The Ordway new era., 1915-11-05
| meet you on the way to the club" be

mcet you VI tAo way " tuO cAuU, he
promised.
It was not long before Elaine was
ready. and from the stable q groom
led three of the besttrained CROSS
country horses In the neighborhood,
for old Taylor Dodge, Elaine's father.
had been passionately fond Of hunting,
as had been both Elaine and Aunt Jo-
sephine. .-. -rts
We met on the porch and q few min.
utes later mounted and cantered away.
On the road Del Mar Joined US and we
galloped along to the Hunt club. care
full. however, to save the horses as
much as possible for the dash over
the fields.
For some time the uncouth tramp
continued gazing fixedly out of the
bushes at the deserted hotel.
Suddenly he heard a noise and
dropped fat on the ground, looking
keenly about. Through the trees he
could see one of Del Mars men sta
toned on sentry duty. He was lean
ing against q tree, on the alert.
The tramp rose cautiously and
moved OF in another direction to that
in which he had been making his way,
endeavoring to flank the sentry. Far
ther along, however, another Of Del
Mars men was standing in the same
attentive manner near q path that led
from the woods.
As the tramp approached the sentry
heard a crackle of the brush and
stepped forward. Before the tramp
knew 1t, he was covered by a rifle
from the sentry in an unexpected
quarter.
Anyone but the sentry, with half an
eye. might have seen that the fear he
showed was cleverly feigned. He
threw his hands above his head even
before he was ordered, and in general
was the most tractable captive imag-
Unable. The sentry blew q whistle.
whereat the other sentry ran in.
What shall We do with him?"
asked the captcr.
Masters orders to take anyone to
the rendezvous" responded the other
firmly, ''and lock him up
Together they forced the tramp to
march double quick toward the old
hotel. One sentry dropped back at
the door and the other drove the
tramp before him into the hotel, avoid
ing the big room on the side where
the men were at work and forcing him
upstairs to the attic which had once
been the servants quarters.
There was no window in the room
and it was empty. The only light
came In through skylight in the roof.
The sentry thrust the tramp into
this room and tried door leading to
the next room. 1t was locked. At the
point Of his gun the sentry frisked the
tramp for weapons, but found none.
AS he did SO the tramp smiled quietly
to himself. He tried both doors. They
were locked. Then he looked at the
skylight and meditated.
Down below, although he did not
know it. in the bare dining room which
had been arranged into a sort of
chemical laboratory, Del Mars men
were engaged in manufacturing gas
bombs much like those used in the
war in Europe. Before them was
formidable array of bottles and re-
torts. The containers for the bombs
hard rubber. AS the men made the
gas and forced 1t under tremendous
pressure into tubes, they protected
themselves by wearing goggles for the
eyes and large masks of cloth and sat
urated cotton over their mouths and
noses.
Satisfied with the safety OF his cap
tive, the sentry made his way down
stairs and out again to report to Del
Mar.
At the bungalow, Del Mars valet
was setting the library in order when
he heard a signal in the secret pas
sage. He pressed the button on the
desk and opened the panel From it
the sentry entered.
Where is Mr.. Del MARI" he asked
hurriedly, looking around. We've
been followed to the headquarters by
a tramp whom I've captured, and i
don't know what to do with him."
He is not here,' answered the
valet. "He has gone to the Country
club"
"Confound IT," returned the sentry,
vexed at the enforced waste of time
DO you think you can reach him?"
"lf hurry l may" nodded the valet.
Then do So" directed the sentry.
He moved back into the panel and
disappeared while the valet closed it,
A moment later he. too. picked up his
hat and hurried out.
At the Wilkeshire club large num-
Der of hunters had arrived for the
imitation meet. Elaine, Aunt Joseph
Inc, Del Mar and myself rode up and
were greeted by them as the master
Of the foxhounds assembled US. OF
bit a splendid pack of hounds was
held by the huntsman while they de-
bated whether to hold a paper chase
or try drag hunt.
The chase was Just about to start,
when the valet came up. Del Mar