Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-07-11


Walter jameson she exclaimed, rea-
iizing suddenly that It was mine. IT'S
been fired. tooi''
Her eye fell again on the blood spots.
Blood and-footprints--into the brushls
she CAPPED IN horror. following the trail
what could have happened TO Walterf'
With the revolver. Elaine followed
where the bushes were trampied down
until she came to the place where had
been bound. There she spied some pieces
Of paper lying on the ground and picked
them up.
She put them together. They were
pieces Of the envelope OF the letter which
1--we had decided TO send to washington.
Which way ala they take hirn?" she
asked. looking all about but discovering
no trail.
She was plainly At loss what course
10 pursue.
What would Craig DOT" she asked her.
SELF.
Findlns no answer. she stood thinking
a moment slowly tearing the envelope TO
lpieces II she were TO do anything az ali.
II must be done quickly Suddenly an
idea seemed TO occur 70 her. She threw
the pieces of paper into the air aud let
them blow away. II was unscienttflc de-
lection perhaps but the wind actually
took them and carried them IN the direc-
tion In which the men had forced me to
walk.
That's III" cried Elaine to herself. 'Tn
follow>that direction"
go
Meanwhile. the men had hurried me off
along q trail that led to the foot OF a
cliff. Then the tran wound up the cliff.
We climbed II until we reached the top.
There in the rock was a rude stairway.
drew back. But one man drew a gun
and the other preceded me down. Along
the steep stone steps cut In the face of
the rock they forced me-
Below. in q rift In the very wall OF the
cliff, was q cave In which already were
two more Of Del Mars men, talking IN
low tones. in the dim light.
As we made our way down the break
neck stairway, the foremost OF my cap
tors stepped on large flat rock. A. he
aid %. II gave way slightly under his
foot.
A light in the cave flashed up. Under
the rock was a secret electric connection
which operated a lamp.
Someone coming" muttered the two
men. on guard instantly.
It was a somewhat preesrIous footing
as we descended and for the moment /
was more concerned for my safety from
fall than anything else. Once my foot
ddi slip and q shower OF pebbles and
small pieces OF rock started down the
face OF the cliff
As We passed down. the man behind
me. still keeping me covered. raised the
flat stone on the top step. Carefully he
reset the connection OF the alarm rock.
series Of metal points that bent under
the weight Of person and made con-
tact which sisnsled down IA the cavern
the approach OF anyone who did not know
the secret
As he ala %. the tight IN the cavern
went out ITS all right" said one OF
the men down there. with a look Of re
lief
way until We came TO the cave.
Tive got a prisonsr-orders OF the
chief" Hrowied one Of my captors'
thrusting me IN roughly
They forced mo into a corner whers
they tied me again. hand and foot. Their
they began debating Ia low. sinister
tones. what was to Be done with ms
next once IN while could catch q
word. Fear made my senses hypersen-
sitive
They we're arguing whesher they
should make away with me now o. later
Finally the leader rose. -lts thres e
one" ! heard him muttsF. ~Hs de.
now"
ne turned ana took = nsnaeins sssE
toward me.
Hands upi''
II was shrilL firm voice that rams
out a. the mouth Of the cave ss a flgur.
cut of what little light there was
Elaine passed along, hunting for ths
trail Suddenly a shower Of pebbles
csms falling down from a cliff aboy,