The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-11-04

key was u~navailing to slide the bolt.
Seconds were precious.
Quickly he went to the corner OF
tho house. There was n water pipe.
lie began 20 climb 1t, risking It's pre-
carious support.
On the roof at last, the naturalist
crawled along. looking for some way
OF getting into the house. But he
could not seem "a find any. Carefully
he crawled to the edge OF the roof
and looked over. Below he could
hear sounds, but could make nothing
of them.
From his pocket he took tho leather
case and opened II. There was n pc
culiar arrangement, like some OF the
c~ollapsiblo arms on which telephone
instruments are often fastened TO n
desk or wall, capable OF being col.
lapsed into small space or of being ex.
tended for some distance. On tho
thing was arranged a system Of mir
rors, which tho naturalist adjusted.
IL was a pocket %periscope.
He thrust the thing over the edge
OF the roof and down, and looked
through Il. Below, he could sec into
the room from which came the pecu-
liar sounds.
iie looked ~anxiously. There he could
see Elaine e~ndeavoring still TO loosen
the cords and unable to do so. Only
for n moment he looked. Then no
folded up the pocket periscope in the
case and showed IL back into his peck.
ct. Quickly he crossed the roof again
and slid down the rain.plpe.
At the door stood three OF Del Mars
men waiting for Del Mar who had told
them he would follow Immediately.
The naturalist had by this time
reached the ground and was going
along carefully back to the house.
lie drew his revolver and. pointing II
down, fired, Then he lodged back OF
an extension and disappeared for the
moment.
Instantly the three men sprang up
and ran toward the spot where II
seemed the shot had been fired. There
was no II about the side OF the
Cho abN NAi' WIN ~ ltu Nlt
smoke into some bushes beside the
grove, and they crashed into the
bushes, beating about.
At the same time, the naturalist,
having first waited until he saw which
way the men were going, dashed about
the house in the opposite direction.
Then he slipped, unopposed and unob-
served, In through the open front
door, up the stairs and along to the
room into which he had just been look
ing. He unlocked the door and en-
tered. Elaine was still struggling with
the cords when she caught sight OF
the stranger.
Not a world" he cautioned under
his breath.
She was indeed too frightened to cry
out. Quickly he Ioosened her. still
holding his finger to his lips to enjoin
silence.
Follow mel" he whispered.
She obeycd mechanically, and then
went out into tho hall. on downstairs
went the naturalist, Elaine still keep.
ing close after him.
He looked out through the front
door, then drew back. Quickly he went
through the lower hall until he came
TO the back door In the kitchen, Elaine
following. lie unbolted the door and
opened It.
Run" he said, simply, pointing out
OF the door. They're coming back
the other way. I'll hold them"
She needed no further urging, but
darted from the hose as he closed
the door after her.
1t was just at this point that Del
came riding along the main road
on horseback. He pulled up suddenly
as he saw a car run in alongside tho
road.
That's Elaine's runabout." he NUT.
tered as he dismounted and tied his
horse. How came 1t hcre?"
lie approached tho car, much wor.
ried by its u"naccountable presence
there instead OF before the st. Ger.
main. Then he drew his gun and hur.
ried up the side road.
lie heard a shot and q~ulckened his
pace. In the woods unexpectedly no
came upon his three men still beating
about, searching with drawn reyolvers
for the person who had fired the shot.
"Well?' he demanded, sharply,
whats all this?"
Someone fired n shot" they OK.
planned, somewhat crestfallan.
1T was a trick, you fools" he an.
swered testify. Get back to your
prisoner"
Without a word they turned and
toward the house, Del Mar
following. You two go in" he or.
the foremost. I'll go around
house with Patrick"
AS Del Mar and the other man ran
the orn they could Just
a fleeting glimpse OF someone
disappearing into the trees.
II was Elaine.
The man hurried forward, blazing
away with his gun.
RunnlnR hraathlaaa ElaIno 49,.