Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11


lowed an affair Of this importance TO
be conducted without my personal
presence. But could not be concealed
somewhere nearF
'eImpossibiel You must be there
openly or not at all. But let me assure
you that you have nothing to fear.
We can protect you
Suppose he should attempt to run
away with me also! Do you know
what that means7"
ct know perfectly well. MI. Gray
man, the importance Of your person
But In this case you would have Moth
ing to fear. PAXTON would ne~as
dream Of running away with you
What would be gain by that, suppos-
ing he could do 1t with me and my
men there ready to interfere? Nothing
whatever. 1t would be the ruin OF his
negotiation"
WELL" Grayman said, perhaps you
are right. But come, tell me your
plan and then III see"
"As was just telling you" resumed
the commissioner. there are woods not
far from the bluff in which men and
aeros can be concealed. Now, my plan
is to take four swift police department
f1iers and hide them In those woods.
Moreover. 1 shall have 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 a signal will drop him In his tracks"
Hold onl" said Mr.. Grayman. you
are going too fast now. If you kill
Peyton. 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"
I'VE 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 department."
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 fall" Gray
man said.
I'VE shall not fail" 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 abb |
sence and her imminent danger smote /!
his heart
'Doner' he said decisively. '1n try
it"
Then" remarked the commissioner,
much gratifed, ''I'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
al?"
.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 Grayman said Yes" to any
be wanted to have it car
ried into effect instantly.
No time was lost IN concealing the
liers 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 at full speed. and their
high power drivers could be turned Oh
almost instantaneously. OF the crew
Of nine men which each aero carried
seven were there for fighting 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 at each point Of the
compass. their average distance from