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Show I he g f Amaudi GKAS m A (WillEBcdford-JoneG flgW IMA. b, ! Irwin Mijeis y k Copyright by Doubleday . Page and Company- tif men before him with its tlinnuM-Ing tlinnuM-Ing moutii. "Not a sound, If you plcnse," ha wnriipd, his voice thin and nasal obviously ob-viously disguised. "I trust that none of you gentlemen Is armed, liecause I din very quick on the trigger. A very pleasant surprise, Mulllurd? You'd givn me up, eh 7" For an Instant no one spoke. Then Maillnrd moved slightly, moved his hand toward a button set In the widl near the safe. The voice of the bandit ban-dit leaped out at him like thin steel: "Quiet, you fool ! If you touch that Maillnrd stiffened, and gripped the table edge with bis shaking hand. The bandit bowed slightly, and addressed ad-dressed the gathering In n tone of dry raillery : "The rights of property are to me far more sacred than human life; there I agree with the law. So, gentlemen gen-tlemen kindly empty your pockels on the table." His voice became crisp. "The jeweled scnrfplns which you received re-ceived as favors this evening may be added to the collection ; otherwise, I shall not touch your prlvnte possessions'. posses-sions'. No watches, thank you. Mail-lard, Mail-lard, kindly begin! I believe that you carry n wallet? If you please." The banker could not but obey. His hands trembling with fear and rage, he took from his pocket a wallet, and emptied a sheaf of bills upon the table. One after another, the other men followed his example. When It came his turn, Jachln Fell drew a single bill from his pocket, and laid tt down. "You put some faith In (hat warning, warn-ing, Mr. Fell?" The bandit laughed. "If You Don't," Was the Cool Threat, "I'll Shoot You Through the Abdomen." Ab-domen." "Do you think that you will know me again?" '! hardly believe so, sir," answered Fell in his apologetic fashion. "Your disguise is really excellent" "Thank you." The bandit's voice held a thin mockery. "Coming from you, sir, that compliment is most welcome." wel-come." "What the devil does the fellow mean?" exploded Judge Forester. "Then you are not aware that Mr. Fell is a man of large affairs?" The bandit's white teeth flashed in a smile. "He Is a modest man, this attorney! at-torney! And a dangerous man also. I assure you. But come, Mr. Fell, I'll not betray you." Jachin Fell obviously did not appreciate appre-ciate t lie pleasantry. His shy and wondering won-dering features assumed a set and hardened look. "Whoever you are," he responded, a subtle click of anger in his tone, "you shall be punished for this!" "For what, Mr. Fell? For knowing too much of your private affairs?" The bandit laughed. "Fear not I am only an amateur at this game, fortunately! for-tunately! So do your worst, and my blessing upon you ! Now, gentlemen, kindly withdraw a few paces. All but you, Maillard ; I'm not through with "you yet." The automatic pistol gestured ; under un-der its menace everyone obeyed the command, for Ihe cairn assurance of lie bandit made it seem extremely likely that he would use the weapon without compunction. The men withdrew with-drew toward the far end of the room, where a word from the aviator halted 'hem. Maillnrd remained standing -vhere he was. The Masquer advanced to the table nod gathered the heap of money and , scarfptns Into the leathern pocket of bis coat. During the process his gaze did not waver from the group of men, nor did the threat of his weapon lift from the banker before him. "Now, Maillard." he quietly ordered, "you will have the kindness to turn around and open the wall safe behind you. And don't touelvthe button." Maillard started. "That safe! Why why d--n you, I'll do nothing of the sort !" "If you don't," was the cool threat, "I'll shoot you through the abdomen. A. man fears n bullet there worse than death. It may kill you, and it may not; really. I care very little. You you financier!" Scorn leaped Into the quiet voice, scorn that lashed and Mt deep. "It was natural then that Lucie Lu-cie should take Jachin Fell into her confidence." j (TO BE CONTINUED.; lard npproached them, chuckling to himself nnd looking hugely relieved. "Ha, Lucie! I guessed you beneath the Columbine daintiness! Have you examined your favor yet?" Remembering, the girl caught at her corsage. Cries of delight were arising on all sides as the favors were re-venled re-venled most handsome favors, even for Mardl Grns! From the heart of the rosebuds in her hand Lucie removed re-moved a brooch of old filigree work set with n group of pearls. She glanced about for Jachin Fell, but he had vanished with Halliard. A voice rose at her elbow: "Mademoiselle, you are not less lucky than beautiful 1 Pearls to the pearl !" She turned to see the Franciscan no longer masked, but now gazing at her from n frank, laughing countenance, counte-nance, still partially veiled by the brown cowl that was drawn up close about his head. "Henry Gramont !" she exclaimed. -"Oh,-I- half suspected that it was you "But you were not sure?" he chuckled. "You're not offended with uie, Lucie?" "I should be." She tossed her head. "You were impertinent, M. le prince!" He made a distasteful gesture. "None of that, Lucie! You know I don't like it " "Oil, la, la !" jshe mocked him. "M. le prince is seeing America, n'est ce pas? He has come to America to find a rich wife, Is It not?" Grnmont's face lost its smile, and suddenly became nlmost harsh. "I shall call upon you at four tomorrow, to-morrow, Lucie," he said, abruptly, and turned. Nor did he pause to get her reply. An Instant afterward Lucie was surrounded by a merry group of friends, and she saw no more of Henry Hen-ry Gramont. About five minutes later those In the ballroom distinctly heard, through the open windows, the heavy pulsations of on airplane motor. CHAPTER III. The Bandit. Joseph Malllard's library was on the ground floor of the. house; it was a sedate and stately room, and was invariably in-variably siut off to Itself. Not even tonight, of all nights, was It thrown open with the remainder of the house. Heift Maillard summoned half a dozen of his particular cronies and friends, after the stroke of midnight had assured him that there was no danger to be expected from the bandit. ban-dit. His son was not among the number. num-ber. The half dozen were nearly all elderly men, nnd, with the exception of Jachin -Fell, all were men of prominent promi-nent affairs. About the table grouped Maillard "nnd his guests. Maillard, stamllng -before a small wall safe that flanked the open hearth, lifted his silver goblet, asteam with beads. The moment for which he had been waiting was here; he launched bis little thunderbolt wllh an air of satisfied importance. "My frie-; Is, I have a confession to make!" he announced. "Today I received re-ceived a note from the Midnight Masquer Mas-quer stating that lie would be with us this evening, presumably nt the hour of midnight, his usual time." These words brought an Instant silence. si-lence. The half-dozen men were ense, watchful, astonished. But Maillnrd Mail-lnrd swung up his silver cup nnd laughed gaily. "I took full precautions, gentlemen. The hour of danger is past, and the notorious bandit has not arrived or. If he has arrived, he Is now . In the hands of the law. So up with your cups, my friends a HfHong health to Mardl Gras, and damnation to prohibition prohibi-tion nnd the Midnight Masquer!" From everyone broke a swift assent to the toast, a murmur of relieved tension. ten-sion. The sliver goblets were lifted, touched iu n musical clinking of edges, and the aromatic breath of Juleps filled the library as the drinkers. In true southern fashion, buried noses In the fragrant mint. Then, as the cups were lowered, from the recess of the curtained windows at one end of the room came a quiet voice; fi "I thank you, gentlemen ! But I must remind you, Maillard. that there was not a time limit set In the note." With a simultaneous gasp everyone turned. Maillard staggered ; his face went livid. Every eye was fastened upon that amazing figure now advancing advanc-ing from the shadows of the recess. It was the figure of an aviator, clad tn leather from top to toe, the goggles and helmet shield completely masking his head and features from recognition. recogni-tion. In his hand he held an automatic auto-matic pistol, which covered the group "MIDNIGHT MASQUERl" SYNOPSIS During the height of the New Orleans carnival season Jachin Fell, wealthy though somewhat some-what mysterious citizen, and Dr. Ansley, are discussing a series of robberies by an individual known as the Midnight Masquer, who, Invariably In-variably amrea as an aviator, has long defied the police. Joseph Mali-lard, Mali-lard, wealthy banker, is giving a ball that night, at which the Masquer Mas-quer has threatened to appear and rob the guests. Fell and Ansley. on their way to the affair, meet a girl dressed as Columbine, seemingly seeming-ly known to Fell, but masked, who accompanies them to the ball. Lucie Ledanois, recently the ward of her uncle, Joseph Maillard, Is the Columbine. At the ball, Bob Maillard, son of the banker, again proposes to her and is refused. He offers to buy some pf her property. A Franciscan monk interests her. CHAPTER II Continued. 3 "So," the girl smiled a- little, "yon woTrtcThetrayHrotfr business friends in order to make a bit of mouey for me?" . Maillard stared at her. "Well, if you put it that way, yes ! I'd do more than that for " "Thank you," she Interrupted, her voice cold. "I don't think I'd trust your sagacity very far, Robert. Goodnight." Good-night." She turned from him and was gone, dancing through the great rooms like a true Columbine. Midnight neared, and brought a concern con-cern to many; the Midnight Masquer had gained his name by Invariably appearing a moment or two before the stroke of twelve. Jachin Fell, who divided his time between enjoying the smoking room and wandering nhout among the masquers, perceived that Joseph Maillard was watching the time with anxiety. A large man, stern and a bit scornful scorn-ful of look, Maillard was imposing rather than handsome. He appeared the typical banker, efficient, devoid of all sentiment. Amused by the man's evident uneasiness, Jachin Fell kept him in view while the moments dragged. One might have thought thnt the little gray man was studying the financier as , an entomologist studies a butterfly on a pin. Shortly before twelve Columbine pirouetted up to Fell and accepted the o rm he offered her. They were for the mnmcnl-jkmc, In n -nrnpr Of the blallroom. I "I must see you tomorrow, please," she breathed. "Gladly," he assented. "May I call? It's Sunday, you know " "If you will ; at three. "Something has happened, but I "cannot speak of It "So," the Girl Smiled a Little, "You Would Betray Your Business Friends in Order to Make a Bit of Money for Me?" here. Does any one else know thnt you--that you are interested In ray affairs?" The pale gray eyes of the little gray man looked very Fnnoctmt nnd wonder-. wonder-. tng. "Certainly not, my dear! Why?" "ril tell you tomorrow." Then she brnki3 Into a laugh. "Well, It is midnight mid-night and the Masquer has not appealed. ap-pealed. I'm almost sorry." The lights flickered off for a moment, mo-ment, then on again. The signal for unmasking ! The dancing censed. From the whole room arose a babel of voices cries of surprise, exclamations, merry laughter. Columbine removed her mask. An Instant Inter Joseph Mall- |
