The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-11-03
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Hu)pOSP ne SuOuIu attempt 10 rul
away with me also Do you know
what that means?"
81 know perfectly wen. Mr. Gray
man. the importance of your person
But In this case you would have moth
Ing To fear. Payton would nevel
dream OF running away with you
What would he gain by that. suppos
ing he could do it with me and my
men there ready to interfere? Nothin,
whatever. 1t would be the ruin of hi,
negotiation"
"Well," Grayman said. perhaps yor
are right. But, come, tell me YOU
plan and then I'll see."
AS was just telling you," resumed
the commissioner. there are woods moi
far from the bluff In which men anG
aeros can be concealed. Now. my plan
is to take four swift police department
fiiers and hide them in those woods
Moreover. l shall have a dozen sharp
shooters concealed In the treetops. He
will drop down over the bluff in his
aero and keep 1t lowering near during
his conference with you. Then when
you have him engaged in talk my men
at signal will drop him in his tracks,
Hold onw said Mr.. Grayman. "You
are going too fast now. If you kill
Payton, how are we going to find my
daughter?"
"By capturing the Chameleon and
compelling his men to reveal his hid
ing places"
But perhaps they won't talk"
"We have means Of making men
talk" said the commissioner grimly.
Perhaps you have, but l don't like
that part of the plan. 1t is too dan
gerous for my daughter. She would
be killed for vengeance. But the aeros
are good. Go on with that part of the
scheme. keeping your sharpshooters
for an emergency. But why not take
more aeros? How many has the po
lice departments"
Eight. But it would be impossible
to conceal more than four of them.
can dispose four in such a way as to
cut off retreat in every direction. The
aerOs, with power up. will be hidden
just In the tops Of the trees"
You know we must not fail" Gray
man said.
1--WE shall not fall" was the conf
dent reply.
Still, Mr.. Grayman was half disposed
to reject the scheme and try some
thing else. But he could think Of moth
ing else, and then his daughters alb
sence and her imminent danger smote
his heart.
"Done" he said decisively. "IIl try
it."
"Then," remarked the commissioner.
much gratifed. It'll send off the aeros
tonight in order that nobody shall wit
ness their arrival. Their commanders.
who are the men that accompanied me
to Tribes Hill. know exactly what to
do. They will prepare the ambush and
be ready for work in the morning."
How many men. will you have in
alp"
"Thirty-six will go in the aeros, of
whom twenty-eight will be armed to
the teeth The twelve marksmen will
be sent on by train in various DISCUSSES
We ourselves will take the midnight
express for Albany. and local train
will bring us to Tribes Hill early in
the morning"
The commissioner had learned that
the full complement of the Chameleon
including her commander, was ten
men Accordingly he could count upon
having three to one in fight
Thus the matter was arranged. When
William Graymnn said YES" to any
he wanted to have it car
ried into effect instantly.
No time was lost III concealing the
diers among the tops Of the trees in
the neighboring woods on both sides
of the Mohawk.
Once in position they were anchored |
with guys. which could be severed in |
an instant. and were disguised with |
leaves and fresh cut branches to con
ceal them from prying eyes. They |
were so placed as not TO be hampered |
in getting away ut full speed. and their |
high power drivers could be turned on
almost simultaneously. OF the crew
of nine men which each aero carried |
seven were there for lighting purposes
only. and they carried automatic arms
Of the latest pattern. The other two
were engineer and steersman. BY >ju
dicious selection of positions an aero
was stationed ut each point of the
their average distance from
the bluff where the meeting was to
take place hardly exceeding quarter
Of mile The commissioners prin-
cipal dependence was on surprise. He
that Payton seeing no aero
near would boldly descend to the bluff
and fall straight into the trap. because
the police. getting into motion stimuli
taneously at a signal. would be upon
him from all sides before he was aware
Of their presence.
The signal was to be a white hand
waved by the commissioner
himself from a point which he had Sc
ected not far from the bluff and which
,ould be seen from each of the aeros
One thing which the commissioner had