yards of velour, anil landed on Hie cowering head and shoulders of the astounded Wilson, who, at tfiat stiddon assault, promptly and vociferously shouted for help. When Manley, stunned for a minuto or two by the fall, once more opened his eyes and blinked Inquiringly about him, he saw both Golden nnd his wife and Margory herself clustered at his side. “Did you got him?” h? demanded. “Get whom?” asked Enoch Golden. “That murderous blackleg, Da Es pares!" was Manley’s reply. "But Count da Espares has nothing to do with this,” protested tho girl, with a frown of bewilderment. "He’e only been helping us, as he always helped us!" ‘‘As ho always helpod you?" scoffed the Incredulous Manley. . “Yes, ns he will tell you himself!” For at that moment, suave and smil ing, the count joined the wondering circlo. "Ah, monsieur, I keep watch abovo, as you ask," he explained with a*shrug. "But nozzlng happen. 1 see nobody.- Then, mon dleu, I hoar the tumult, and come down to you. But I cannot comprehend. So tell me, monsieur, I bog, what ,1ms happen?” > Manley rosa stiffly and slowly to his feet. "You don’t understand?" ho asked as his fixed staro met the mildly ques tioning eyee of the count. ' "No, monsieur," was the other’s softly spoken answer, as ho still gazod with solemn wonder into the scoffing face of tho American. * "But what do you mean by this, any way, Manley?" demanded Enoch Golden. “Oh, I guess he's merely the guy that put tile Laugh in the Laughing Mask," was Manley's embittered yot enigmatic retort. (TO BE CONTINUED.). '''