The Ely miner., 1915-11-12


Don't talk" he whispered close to
her ear. go out-and IL you meet
anyone. just salute and walk past"
"Yes-yes. / understand" she nod
ded back, "and thank you."
He gave her no time to say more.
even If it had been safe, but turned
and locked the door of her room.
Trying to keep the old stairway
from creaking and betraying her, she
went down. She managed to reach
the lower hallway without seeing any
body or being discovered. Quietly she
went to the door and out. She had
not gone far when she met an armed
man, the sentry, who had been con-
cealed in the shrubbery.
"Who goes there?" he challenged.
Elaine did not betray herself by
speaking, but merely saluted and
passed on as fast as she could without
exciting further suspicion. Non
plused, the man turned and watched
her curiously as she moved away down
the path.
where's he .going?" the sentry
muttered, still staring.
Elaine In her eagerness was not
looking as carefully where she was
going as she was thinking about get
ting away in safety. Suddenly an
overhanging branch of tree caught
her hat, and before she knew 1t pulled
it off her head. There was no con-
cealing her golden hair now.
"Stop!" shouted the sentry.
Elaine did not pause, but dived into
the bushes on the side of the path,
Just as the man fired and ran forward,
still shouting for her 20 halt. She ran
as fast as she could, pulling off the
goggles and mask and looking back
now and then in terror at her pursuer,
who was rapidly gaining on her.
Before she could catch herself she
missed her footing and slipped over
the edge Of a gorge. Down she went,
with rush.
The sentry checked himself just in
time at the top of the gorge and
leaned as far over the edge as he
dared. He raised his gun again and
fired. But Elaine's course was 80 hid
den by the trees and so zigzag that he
missed again. A moment he hesitat.
ed, then started and climbed down
after her as fact as he could.
At the bottom of the hill she picked
herself up and dashed again into the
| woods, the sentry still after her and
gaining again.
At the same time we who were still
in the chase had circled about the
country until we were very near where
we started. Following the dogs over
a rail fence, / drew up suddenly, hear
| ing a scream.
There was Elaine, on foot, running
as if her life depended on it. need
ed no second glance. Behind her was
man with a rifle, almost overtakine
her.
AS luck would have it, the momen
tum of my horse carried me right al
them. Careful to avoid Elaine, rode
square at the man, striking at hin
viciously with my riding crop before
! he knew what had struck him.
The fellow dropped, stunned.
leaped from my horse and ran to her
just as the rest of the hunt came up
Having waited until he was sure
that Elaine had got away safely, the
old tramp slowly and carefully fol
lowed down the stairs of the ruined
hotel.
AS he went down he heard a sho
from the woods. Could it be one o
the sentries? He locked about keen
ly, hesitating just what to do.
In an instant, down below, he heart
the scurry Of footsteps from the i'm
provised laboratory and shouts. HI
turned and stealthily ran upstairs
just as the door opened.
The tramp had not been the onl!
one who had been alarmed by the she
Of the sentry.
Del Mar was talking again to thu
men when it rang cut. whats that?
| he exclaimed. Another intruder?"
The men stared at him blankly
while Del Mar dashed for the door
followed by them all. In the hall b.
issued his orders quickly.
"Here, you fellows" he called, di
viding the men, get outside and SCI
what is doing. You other men foley
me. 1 want you to see if everything
is all right up above"
Meanwhile the tramp had gaines
the upper hallway and dashed pas
the room which he had occupied. Out
side, in the hall, Del Mar and his mel
rushed up to the door of the room il
which Elaine had been thrown.
was locked and they broke in. Sh
} was gone!
On into the next room they dashed
bearing down this door also. Their
was Shorty, trussed up in his under
!, clothes. They hastened to releas
him.
where are they-where's tn
tramp?" demanded Del Mar angrily.
81 think heard someone on tn
roof" replied Shorty weakly.
He was right. The tramp had man
aged to get through scuttle on tn
roof. Then he climbed down to tn
edge and began to let himself hand
overland down the lightning rod.
Reaching the ground safely, b.
scurried about to the back of the build
ing. There, tied, was the horse whicl
Del Mar had ridden to the hunt. HI
united it, mounted and dashed OF
down the path through the woods, tax
ing the shortest cut in the direction
of Fort Dale.