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8YN0P3I8. On Windward Island Pnlldorl Intrigues Mrs. Golden Into an appoarnneo of evil widen muses Golden to rapture nnd tor- turo tho Italian by branding bis faeo and crushing Ids band. Palldorl opens the dyko gates nnd Hoods the Island and In the general rush to escape the Hood kid naps Golden's slx-ycnr-old daughter Mar gery. Twelve years Inter In New York a Masked Ono calling hlmsolf "the Hammer or God rescues an elghtoen-yenr-old girl from the cadet Cusnvnntl, to whom Jules L«ff fl r has delivered her. and takes her to the home of Knoch Golden, millionaire, whence she Is recaptured by I^egnr. Ixtiiur nnd Stein nro discovered by Manley, Gol- den's secretary, setting lire to Golden's bui dings, but escape. Margery's mother fruitlessly Implores Enoch Golden to And their daughter. Tho Masked Ono again takes Margery away from J.cgnr. Logar loots the Third National hank, but again the laughing Mask frustrates Ids Plans- L*gnr sends Golden “The Spotted Warning.;; demanding a portion of a elui of tho Windward islund. Margery met her mother. Tho chart Is lost during .. fight between Manley and ono of Hogur's henchmen, but Is recovered by the Laugh ing Musk. EIGHTH EPISODE ' The Stroke of Twelve. Enoch Golden had never been known as a half-hearted fighter. Ho was. In fact, of that pertinacious breed who fight best when half defeated. And ns ho grow Into a fuller realization of tho virulence of Jules Legar's haired for him and Ills house, ho proceeded to tako moro effective Btopp to protect himself. One of his precautions was to plnco an armed guard about tho homo which had boon repeatedly nnd audaciously invaded by Legal 1 and his agents. But tho mere posting of n couple of paid sontinels about his doors did not mark tiro limit of his activities. Ho strovo for still moro substantial protection by Installing in ono of tho upper rooms of his liouso a huge bur- glar-proof vault of chromium steel. Tho Installation of go ponderous a vault, however, Involved much mate rial strengthening of a structure not primarily designed for the support of seven-ton safes, and for days a small body of oxpert workmen had been busy putting In pillars nnd girders nnd disguising thoso pondorous supports under a veneer of mahogany celling beams jtnd oriental lonkwood columns. In JJ10 ornamentation of thd latter, In fact. th£ owner or tho hous'o fottnd a valued assistant in Count Luigi Ha Espnres who, with his finished taste nnd his knowledge of tho lino arts, ad vanced many suggestions for beautify ing what might otherwise lmvo been an ungainly nnd cumhersomo innova tion. It was Margery Golden, oven moro than her father, to whom 15a Esparcs, In thoso small efforts, looked for grati tude. And tho moro Margery Golden saw of that gallant young antiquarian tho moro mysteriously impressed sho became. David Manley, who waB not nlto- _ 0 ..„ 0 gethor ignorant of this now turn In I to go to'hls old-tlmo chief and report the tide of events, found llttlo to add j that Margery Golden might be found to his happiness in this overgrowing ut such and such a spot, at such and Intimacy between Margery and her such a time. Sho would bo ulono. And guest. For Mauley, by this tlnio, did ■ to Legar nnd his men, waiting there, moro than moroly distrust Da Es- I it would seem a simple enough matter pares; ho hated him. to roenpturo tho gift. But that cap- Theso vnguo misgivings of Man- I taro would never bo cITocled. For n loy's extended oven to tho costume , squad of police would bo held there, diuner-daneo which this esthetic for- | in hiding, and when tho moment nr- elgner undertook to engineer for Mar- ; rived, they would promptly surround gery's amusement. Anil in talking j Legar nnd Ills men and put thorn over Ills plans with Golden himself, j whoro they belonged, as tho latter was making ready for : "In other words, monsieur, what wc one of his hurried trips to Washing- ; proposo to do is to sot a trap, nnd ton, tho young nobleman ovon ven- I when this Iron Claw is about to gather tured tho liopo that this feto might j in his prey, ho himself will ho gutli- bo mado tho occasion of an even moro ! ered in.” auspicious announcement. | “You’proposc to sot a trap," ropeat- I3ut tho morose-eyed old mtlltonalro ' ml tho Incredulous Manley,- "and you did not qulto follow tho other's lino also calmly proposo to tako this un- of thought. So Da Esparos was driven protected young girl and uso her as to the expedient of openly yet cour- tho bait for that trap!" teously requesting tho prlvllego of "On tho contrary, monsieur, she will pressing his suit for the hand of this not bo unprotected. Many duly ap- ^ al, Khter of America. pointed officers of tho law will bo hat d you mean by that?" do- thoro. And, ns I havo already de manded tho astounded financier. “Aro plained to h6r, I also will ho there, jou trying to tell mo that you want to j And Miss Golden, 1 think, knows that mairv mv , nni.1,> . j woul ,j relu n|y g| V o my ||f Q f or [ho Author of "THE OCCA SIONAL OF FENDER; THE WIRE TAP PERS," "GUN RUNNERS,’ETC. Novtlited from' THE PATHE PHOTO PLAY OF the: SAME NAME •* AJ*1MIA ITRMCtA ' u means that I am about to make a move which will deliver you and your father from his enemy. And this time I think the plan will succeed," Mysterious as that plan was, It de veloped through an Incldont which soon brought tilings down to tho plnno of tho practical. For whon tho ma sons and Ironworkers who wore com pleting tho installation of tho now Golden vault returned from their mid day meal n fnr-from-nttructlve stranger Stole Into tho liouso ut tholr heels. And when David Mnnloy happened to catch sight of this stranger deep In talk with Count Da EspareB, hoi promptly Jumped to tho conclusion that ho had at last discovered sorno- Ihtng oil which to concontrato all tits earlier Scotch-mists of suspicion. For Da Esparos’ visitor unmistak ably boro tho earmarks of tho un kempt denizen of tho hop-joint and tho Bowery saloon. “What Is tills man doing hero?” he nuked ti3 he confronted tho Intruder. "This man Is hero nt my request. And the happiness of this house de pends much on his visit," was Da Es- pares' retort. "What has a crook liko Hud Egan got to do with tlio happiness of this liouso?” scoffed tho Irate Manloy. "And what right have you to bring a tool of Lcgnr's into this room?" Hut still Da Esparos remained out wardly eaVhi. "Pardon," ho replied. "But this man you call Itcd Egan Is no longer a crook nnd no longer a tool of Lo- gnr's!" "Then what Is he doing here? 1 "That, monsieur, concerns mostly tho young lady for whom I havo sent! Tlio soft-spoken v foreigner swung nbout ns Margory Golden stepped a little wonderlngly Into tho room. "This, Miss Golden," said Da Es pares, "Is tlio man of whom I spoke lo you. As your friend here protests, this man has been a tool of Lcgnr's. lint lie lias tired of being tho serv ant of so evil a man. Ho now scolcs lo havo tho stato oxtond Its pardon to lilm. And as a prico for this par don ho 1s willing to deliver Into our hands Jules Legar!" . "' B “t wliut Is tho plan?" asked the girl, with iy touch Tot impatience. Da Esparos, with upthrust shoul ders, looked from tho one to tlio other. It Is a plan which wo had thought It wlso to keep a secret," ho suavely explained, ’ Mr. Mnnloy 1ms earned tho right lo ho included in any Bccrets which may Involve tho capture of Legar, Margery Golden quietly assured the faintly smiling count, who bowed In ncquiosconco. And realizing the note of authority in that reply, ho outllnod tlio ifinn In ns few words as possible That plan, with Red Egan ns tholr emissary, was not a complicated one. Tills renegade from Logar’s gang wriS The Unbidden Guest. The gallant Count Luigi Da Espares, In view of Ills niuch-talked-of victory on tho Turnpiku bridge, found himself forced Into the not uncongenial role of u hero. If that disurect nobleman took advantage of tho high esteem which lie momentarily stood to push lliiougli to completion certain arrange ments for the costume hall on which ho soomed to havo set his heart Knowing wliut he kuew, the secre tary still rcgnrded that Impending function ns a (lunger in disguise, ho still nursed very substantial coverles. Tho first Was that tho ap. pointed tlmo for tho coup had bocn suddenly changed to an hour earlier. Tlio nocond was that tho trap for l.e- gar was not lo ho Bet along tho wood ed road loading up to the clubhouse of tho Greonoch golf IlnkB, ns first dcckl- oil upon. ' But Margery Golden was to motor alone to the west end of tho turnpike brldgo nnd thoro encounter her old-tlmo enemy of tho Iron claw. And tho police, Da Esparos assured 1 hor, lmd boon duly warned as to tho ‘ eh an go of location. Manloy, on overhearing that doclara- nf , 10 and’made 1 tho s'llnt, U P boa <l<luartors doubts as to the actual death of Legar. authorities there. In five minutes ho was In his own car, hastening to a conference with central olllco Itself, in another five minutes, on learning from Wilson over tho win; Hint Da Esparos nnd Margery had already loft the liouso In Lie limousine, Manluy laid his rnr filled with armed plain clothes men ironi tho central office and was speed ing out through the city ii 3 * fast ns a motor could carry him. As they swept up tho dusty approach to the In-nico , i hey even saw tlmt they were nono h ° US ° dC “ k,lowu ns the LttUBh 'l too 80011, 1’or already, in the bright afternoon sunlight, they could mako out a glim mering limousine as it carno to a stop t tiio end of Hie bridge. They could see a comowhnt hesitating nnd white- need rlrl step from tills limousine nt aightofa Kraii'°of mciwmc'i-c as of 110 grcat inl l>orlance, had not Bravely to Golden, reached out two un- y from tho shrubbery at ti.n K " nch t:o,don boc “ lho recipient of elovod hands to greet the two hands cions, however, that 1m Insisted un u conference with Enoch Golden him-! self. Front Hint conference he wrung j small consnlatlnn for his suspicions, j Manley, in fuct, had given up any j lmpo of further argument on thu ques-j Hon, when a trivial yet dlsqulotlug In-1 cident occurred, mid lit occurring brought about a slight change In Enoch Guidon's attitude. This Inci dent Involved Hie receipt of a strange missive bearing the signature of that elusive Interloper in tho nffulrs of the Musk. It read as follows; Count Luigi Da Esparcs is not only an impostor, hut also your cr.cmy. And , flgttro, for all Its height, was strangely ns a friend I herewith warn you that stoop-shouldered, moving with a dig- Tha Merriment at the Crowded Table Was at it* Height. ho is not to be trusted. ! nity of step which went well with the Even this opistio, which boro only | voluminous drapery In which it was tlm emblem of a 1 nughlng Mask for ; clud. And Manley watched closely as signature, might havo been accepted this Btutoly Arabian chieftain, bowing marry my daughter? “That is tho honor of which I havo -dreamed," was Da Esparos' quietly in toned reply. "Well, the point is, has ray Margory been dreaming along tho same line?" "That I cannot venturo to Bay," re plied that unctuously gallant suitor. “Well, in America that's nbout tho first thing that counts! And I guess we'd better call off this courtship talk until wo find out how the girl feels I about it!" Tho disappointed, but not disheart ened, count, accordingly, proceeded quietly yet earnestly to sound Margery Golden herself as to hor feelings in the matter. But hero, too, ho was met with a reply which, If graciously worded, wa3 at least noncommittal. "But you at least know that I wish to bring you happiness, that I was your friend in the past, that always In tho future I want to be your friend!" “But when friendship remains masked, It remains harder to under stand!” “Then the mask may be withdrawn, and withdrawn sooner than you ex pect.” "Just what does that mean?" asked the clear-eyed girl, studying his face. sake of koepiug her from harm "Is that tho way you fool about it?" demmidod Manley, swinging about to (ho slightly frowning girl. "Count Da Esparos and I will carry out this plan, nnd wo will carry it out, I liopo, qulto as successfully as wo muy carry out still other plans. And in tho count's hands I shall al ways feel that I am fully protected!" David -Manloy, thus dismissed, had ’ho dubious satisfaction of knowing that Iro had once more made a mess of things. Yet ho did not remain altogether in active. Ho watched his chance nnd luictly installed n dictaphone in the room, attaching tho transmitter-disk :o the undershlo of tho desk ledge .vliero Dn Espnres did most of his talk ing, and running his well-hidden wires down through tho floor to a linen closet, which tho over-dependable Wil son throw open for him. Thoro Man- ley made tho discovery that police headquarters had actually been com municated with nnd that the feint for Lcgnr’s capture, however its end, was Intended to carry every sign of sin cerity. Before another hour slipped by, how ever, 'Manloy mado two further dls shrubbery at tho end of the bridge Itself. 'iheso men, spreading out fanllko, swept past the llmousino In which Da Esparcs nnd the chauffeur were still seated. Four of them, rounding tho car, cut off the girl s avenue of retreat. Another four advanced o:i her from tlio bridge-cud, at the name tlmo that a fifth man leaped to the running board and started to struggle with tho chauffeur. j Even ns lie stared at that quickly | shifting sccno Manley could make out I tho figure of Legar himself. Ilo could sgo tho Iron Claw reach out for tho startled figure of tho girl, crouched back ngnlimt tho bridge railing, even ns his own ear-wheels leaped from the approach to (lie bridgo timbers them selves. Ho could also ninkc out Da Espares’ sudden leap from tho waiting limousine. Mnnloy, on beholding tills gave a cry of warning to tho plain clothes men about him. for he could plainly soo tho glint or a rovolver I: Dn Espnres' hand. But Da Espares ns that car of dclivoranco thundcre oil across lho bridge, did hot turn tc faco it. Instead, ho fought his wa. thiough tho circle of burly figures em rounding Margery Golden. Ho fougb till another communication. This which Ills host extended to him. About tlmo it was a telephone message from these hands ho saw at a glance, there a stranger, acknowledging himself to' 1 could be nothing doubtful, bo an active collcaguo of tho Iron j But Manley had little time to give Claw's. j further thought to tho sceno, for at Vl.egar may ho gone,” said this un- i that moment ho became aware of the known voice over the wire, "but his j fact that Da Espares had slipped away work is going to go on, and don’t you lo another part of tho house—and dur- forget it! You still hold that chart. It tlio chief didn't get his chart, before lie cashed in, I'm the guy who’s going to get it!” "All right," was Golden’s shouted re sponse. "You como up hero and get It! Ami nt tho Bntno tlmo you'll get what you dcsorvo Then, having slammed down tho re ceiver, the deliverer of tlmt ultimatum promptly sent for his secretary ' I want extra guards put around tliis house!" was Golden's command. "And I want nobody to como into it win can't ho accounted for." "Tonight will ho a hard time, I'm afraid, to put that order Into execu tion," explained Manloy. "What d'yott mean by that?" “You can’t give a masked ball nnd pul every guest on a microscope-slide as ho comes In!” "Manloy, how aro wo to know just who or wlmt thoso guests aro, If ...» . „ua strangely stoop-shouldered, and shouldered his way through to they're coming Into this house tlio 8i(lo of the girl even as Legar all sorts of make-up on 9 ” reached for her shrinking body. He "That’s exactly wlmt'I've been struck blindly nt that outstretched ing to mako you see for tho last arm, struck still again at Legar’s faco, days!” was Manley’s reply. “And at the same moment that Munley's car exactly what that man Da Esparcs 1ms shuddered to a stop and tho armed boon maneuvering for, or I lose my men from Its tonneau leaped Into tho ono last hot! And If this man Legar E t. u . . n .. . . i 8til1 alive, all wo'vo been doing It was a brief fight, but a hitter one, ; putting a atrip of red carpet down and much of it escaped Manley's at- him to walk in on'” tentlon. Tho one thing that held him ! "Well, I'll bo at the other end of transfixed was the sudden vision of that carpet waiting for him'” was the Da Espares dodging through tho Iron old fighter's thunderous retort girders In sudden pursuit of Legar, as "That's exactly what I want you to the latter, breaking free from his one- do, what I ask you to do. That’s ntles, ran to tho opposite sido of tho ono chance, If what I suspect moves bridge. There, seeing retreat on el- t(f bo tho case! You can disguise thcr quarter already cut off, that ntaa- faces. In an affair llko this tonight ter criminal nimbly mounted tho iron ‘ but you can't disguise a lost hand.” -ai.iag and gavo ono glance towards ’ 'Golden stood slowly shaking his he water below him. Yet, ns he poised head up and down in comprehension hero, ready to leap, Da Espares lev- "And if our Iron Clnw la there Q ,? rCd ; I Davy, we'll give him a welcome that Hanley could hear the shrill scream! he’s going to-remember!" of the girl, and tho shouts of the star- Two hours Inter, as Enoch Golden tied men, tho groat splash of tho turn- bllng body as it catapulted down in tho black-running water. Tlio next moment the captain nnd his mii- termed squad from the Greenock clubhouse wero charging across tho bridgo, Joining In with their plain clothes colleagues already forcing the last of Lcgnr's adherents to Might. And ns Manley mado his way toward tho glimmering limousine and Margery Golden he could hoar tho latter's nerv ous, sobs as she leaned weakly against tho bridgo railing and wept. "Did you kill him?" she a3kcd with a voice tremulous with horror ns Da Espares stepped to hor side. "Your enemy is dead!” was the 1st- tor’s quiet-toned reply. “lie caul; at onco. And this time he will never return." stood with his daughter at his side receiving their guests, It would havo taken a particular penetrating eye to dotcct any darker undercurrent of trlgito to that rippling tide of color and mirth which eddied about them. So punctilious was Golden in his hearty hand-grasp to each of those Incoming visitors, that Margery herself made note of this newer phase in her titer's character. Side by sido with a Flemish nun walked a Paris Apache, then canto a Montenegrin peasant and a flowing- robed Oriental Swami, then a red- sashed pirate and a velvet clad Vene tian Doge. Then, following a man on "lifters," who laughingly himself to be Hully Geo, Giant, enme an equally gold-braided Arabian burnoose. Ing that night, Manluy had determined ho would keep an oye on his enigmati cal foreign friend. But Instead of following Da Espares, pn discovering him stopping quietly Into tho deserted library, the alert-eyed young secretary promptly retreated to tho quarter where the receiver of his dictaphone wns concealed. Thoro, on placing this watch-case receiver to his ear, Manley had tho satisfaction of catching the faint hum of voices. Much of that guarded talk taking plnco in the li brary Manley could not overhear. But ho cuuglit enough to arouse hlB curi osity. "Then tho plan has worked?" asked the anxious voice of Dn Esparcs. "Without a hitch," answered tho other voice. “Tho girders have been cut through nnd tho bomb placed!" “And the clock fuso adjusted?" “Yes.” “But what was It set for?" "For the stroke of^twelve!" an swered the unknown voice. "By that time tho crowd will bo at tho table, eating!" "But how,” naked tho anxious voice of Da Esparcs, “could wo get Legar Inside?" Tho sound of a triumphantly quiet laugh camo over tho llttlo instrument. "Legar Is already here!" announced tho other. "Hush! Not so loud!" warned Da Espares. And from that point on It was only broken phrases that trickled into the hidden listener's ear. . . . “Camo as an Arab chief. . . . Nicchla tho Dago acrobat on his back . . . yes, ttndor cloak . . . could hold out both hands . . . and never even suspected. . . . being watched . . . can't afford to lose this time!” Again camo tho sound of tho quietly triumphant laugh. And It was De Es pares’ voice that sounded clearly tho next moment. "But how did he work that bridge fall • . . "long dive . . . camo up under a lumber schooner's stern and hung to rudder chain . . .down with tldo . . . an hour later . . . swam ashore . . launch to Oyster Joe's!" Manley did not wait for more. Mid night, ho know, was already too peril ously close for half measures. By tho time ho reached tho upper floor, In fact, ho found Enoch Golden already heading the grand march to the great tahlo running almost tho full length of the huge room opening off the conserv atory. Tho next moment ho saw Da Espares himself step hurrledl^, yet smilingly to tho side of Margery Gold en nnd tako their places In that gayly- colorqd lino that rippled with laughter and movement ns tho orchestra once moro struck up. Then, remembering, whnt ho had overheard about mysteri ously weakened girders and planted bombs, Manloy likewise remembered the newly Installed vault and the fact that Legar's final object was tha pos session of a certain paper which that vault held. And he slipped out through tho door, and on through tho empty conservatory, frantically wondering Just wlmt his first move to avert that impending catastrophe should bo. The figure which intervened In that howovor, was a much more plc- one than the slight figure of a young private secretary In somewhat disheveled evening clothes. Bk>r when the merriment nbout the great crowd ed tahlo wns at its height an unex pected nnd uninvited guest strode in aro about to bo shocked In a much moro serious way. On the stroke of twelve there is to be an accident hero, perhapB something much graver than an accident, In tfhich it Is my great desire that you should not participate! So I must ask each and every one of you to leave this room, and this liouso, as quietly yet as quickly as possible! Every ono," repeated that authorita tive-voiced Intruder as Da Esparcs and the tall man In the Arabian burnoose rose to their feet, “excopt these two gentlemen here.” Out of tho silence that ensued on that declaration arose a small mur mur of wonder, a stir of nervousnoss, and ono shrill laugh from a woman holding a wine glass. Then Enoch Golden himself called out an angry ex postulation, followed by a sharp word or two of command. But the company had already rlBcn. For the masked stranger, stepping still closer to Da EspareB and the figure In tho flowing burnoose, had coolly intercepted them as they moved In unison towards a side door. “Get back, both of you," tho clear voice behind the yellow mask had called out, "or before God I'll B hoot you down where you stand!" That Budden threat of violence was tho spring which released tho ten sion. There wero mingled shouts of resentment and fear, followed by a quick and unreasoning rush for tho door, courtiers and mtn B and peas ants and Apaches and Geisha girls In contending flurry of finery nnd fright ened faces. For a minute or two the master of the liouso struggled in vain to stop them. Then his attention wns directed towards the Laughing Mask, for the latter, advancing with a quick stride to the man In the burnoose, Jerked aside that flowing garment nnd re vealed Logar himself, Legar with a sinlsterly seared faco and an Iron claw at the end of his right arm. And the same moment that this movement was taking place, Da Espares himself, with his oyes always on the Laughing Mask stole quick step by step towards tho door on his loft. Ho had reached that door before his enemy detected him. Tho man with the revolver wheeled about and fired as the Spanish knight n silk and lace dived through the open- '.I 8 ; , Lngar ' Bcelt 'g his chance in that division of interest, charged bodily through tho damask laden table, scat tering silver and glass and flowers as he went. In another breath he had reached the conservatory, where a second or two later, his Iron-shod arm could bo heard flailing through the fra gile barrier of glass between him and the outer world. And by tho time Enoch Golden reached the spot his enemy had vnnished. Yet In almost the sane breath the Laughing Mask had lenpod in the op- poslte direction, In pursuit of tho flee ing Da Espares. But that flight, wher- ever It led or might have led, was In- terrupted by a sudden detonation that shook tho great house to Its founda tion. Thoro was a roar, of falling gir ders, the splintering of wood, the rum ble of a great avalanche, as a seven- ton steel vault, deprived of Its sup ports, crashed down through tho flim sy flooring,, carrying dust and debris and tumbling pieces of household fur niture ns it went. Nor did that mas- slve thing of metal stop until it bedded Itself In the broken cement flooring of the cellar below. Then above tho rattle of falling plaster and echoing showers of scattering bric-a-brac rose the quick cry of human voices calling for help. Golden, staring dazed at the great room through which sudden ruin had orupted, was scarcely conscious of the frightened girl clinging so forlornly to his arm. He was scarcely conscious of the throng of servants and watch men who ran back and forth through the dusty rooms. He quaveringly helped hi B daughter to a chair. She stared wide-eyed at Wilson as the lat- through tho wide door and confronted r*® r led David Manley, limping a llttla tho company there assembled. This I and much disordered as to apparel figure wore a dust-stained motor, coat * nt0 tho room . and cap. .But the most conspicuous ! . '^ 8 anybody hurt?” asked tho white- feature of his attire was tho yellow Slrl. Equally mask which covered his face. conspicuous was tho huge blue-bar reled revolver which ho firmly held In This weapon, In fact, menacingly in tho strong light stranger's left hand was sud- lifted for silence. "Ladies and gentlemeq," ho pro claimed In a clear voice, “this lntru- v * slon, I fear, may shock you. But you . httve J UB t found his body, crushed i fler too vault!" tT.O BE CONTINUED.) ~t The ever dependable old butler look- ea at Manley, who in turn looked away. h Z m «°7 y ’ Mlss Marger y" Wilson hesitatingly explained, "but It Is the Count Da Espares!" "You mean he Is"— The old butler nodded. I m afraid so, Miss Margery. They