L * . [ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 191®. CAPE MAT STAR AND WAVE PAG* 8KVar '"rv

QHnri.u the Owl's Nest, where s'flfargory Golden listlessly mekBp» preparations (or the coming meal. Km started suddenly as she stooped rater the lire smoldering In the fl fireplace. For from a ¥ jrerlce In the wall, a crevice no bigger than a man's hand, a piece of mortar unmistakably flew out and struck bar on the arm. She was still staring Incredulously Into this crevice when a flutter of white passed her eyes and r a small square of paper fell at her feet close to the edge of the coals. She unfolded the missive and read: "A cask of cognac is coming. If Legnr and his men drink from It they k should be drugged asleep Inside of ten minutes. Press spring concealed on top of cask and follow directions there. 1 Don't give up. And if yon understand I this, tap twice with the fire tongs." C' ' Below these words was the sign of tha Laughing Mask. • 8o fortifying was this knowledge In tact, that when Casavantl and Legar .0 himself entered the gloomily-lighted

room, aaargory uoiaen no longer cringed at the sound of their voices. L Casavantl, walking over to her, turned her face, to the light. He peered ' at It hungrily, from half-closed eyes. "Legar." he called out to that worthy, who had remained at the door to. warn his stickup to admit nobody 1 but Immediate members of their band, "I like the spirit In this girl. She's as ^Bleek as a she-panther " Legar's stickup dodged In through tha|Sk. "Sur, chief, there's an outsider tryln' to butt In here!" Both men promptly wheeled about at those somewhat disconcerting ' words. "Who Is he?" was Legar's quick query. "An ol' boob wit' a bar'l o' brandy. Says le's driven in from Oyster dump!" q Legar looked relieved. Casavantl even lighted another cigarette. "That's all right. It's Old Ell. Help htoln with It- But see that nobody Jjslse gets near that outside door." "There's always help around, Casavantl, in a case like this," proclaimed the scoffing Legar as a white-whisk- - ered old figure In bottle-green coat ^nd hat laboriously rolled the cask of Pllquor through the opened door. The ' Owl, with unlooked-for- nlmbleuess In one of her years, was already close ( at hand, waiting with bung starter and glasses. Hargory watched the suddenly clam orous group as they clustered about -the open barrel. Her heart sank as glasses were refilled and the clamor, instead of diminishing, grew louder and louder. Then, even as she stood depressed and troubled by this thought, a sof pedal seemed to be slowly applied t the tumult about her. The soporific Owl lerself. stumbling to a chair, - sank inertly Into it. Then one after ' another they sank Into dreamless atupor. It was then, and only then, that Hargory dared to move. She studl ously stared at that uncouth company of sleepers. Then, no longer watch ^ lag them, but with her eyes on the door through which their lookout might at any moment appear, she groped her way to the side of the barrel. There she felt about the blackened oak barrel top for the hidden spring. A gasp of relief escaped her Bps as she found It. The covering fell back on its concealed hinge, and float lag iflslde it she found a white pine Shaving on which was written: "Turn barrel and empty it. Then k get in and replace cover. Ail will be , welL" The stickup so covertly yet so dis- I . oonsolately ^etching for any suspi1 clous approach to Legar's Watergate quarters, was astonished, a few minutes later, to behold the white-whlsk- . ered old man in the bottle-green coat I once more drive up to the door of I the Owl's nest. "Hi. you. gimme a hand with this barl!" that be whiskered driver commanded. "What have you got this time?" inquired the watchman. "1 waa bonehead enough to leave tha wrong cask with the chief! Stung 1 him with thirty gallons of 'cooking ■harry* that's about one-half wood aleofcoL" "And what's that?" demanded tha L ...

lookout, with envious ayes on tha cask. "This is the real stuff! That raw dope's tor Doolan's election workers'." "And the bunch a'ready soused wit'. It!" commented the even more envious stickup as he helped roll the second barrel Into Legar's Inner quarters. 81owIy the two men carried out the barrel and lifted It to the wagon. Then the driver climbed aboard. It was not until that driver was well away from the waterfront and had rounded many a corner, that he ventured to .-ull up and tap on the oak .staves beside him. "It's all right!" he called out as he felt about the rough oak and found the hidden spring. "Just hold steady now, ana 111 help you out" The girl uttered a sigh of thankfulness as they once more got under way. The Race for Freedom. Those two worthies known as Old Ell and Oyster Joe had. In their time, struggled with many knots. But nev-

er had they worked harder than over the knots of the mysterious stranger "' who had left them trussed and bound to the beams of their own sail loft. They might, indeed, have remained gurgling and writhing there like two r tethered copperheads while the carey less tides rose and fell about them, '• had" not one Scupulo visited Coney 8 Island in his dilapidated car of ancient vintage, and having there con1 ferred with a lush d p In hiding from , the flatties of : Manhattan, decided to circle homeward by way of Oyster Joe's, in the hope of that refreshment 1 which had more than once cheered s him on his dusty Journeys. Instead of finding refreshment, how- • ever, he unearthed t-.vo ferocious-eyed und dry-throated captives, who. when '• released, danced and gesticulated lnr coherently about their habitation. Then, v.hen speech had returned to 1 them the visit ot the mysterious stranger was explained and the neces ' sity of getting in touch with Legal \ made plain. It was not long, -"cordipgly. befort ' three men and a nr naively mlsslnt on one cylinder went coughing lnlanc along the narrow road threading ' those uncounted acrca of sea marsh They were within fifty paces of t s cross-roads landmark known as Chim 1 ney-Pot Corner when a bellow not un | like that of a branded range steei ' burst from the indignant throat of Old Ell. For that worthy had the unique experience of beholding not only hit own purloined team and wagon, bnl ! a disconcertingly lifelike replica ol • himself driving it Scupulo, with the r genius of a true general, arrested the progress of that wagon by promptlj ' stopping his car directly In its track This collision in no way improved the vehicle of ancient vintage; but sternei Issues were at hand. A moment latei • the belligerent trio from the broker r car were trimphantly charging foi ' Mar gory Golden and her guardian. That guardian, fully realizing the meaning of the charge, tossed hie reins to the frightened girl and com ' manded her to drive for all she was worth. Then he himself prepared fo: ! invaders. ' It was to the first comer that he : directed his main attention, for Scupu lo, he noticed, already held a knife li his swarthy hand. One well-place< ' kick on the clenching knuckles, how : ever, sent that g!iramering icicle o 1 steel circling off into the road-dus? and an equally wei;-r-!aced blow on th< ! jaw sent the owner of the fcnife aftei It. J In the meantime, however, both Oys : ter Joe and Old Eli had gained th< wagon platforni. The former fount himself suddenly clenched by the waist and lifted dear of the wagon. ! Why he should so quickly and so violently come into collision with the " swaying figure of Oyster Joe. like an ■alley ball hitting a nine-pin, was a matter n$ich for all time remained a mystery to him. But over the side of ' the thundering wagon the two figures suddenly toppled, rolling along the dust with limbs interlaced and clawing hands unreasonably clenched In each other's hair. And before they re- ' gained either their feet or their men- • tal faculties, the wagon itself was well : on 1U way. Yet the driver of that wagon knew that his escape waa only a temporary ' one.

# "We*V»ff^t to get out" of this!" ha 1 r tailed to the lurching girl at his side, . - as he seised the reins and caught up a j >• whip. "We've got a run of a mile and more before we pan reach Bohawkln 1 bridge and help!" 1 L He lashed the team forward. ."We've t e fcot to get to that bridge!" L The girl suddenly caught at his arm. ' "1 can see a car!" she called out j "It's toHowJng us! It's gaining on us!" 1 j Again the driver plied hi* whip. ' ,. "Are they still gaining?" he asked, K a moment later. 5 "Yes," was the girl's answer. "But, > e see. there's the bridge ahead of us!" j j "By the help of God, we can make r y It!" suddenly exulted the man at the reins, for already his tired team was ' j. plunging up the Incline of the bridge f 7 approach. They were on the bridge { now, thundering across the draw. A power house attendant, framed In , j his grimy doorway, stared at them In ' 1 "Lift your draw!" frenxledly com- ' manded the stranger. "Stop that car! For God's sake stop that car!" But the man in the Jumper saw no reason for any such action. The other. . brushing him aside, leaped to the control lever. The outraged bridgetender at the same moment leaped for the intruder. But that intruder, for all this sudden attack, was not to be turned from his purpose. The lever was thrown 1 over and one end of the massive draw. ■ responding to the Impulse of the equally massive machinery, rose slowly from the Up of the dusty roadway, i Legar's car was already thundering across its sr-an as that network of I steel began to lift | But the Increasing Incline of the draw, for all the car's momentum. | sucked from that straining engine Its j added strength, retarded a little and yet a little more the hurrying wheels, j But in the ascension of the draw-end : there was no delay. I It was then and then only that a sudden shout rose from the car. Five men. realizing what lay before them. [ stood up in their seats as that throbbing and pulsing thing on wheels. 1 mounting to the edge of the draw, for one moment poised there, and then : dropped, like a poolball In its pocket. 1 to the riverbed below. ' l It was not until then that the bewhlskered man at the control lever became fully conscious of the fact that 1 the engineer In the oil-stained Jumper was striking and clawing at his intent r body. He endured that assault until . i the lover had been reversed and the 1 draw started back on its descent, j i Then, wheeling, the stranger sped J across the draw and leaped Into the waiting wagon. "Look!" cried the girl, pointing to ' ! the riverbed beneath them. There the stranger could see Legar ' and two or three of his men clinging to a row of broken piling like limpet:about a river derelict. "I was hoping." said the stranger as he caught up the reins, "that this . would be the last ol him!" "Why should you hope that?" asked the girl at his side as they went lurch ing onward again. i "I hoped It for your sake," was his "Eut who are you, that you should j do a. I thifj-icr me?" s "L'ook back and make sure we're not

being followed." was the stranger's an swer. "Then I'll tel! you!" 3 The girl stared bacjcalong the dusty ' roadway. But along tiiht roadway was , nothing to be seen. \ 3 What she saw when; she turned f again, though, was a gray wig and a 3 fringe of yellowish-white whiskers , lying in the bottom /of the wagon. ~ And when she lifted jher eyes to the j stranger's face she beheld on that face, ' suddenly rejuvenated, the narrow band of a yellow mask, a yellow j mask which covered the eyeswnd the upper part of the head. But below the r mask, intimidating as it was in its r mystery, she could Bee that the month was a nmiHnp one. (TO BE CONTINUED.)

j FISHING CREEK 'i Mr. Claude El dredge and family of i West Cape May were visiting the 1st- \ tor's mother, Miss Ella Wbolson. i Miss Emms Barnett risked her cousin, Miss Irene Woolson of Wildwood. o The Bible Class held a social at the of Mrs. Jacob Barnett' on Friday v •evening last. £■ Mr. D. MurreU Woolson and family called on relatives on Sunday afternoon. \ Mrs. Beulab I sard and son Miltop of r West Cape May called on her brother, Frank Matthews and family one day \ recently. j; The Bell phones will soon be ready use as they are making very rapid p headway. The Mat.-»ew boys of Erma are putting Ibp a barn for Mr. George Bishop. , Miss Jennie Woolson spent Saturday night with her siator, Mrs. Emily Thompson of Green Creek. , The fishermen are now busy getting p ready for their eel fikeg. € Mrs. Sarah Jackson spent Thursday " evening with her mother, Mrs. Anna Woolson of Wildwood. ''

Mrs. Aaron Woolson has returned home after visiting relatives away from - Miss Lida Willis of Erma made social call* in our village one day recently, t Mrs. Rietta Yearicks called on Mrs. t Bate*, who is the proud owner of i a new piano. ■ \ Miss Elsie Matthews is the proud l owner of a new organ. Miss Reba Barnet was an over Sundagr visitor with her cousin Miss Irene Wool- • ton of .Wildwood. Walter Barnett who is under I. F. son's employ at Wildwood was • celling on relatives Sunday. • , Lucius Peterson and wife of Port were over Sunday visitors with the letter's parents, Mrs. Enoch Miller. John Gayner and family and Furman ' of Salem motored thru to the lattor's parent, Mr. Lewis Fox on Sunday. Mrs. Sadie Dawson, of Erma, and Mra. Enoch Miller motored to Port Norris and Bridgeton on Wednesday last. Mr. Horace Jackson, -Russell Scheland George James motored to on Saturday last. All report a good time. Miss Irene Woolson was an over Hallowe'en visitor.

JLULL I J OtKft DOT flMKn UUJEX DO i alHUVwUC To be healthy at seveaty, prepared forty, is sound advice, because in the ■Sy^»yrt>i nl midJL 111- SyvnS-f Fn Iff t that neglected oolds, or careless treatment of sflgW aches and pains, amply undermine strength and bring chronfc weakness for later years. - To be atxungu when older, keep your blood pure and rich and active with the strength-building and blood -nourishing properties of Scott's Bmnlition which isa food , a tonic and a medkine to keep your blood rich, alleviate rheumatism and avoid sickness. No alcohol la Scott's. - 6oottftaowne.Bloo«fieM.R.J. » CASTORIA Vrrr- TnfsmWaiii! ftHlhffl In Use For Over 30 Years Always hears _ -

I KNOWS the DIFFERENCE" I ■ SEE F BELOW oline that flows into it is absoj STANDARD I best gasoline and a reliable dealer. Ujjgl HII j JIM Nr-'- 'If New Jersey HHRtf GARAGES AND DEALERS IN NEW JERSEY SELLING STANDARD GAS" LINE EXCLUSIVELY.

Bis** (JaFacc Bethlehem .-t-.eel Co. Cape May Fisheries Co. City Garage Eldre'dKes Gara se Central Garage Max Potashnlck

CAPE MAY CITY Hotel Cape May Garage Konowltch Bros. Mecray Bros. George Ottlnger Phillips and Hughes WEST CAPE MAY George Sandgran CAPE MAY POINT Edward Springer

Palace Garage M. S. Smith Capt. H. Smith Townsond's Garage Stltes York «% William H. Smith

" ERMA' N' J' • „ „ T w x E. Johnson Johnson

LesUs Bats

FISHING CREEK F. Yearicks

D. Woolson w